This is going to be amazing.
Everyone thought this was a stone-cold riot and they ‘made’ me take the picture. There was a long, open beach and to get the sand off his injured toe, Merlyn settled himself directly in front of the only piece of poo anywhere in sight.
We had a couple of doctors on board who ministered to his toe each day.
Pelicans are always entertaining, and that’s Majestic in the distance.
We walked across a small outcropping to view this bay where we would be snorkeling. From the beach you can see above and around the outcropping which turned out to be not so small when you’re swimming around it.
We slowly motored through a sea turtle convention! Out there, every blip is a sea turtle. Merlyn got the close-ups as they approached the ship. I don’t know where I was!
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This happened many times a day – onto the pangas and back to the boat.
We were so busy and I’ll tell you, frankly, I wouldn’t want to have been even one day older. It was awesome really that I finally lost the five pounds I had gained in Paris in September.
…with lava tubes and lava flows, not the broken up super-highway it appears to be.
In case you need more, here ya go – more marine iguanas. They’re in those puddles warming up.
Penguins, the second smallest breed in the world, the first being in New Zealand. There were a number on these rocks but I only had my underwater camera so this is it.
May 8
Day 7 (Sunday)
San Cristobal Island
In the morning, you will visit Witch Hill. Located on the northern coast, this eroded hill and its surroundings
present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance
of animals. Wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of booby birds. The clear water provides an
excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.
Witch Hill
Activities: Hike, dinghy ride, snorkeling & kayaking, Difficulty: Easy walk along the beach. Type of Landing: Wet landing
Highlights & Animals: Beautiful rock formations, sea lions, shore birds, finches and mockingbirds; Snorkeling: nice tropical fish, anemones, ponges, coral
In the afternoon, you will visit Kicker Rock. This striking rock formation is located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, the rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, kayaking and scuba diving allow visitors to spot a variety of marine life.
Kicker Rock
Activities: Snorkeling and dinghy ride, Difficulty: Easy
Highlights & Animals: Great snorkeling: sharks, tropical fish, turtles, manta rays (occ.), hammerhead sharks, spectacular rock formations; sea birds: blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies & frigate birds.
OMG that’s me in the far distance slowing making my careful, careful, way through the slippery, rickety, rock field.
Everyone else was there already but I was NOT going to fall! Yay me!
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These are Merlyn’s for sure because he had the camera during this close encounter.
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They were
And this was the same swim where I spent 10 minutes, 30 minutes, I don’t know, an hour? dawdling around with Sting Rays. One in particular seemed bigger than me and was 5 feet, 2 feet, I don’t know, 1 foot? below me as we skimmed along. But he was heading out, and eventually I thought it prudent to head back in.
mc.
I never thought ever that I would be pouring myself into a wetsuit a couple of times a day and enjoying snorkeling so much.
It wasn’t very often that the water was actually clear (photoshop does know how to clear it up some!) and all the real snorkelers noticed that it was murky – but still, it was eye-opening in a magical and unforgettable way.
You can see the buffet where all our meals were laid out expect for the few we ate upstairs, and the two tables of eight in the foreground. I’m standing at the snack stand and beyond me is the gathering area for briefings and the lounge for reading.
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Merlyn was bff with the captain because he had offered many hours of tech support. Peter is there in the bridge with the captain.
The other two fellows met us every time we returned to the ship with a choice of beverages and yummy snacks. It was lovely.
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From the back deck looking in the window’s reflection of the sunset and the line-up of wetsuits. I left my wetsuit reluctantly. Bye wetsuit, it was great!
The fact that you can wear a wetsuit, it was my first time, and comfortably float around a chilly ocean looking at fish – it was a revelation. You have to get into and out of the thing and that counts as a major chore especially if it’s wet and sandy and you’re sticky and hot, but SO worth it.
May 9
Day 8 (Monday)
San Cristobal Island
In the morning, you will visit the Interpretation Center. This site is part of an environment project. The tour
of this center will explore the natural history of the islands including human interaction and conservation
efforts. The Museum of Natural History explains the volcanic origin of the archipelago, ocean currents,
climate, and the arrival of endemic species. The Human History exhibit chronologically describes significant
events such as discovery and colonization of the islands.
Interpretation Center
From here we went to the airport in San Cristobal for the flight to Guayaquil and our transfer to Cuenca. I’ll tell you all about that excitement in the land portion of our
adventure which you can find by clicking here Cuenca to Quito.
