Galapagos Adventure days 8, 9, 10

Covers the islands of Punta Suarez, Española; Gardner Bay; Española; and San Cristóbal
At Punta Suarez, Española

The last few days pass way too quickly.  At this moment (from my position in Flagstaff, Arizona), I do not particularly recall all those individual islands.  What stays in my mind in clear, unforgettable snap shots are the sights.  Especially, of course, the animals.

How could I ever forget these trusting babies at our feet?

And this fellow!  Something out of a horror show?  No, just the Christmas iguana all decked out.

You aren't supposed to touch them, of course, but it's hard to resist when they seem to beg for for a little pat, just a little one.

This Nazca booby mom trusts that we will be careful with out feet as she nests inches off the path.

Two eggs, but only one will grow up.

That's the survivor in the back.  Holy cow, he seems bigger than his mother.

Oh, one of my favorites -- the little Galapagos gull.  They are the only nocturnal gull.  We would often see them at night following the boat on silent white wings like fairies in the wind.

The cast-off shell of a Sally Lightfoot is still so pretty and colorful -- maybe not so much as a hat decoration.

At Gardner Bay, Española

Too soon it's our last full day, our last ride out to adventure in the panga.

Omar is at the front looking for just the right place, something special.  We seem to go a long ways.  Now and then we stop and Omar decides to go on.  It all looks beautiful and perfect to us and we are anxious to get in the water!  

Finally, we get there.  "There" seems to be in the middle of nowhere between two islands.  Omar says just go and let the current take you, we'll meet at the cave.  Cave?  But we are all fearless at this point and we bail out of the panga.

The current grabbed us and took us.  It was the most utterly fantastic thing I have ever done.  It was zip-lining through the ocean!  We flew over amazing things so fast we could hardly stop to think what we were seeing.  We just saw it all go by, we felt it, we experienced it -- shoals of beautiful fish, rays on the bottom, sea stars, a shark maybe?   And ZIP, they were gone. 

The current took us exactly where Omar said it would -- at a cave in the side of the island.  We slowed down to see the fish.

We swam with them and then through them.

A cushion sea star close up.

A blue sea star on the rock wall.

Rays gliding by and then quickly off.

Soon we were pulled past the cave and we moved on.  A welcoming committee came to meet us.

They sailed around us and woofed bubbles in our faces and nipped at our fins.

The turtle is happy we are there to distract the sea lions as they like to play with them, too.  I watched one take hold of a large turtle by the edge of its shell and pulled it around in circles.  The turtle tucked in its flippers and sank to the bottom -- no fun at all.  

The next morning, it really is the last panga ride.  We are dressed and dry and on our way to the airport.  I miss our beautiful Evolution already.

I'll never forget --

Our wonderful crew!

The friends we made.

San Cristóbal

Our plane has an iguana on its tail.  

Back in Quito.  

And then back to our own island home.  They made us this wonderful video to take home.  It's a bit over 15 minutes, beautiful videography, great music and very professionally done.  My plan here was to put it up on YouTube and send out a link to everyone.  However, seems it contains copywrited music, so can't do it.  Bummer. Only one thing to do.  I must come to each of your houses and play it for you.  You'll want to get your reservations in for this quickly as I expect the dates to fill up fast ...

Alas, no.  These pictures and words will have to do.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  And if you at all possibly can, do go.  The Galapagos Islands with G Adventures -- amazing, incredible, captured perfectly in our minds and our hearts forever.

We wish you your own adventures,

                                                          On the road again, Bob and Laurie