Trip Update Nov 2010 FL, Ecuador and Galapagos, Part 2

Land Iquana
Lonesome George
Baby Sea Lion
Blue footed boobie with baby


Our Galapagos trip started the next day with a flight from Quito to the islands. We checked into our room on a motorized catamaran Archipell We toured the Charles Darwin Research Station and saw several Giant Tortoises including Lonesome George, the last of his species. There are only 11 species remaining of the original 13 species of Giant Tortoises. The rest of the 8 day trip was spent island hoping to see the unique wildlife on each island.
Our first night at sea was rough, but we made it through the night okay. The trip was worth it because on Espanola we saw a natural nursery for baby sea lions. As we walked inland we saw masked boobies, blue-footed boobies, and baby waved albatrosses. Marine iguanas were everywhere and a Galapagos hawk watched us from his perch. Later that day we snorkeled in a wet suit in some very cold water. The Humboldt current from Antarctica chills these waters this time of year.
The remainder of the 8 day trip followed the same routine. On other islands we saw Sally light-foot crabs, land iguanas, lava lizards, oyster catchers, swallow tail gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds, flightless cormorants, flamingos and Galapagos penguins. In addition to large schools of yellow tail surgeon fish and various other types of fish, we snorkeled with white tip sharks, sea lions, green sea turtles, penguins, eagle rays, very large marbled rays and an octopus.
Near the end of the trip we stopped at the Galapagos Post Office. No one is going ‘postal’ here because the post office consists of a rum barrel. You place your post card inside the barrel (no postage required) and pick out an equal number of post cards that you can personally deliver. This system was established by 18th century whalers and can be more efficient than the Ecuadorian Postal System. We mailed a few post cards both ways, and will let you know the results later.
The biggest surprise of the trip was the weather. Being at the equator we expected shorts and tee shirt weather. Well, the first thing we did was buy a sweatshirt for Pat and a fleece jacket for me. Most days were cloudy and cool. Jumping into the water straight from the Antarctic was not inviting, but definitely worth it.