Traveling The World: Galapagos

9/7

Today we had a nice little tour of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal with Diego, one of our expediton guides. The five of us staying on for a second week. Gladys and Alan from the UK and sisters Cristiana and Daniela from Italy.

Statues of Darwin and statues of Galapagos wildlife all around.

We took a drive up to where Manuel J Cobos lived and was killed. He was the first to build on the island in 1866. He was a cruel land owner and in 1904 his laborours assassinated him. Chickens free on the property, the donkey tied up. Light posts made of wood and the remains of his home.

We also went to the island interpretive center.

Diego said these two boats were confiscated for killing sharks.

Luggage and trash leaving this morning and food coming.

We started off week 2 with Kicker Rock again. I am not the only solo this week. I've met 5 others so far.

9/8

This morning we were at Bartolome Island and had a hike up 388 steps!

I have a new suite attendant, Ivan. Willy went to 5 and Ivan came up to 6.

Not much life on the island, but a few lava lizards.

The black area is where we walked on the lava last week.

New things snorkeling today

White tipped reef shark. Two more were under rocky areas.

So many of these gorgeous sea stars

Sea cucumber

Lower left corner a penguin

Not clear but the penguins

Ray under rock

This afternoon I kayaked at Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island with Rebecca another solo guest from Dayton.

Praying monk

Love the diving blue-footed boobies

9/9

This morning was at Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island. An hour zodiac tour and then 45 minutes snorkeling.

My first view of adorable fur sea lions.

A ship wreck from this year.

Brown noddys

Flightless cormorant babies and mom

Brown pelicans adult and juvenille

Marine iguanas and babies

Heron

Sea lions playing

ABS Yinner, have had him driving the zodiac a lot.

Not as clear snorkeling today, but a crazy amount of sea turtles

This afternoon we took a hike at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island. Fernandina is the youngest island.

There were many dead marine iguanas. Gilda said there was a bad La Nina and they did not have enough food in the water.

A mess of marine iguanas and a lava lizard on the iguanas

Half wet, half dry

Iguana - sea lion

Gilda thinks the baby is about a week old

I could have watched these two babies wrestling all day

Lava lizard a little different coloring on this island.

Driftwood with iguana

Lava cactus

Snake skin

Gilda with whale bones

Galapagos sunset

9/10

This morning was an active morning kayaking and snorkeling at Caleta Tagus, Isabela Island. The water was by far the coldest it has been, 60 degrees. I do wear the short wet suit with a long sleeve rash guard, swim tights and swim socks, still cold!

This afternoon we had a very peaceful zodiac ride in the mangroves at Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island.

Sheerwater

Brown noddies

Smooth billed ani

A green turtle subspecies

A penguin breeding area in the mangroves

I don't know why, but this penguin reminds me of Tacky the Penguin

Paul and Javi paddling us through the mangroves

Golden rays, so cool!

Beginning of sunset on the zodiac and sunset from the ship.

9/11

Last day for kayaking. At Post Office Bay, Floreana Island started at 7:30 this morning for a very peaceful paddle, except when Elizabeth and I got stuck on a little beach for a couple of minutes. Oops. Lots of sea turtles in the water and playful sea lions.

We then went to the post office. In the late 18th centuries whalers developed a "non-fee" mailing system using a wooden barrel. Before sailors would leave the area they would stop by the barrel and see if anything needed to go to where they were from. Ecuador still today does not have a good door to door mail system. We "mailed" post cards and brought back with us to either mail from the US or hand deliver. I did get one from Hudson, OH and will take a 45 minute drive to deliver it.

Well...getting beached in the kayak this morning for a couple of minutes was just the start of the kind of day I'm having. Snorkeling was in some rougher water today and I'm not exactly sure how it happened but a wave caught me and took me into the rocks. Every time I tried to get out a bigger wave knocked me back. Finally I just held onto some of the lava rock and my guide Andy came and got me. Very embarrassing and very happy to only have a couple of scrapes and some soreness. Got some nice photos before it happened. Hopefully the hike this afternoon will not have any excitement.

Andy, my hero! He and a passenger saved me. That passenger said I helped myself by hanging on a good rock or it could have ended much differently.

This afternoon on our hike we did see flamingos, but they were pretty far away.

White-cheeked pintail ducks

Finches

Sunset

Tonight the 5 of us that were on last week were invited to a chef's table for a tasting menu. All delicious. I only remembered to take photos of the first and last course.

9/12

Today we are at our only stop that was the same as last week, Santa Cruz and the giant toroises at the Manzanillo Tortoise Reserve. Last week we saw the lava tube. Today the tortoises.

The Manchineel tree, one of the most poisonous of all trees.

Local beer

Because I went to the breeding center last week I just got off and did a little shopping. Then went to another ceviche demonstration and got a second recipe.

Tonight was the Venetian night and for the second week in a row I have the most days on Silversea, which is just weird. I had dinner with the Captain and another couple last week and tonight with the Captain and Hotel Director along with two other couples.

9/13

Last day. Home tomorrow, well actually arrive Sunday morning. Today we did a hike at Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island. I did not snorkel and will not do the beach landing this afternoon.

This is Rebecca from the Dayton area.