Great Galapagos
I am back from the Galapagos Islands (sniff sniff).
When we (16 of us) first arrived at the dock we were taking loads of photos of these crabs on the distant rocks and the marine iguanas - little did we realise how amazingly close, and how much we were going to see, in the following days.
Pretty much the daily routine was get up for breakfast at 7, do a little hike, snorkel, rest, lunch, rest, little hike (hike being 1-2km in the heat - was very hot, was an effort), then snorkel, shower, drinks at the bar, dinner, bar, then bed... Little bell would be rung every time a meal was served or we had to catch a dinghy for the landings to an island... I became known as the dessert critic as I was not impressed when we consistently got fruit for dessert - esp melon!!!The bar was pretty good as the bartender was very generous with his servings. I had a little cabin on the main deck all to myself which was pretty cool - prime location.
The guides told us a bit about the corruption going on at Galapagos... Only meant to be 120,000 visitors per year but 168000 went last year... There was meant to be a limit on teh size of cruise ships but after one large cruise ship with over 100 passengers hassled enough the government eventually gave them a permit to cruise the park...
Was crystal clear turquiose waters - absolutely stunning with volcanic islands dotted about the place... very nice and relaxing as well as being an unbelievable experience.... Had brilliant people on the boat as well - a lot of canadians, range of ages, all got on really well...
Again so much wonderful stuff so will just do the highlights...
- the sea lions... a lovely Canadian girl told me how up close and personal you got but didnt realise how much - was definitely the no. 1. It was so amazing that these gorgeous creatures have the big blue ocean to play in and they choose to come and swim with you... We did 2 snorkels pretty much every day - and nearly every snorkel and sea lion would come and swim with you... they would zoom up close to you, duck and swerve and do somersaults in front of you... Then on the beach they would just laze about and look at you with their big beautiful eyes... a few even waddled up to me as I was taking their photo and would just look at you - and some posed, and one even put its chin on me knee and just looked up at me - so cute!!!
- also snorkelled with a few turtles - was pretty good.
- tortoises - those huge ancient creatures... looks like such an effort just to walk... Pretty much there is one species per island in the Galapagos... Lucky us we even saw a one pair mating - to respect their privacy I wont show the photos... We saw Lonesome George - the last of his species - they are trying to mate him with another similar species at the Darwin research centre but it isnt working out... He is only about 80yrs so has another 50 or so years left in him.
Apparently the sailors used to take the tortoises for food - just leave them upside down on their ships with no food or water - they can apparently last for 10-12months so it was a good source of fresh meat. Very sad. - Lots of little red crabs, reef sharks and other fish
- LOADS of blue footed boobies and other birds... Saw the waved albatross nesting (and flying) - love albatross - think they are such beautiful majestic birds...
- and of course lots marine iguanas and land iguanas - with their cute little smiles
Anyway will try and post some pics... will only do some now, save the rest for later
Had our last dinner tonight with the 13 of us that came of the ship today... was very sad - partly cos the end of such a fabulous trip and cos we did all get on well together... A lot of them have early flights back home tomorrow. I am hopefully off to Banos to check out its volcanos that is apparently spitting chunks at the moment - hehe.
Later gators!
Baby sea lions playing
Snot-nose (had just sneezed)
Marine iguanas