Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (where we stayed)
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND (where we cruised)
We met the group at breakfast at 7am and heard what was the plan for today. One thing we did know was we wanted to go to the Charles Darwin Scientific Research Centre to learn more about the research he did on the Island. Especially after the assault on our senses as we peered out of the window on the way here to our hotel!
We missed the tour there yesterday because our flight was delayed. We were supposed to be visiting the twin craters as well and of course that got canned as well...we wondered if we could squeeze these tours in on another day..or night..but decided to just feel ourselves around the place first. We also wanted to explore the town because on the bus yesterday we noticed there seemed to be a lot going on there...
Breakfast was fruit and guava juice and buns and eggs and columbian coffee! (nescafe!) ha!
The guide came in and told us we were to be on the bus at 8am to go to North Seymour Island.
So....we quickly scattered...and got on the bus for the hour trip back to Ayora Puerto through the vastly different climates and environments (still can´t believe it!) ready to hop on our boat to the first of our ´cruises´.
Esmeralda 3 was waiting for us at the dock..as were the Blue Footed Boobies and sea lions! Even just being at the port was a fascinating experience! The Blue Footed Boobies were birds that has bright blue feet, dark blue beak, brown wings and a slightly bulbous body...and the literally catch their fish prey by fliging overhead, take aim at the prey, hover, point their beak down while their body is still horizontal and then at a fast powering pace, head down into the water. Three seconds later they bob up with the fish in their mouth! We spent ages just watchihg these birds in action!!!
Here they are...check out the ´taking aim´ shot..cool hey!
We sailed (and had a fish lunch!) around the islands on the way to North Seymour Island, which is north of Baltra. We came from Santa Cruz as that´s where we were staying.
Just one thing about the cruises..
We decided to stay on the island and have cruises around the different Galapagos Islands ie North Seymour, Bartholomew, Daphne etc each day. The cost for doing it this way was halved and after landing here we are so GLAD this is the way we went. We have the opportunity and the thrill to experience the Santa Cruz Is where we´re staying..and to see the rain forests, deserts etc and to meet different people instead of being confined to a cabin on a boat (We´ve seen mini ships here!). It worked out really well!
When we landed we were spoilt by seeing pelicans, sea lions, lots of birds and the iguanas...marine and land iguana´s..oh, that is a sight to see!
These little creatures look like dinosaurs!! And we have some great pics of them!
Doesn´t he look like King of the Island!!!!!!
The mangrove areas surrounding North Seymour Is were great to view the Blue Footed Boobies...and we spent a long time watching them. There are also the Red Footed Boobie as well....and as you can imagine, they have bright RED feet...but are not as prolific as the Blue Footed species.
There are also lost of Frigate birds as well..these birds blow up the underside of their beaks to attract the ladies....hehe And talk about being able to see it from WAY OFF!
What does it look like??
I tell you, after this..Greg and i have surely become keen bird watchers!! (Greg always was of course..hehe)
We were really lucky on this island to have 4 girls accompany us who were studying in Ecuador from the US. They were so gorgeous! And took pics of us so they could show their ¨Translation Teacher´ that they were actually ´working´ whilst being on holiday...with us as their students!
Was so funny too..because the translation from Spanish to English was pretty funny when they were talking about all the different animals´sex lives.......!
We saw the Black Sea Turtle and some little ¨Darwin Finches¨as well...
After finishing the loop, we returned to the boat for a fish lunch and headed to Bachas Beach where we disembarked on a rubber dinghy to the Island (part of Santa Cruz Island). Here we walked on a sand trail to a salt water lagoon where we saw a Pink Flamingo which was quite thrilling!
We got back to the port and ´home´to our hotel late and after dinner plopped into bed and slept like logs. The Island air got to us!
We still have´nt organised seeing the Charles Darwin Centre..nor learned much about the Galapagos Islands! Except that all i can say is...SEEING IS BELIEVING!!!!! NB Went through the incredible landscape home again and just looked at it in awe...
Why does it change so much?
The trees have literally adapted to the environment...........just like the iguana´s that adapted to the land from the sea.....
