This has been one of the most magical places I have ever been !
Quito
Checked into my Hostel in the centre of town where I met the group I would be cruising with, they were of all ages, and seemed like a great fun.
I met my room mate Carol from USA and we got on famously, we went out for dinner with another couple Pete & Zoe (from Oz ) and talked about the upcoming trip
Next morning we were up at 6am to catch the plane to Santa Cruse the main Island in the Galapagos then caught the bus to Puerto Ayora where our boat , (aptly named The Darwin) was moored, nice little town, we had a look around the shops before we, transferred to the boat to drop off our luggage.
We were taken to the Darwin Research Centre where we saw the Giant Tortoises and lots of baby Giant Tortoise, all the different ones, long necks, short necks, wide flat shells, and tall shells etc.....
the guide told us they were here for a breading program to reintroduce them back into some of the the island the (giant tortoise has to be 25 years old before they can breed)
Then back to the boat for dinner (great food) then to bed, the cabins were very small with bunk beds, (I got there last so I had the top bunk! I had to practice a couple of times before I could get into it but by the end of the tour I was a dab hand) but there was a loo and shower, and that's all you need.
Next day we went snorkeling, and I swam with Sea Lions! it was magical, I still can´t believe it.
We were amongst the rocks, looking at all the colourful Angel & Parrot fish,
and there they were ! five sea lions, playing together amongst the rocks, about 3 feet away from us, Chris (one of the better divers) did a somersault and they joined in, turning an twisting under him, they wanted to play some more but soon realised that we were limited/boring & they went off to play somewhere else, but they stayed with us for about half an hour, blowing bubbles at each other, it was the most amazing thing, they were not afraid of us at all.
(that's the thing about the Galapagos none of the animals are afraid)
Next day, we climbed to the top of Bartolome (a hill / crater) to see a great view of the nearby islands.
Back to the boat for lunch, and a siesta,
next we had a walk on the beach where lots of sea lions were sun bathing, they didn´t move as we walked by, even the pups ( they were so cute), they may have lifted a head to see what was going on ,
back into the sea again, this time we swam with sharks !! (only baby sharks, 2 ft long)
we watched for 10 min's while 2 young sea lions played with it, catching the shark by its tail then letting it swim off, only to catch it again, pulling it back and so on
Then, we saw a Sea Turtle, about 5 ft wide, so we swam along with it for a while, watching as it slowly dived down, then up for air.
Lots & lots of life amongst the rocks, sponges, great big star fish, saw a couple of penguins from a distance.
Back to the boat for dinner, everybody so excited to tell each other about what we have seen.
The next morning (the last in the Galapagos) we went to North Seymour have a look at a bird colony, saw many frigatebirds and the famous Blue Footed Boobies with their chicks, they were not bothered at all as we walked passed.
Again saw plenty of sea lions,
a creche of 6 baby pups, that were left on the rocks while there mums were fishing ( one was about 2 weeks old he was so sweet ) we all took plenty of pictures
had lunch, then caught the bus to the airport for our flight back to Quito
I was so sad to leave
Next Buenos Aires !
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