Galapagos Islands

Last Sunday, we left Quito and flew to the Galapagos Islands. All of the islands are volcanoes. We landed on Baltra Island and met by our guide, Morris. We were then taken to our boat the Eden, which had 8 cabins. The boat was fully booked, so there were 16 passengers on board. Our cabin was roomy with 2 single beds and a shower "hot water" and toilet. The meals on board were great and we were given snacks after every snorkelling expedition or visit to one of the islands. Several nice seating and lounging areas on the deck and a nice lounge indoors.

The first afternoon we arrived, we sailed to Santa Cruz Island and taken to shore via zodiacs. On this island we visited a small lagoon and saw some marine iguanuas, which are black and can swim. They swim to the rocks when the tide is out to eat lichen off the rocks. Also saw several types of birds...yellow warblers, warbler finches and frigate birds. We then went snorkelling for about one half hour and saw some beautiful colourful fish.

Next morning we landed on North Seymour Island and saw numerous frigate birds mating. The male has a large red throat pouch which it inflates to attract the females and the male also builds the nest. If the female is impressed, she will land next to the male. The male then flaps its wings, shakes his head and utters a high pitched cry, think that means....alright, I got her!!

Then onto the Blue Footed Booby section of the island....I swear these are the names of these birds which have blue feet. These birds are very entertaining. Once again we were fortunate that it was mating season. The male firstly does a little 2 step booby dance to attract the females. When the female nears, the bird does "sky pointing" with it's wings. If the female is attracted, the male then picks up either a rock or stone as a gift to the female...think this is the engagement ring.....Lisa.....think yours is nicer!!!

In the afternoon, we sailed to Sante Fe Island where we went snorkelling in 2 seperate areas. Saw a couple of green sea turtles and then we were also joined by several sea lions...awesome! Then walked around the island and came across a colony of land iguanuas...these are yellow and brown in colour. It is just incredible to walk around the various animals and birds...they are not afraid of humans as they have no natural predators. You can be just a foot or so away from sea lions, iguanuas, and the various birds.....just spectacular to be this close.

In the evening we sailed to Espanola Island and we were fortunate to be accompanied for about half an hour by about 10 to 12 pilot whales....even the crew was excited as they don't see them often. The sail was about 5 hours and Claire was seasick for about 2 of these hours ....a very rough voyage and a very rough night for Claire. Had taken some gravol but not soon enough!!!

On Espanola Island we saw some Nazca Boobies, not quite as entertaining as the Blue boobies. We then came across a colony of Albatross. These birds are huge... they need a large runway to take off, or they take off from the cliffs. They also have some interesting mating rituals. They normally mate for life. Once they land ashore, they commence their mating ritual. The birds face each other and first they do motions of " bill circling", then "sky pointing" with their wings, then the "drunken swagger", floowed by "bill clapping" "mooing" and finally"gaping". We were priviliged to see this complex, repetitive mating ritual....quite amusing. Spent the afternoon on the beach suntanning with the sea lions and also saw more sea turtles. We went snorkelling again and Robin was fortunate to see a tiger ray and a shark. Needless to say, when Claire found out there were sharks in the water.....she left!! even though we were told they are quite harmless....couldn't help thinking of Jaws!!!

Sailed overnight to Floreana Island and visited the island during the day. It is quite dry on the islands as is their dry season so no leaves on the trees. Quite a stark landscape. Saw some flamingos who were starting to nest. The sand on this beach had a green hue to it due to the large amount of volcanic mineral called olivine. Final visit on this island was to Post Office Bay. In the late 1700's a sailor put a barrel on the bay, so that he could leave letters for other sailors to pick up and take back to England. Today, this post office barrel is still used. As a traveller, you can leave a postcard for someone else from your country to take it back and mail it. Alternatively, you can take a postcard that is destined for Canada and mail it to the recipient when you get home. Robin and I picked up 3 postcards that we will mail when we get back home. We also picked one up that was addressed to Billy Fernandes in Guyana....Robin believes this is somenone he went to school with, so needless to say, we took this one and will mail it once we get home with a note.

Then sailed to Santa Cruz in the late afternoon, our last destination. It is one of the few islands occupied and has 30,000 residents. A nice harbour with many boats moored. We went ashore in the evening. Next morning we visited the Charles Darwin Research Centre and saw baby giant tortoises and many adult giant tortoises, some of which are over 90 years old and weigh over 200 kilograms. Also visited one tortoise called Lonesome George....the last of his species. They have tried to get him to breed, however with no success. They suspect he is either sterile or simply does not know how to do it!!!

Back to Quito in the afternoon. Tomorrow we will spend the day in Quito and then we are off to Otovalo for the Saturday market, staying overnight to visit some of the local villages as well.

Pictures

Boats

Seal Lions

Crab

Frigate Bird

Land Iguanas

Blue Footed Boobies

Blow Hole

Robin and Claire at Post Office

Claire with giant tortoises