We pulled into a volcano crater. We walked along the crest of the crater, and saw a Frigate and Boobie colony (red-footed and Nasca).
Then we went snorkeling inside an enormous crater. I saw a large shark in the middle of the water (I'm only used to seeing them along the bottom). Franklin said it was probably a Galapagos shark from my description of it. Yellow pufferfish with black dots inflated. Bayleigh said it was slimy, yet furry.
We did something today I never thought I would do in my life. We swam with penguins! It was late in the afternoon when we rushed to the snorkel site. We pulled up to a black rocky coast where short penguins were standing. We jumped in the water and swam right up the them. One curious penguin swam towards me. He stuck his neck out as if he was wondering, "What the heck are you?" He came closer and bonked my head with his beak.
We were all intrigued by these curious, fearless little animals. All of us had penguins come up to us and peck at our wet suits and flippers. At one point, Joe and I were swimming with one penguin between us and Joe got a little too close and touched it, so it quickly swam over my back (it had to use it's feet to propel itself- so it felt like he was running across my back). Dillon and Logan both had a funny, disgusting experience with the penguins. While snorkeling, they both had penguins poop right in front of their masks.
We went on a hike to see iguanas. We walked on an island that was covered in water until 1954
. Because of this, there are shells and coral all over the arid island. In addition to seeing iguanas, we also saw a Galapagos hawk and a blue heron.
When we came back to the boat, we saw large bottle nose dolphins at the bow and, and we saw a Molamola or Sunfish. It is the biggest bony fish. After this, everyone rushed to get their swimsuits on. We assembled on the swim platform on the back of the boat
and counted down. As soon as we got to 0 degrees, 0 degrees, we jumped in the water and swam across the equator!!! Everyone, ex
cept our guide, was in the water (including the captain).
It also happens to be Joe and my two year anniversary. In
the evening, Dillon and Logan ran into my room and yelled, "There's an albatross on the roof! Come on!" We all raced up the stairs to the top deck. At the table, in front of a gorgeous
pink sunset, sat Joe with a beautifully set dinner table for two.
Early in the morning, we woke up and embarked on our excursion. We road in an outdoor taxi through the town and stopped at a lagoon with flamingos. Then we went up a small mountain where we began our 8-mile hike up to the crest of an enormous volcano. The crater was 6 by 4 miles wide. On the hike, we picked guavas while the rain showered us intermittently. After walking along the crater, we entered a rocky, red and brown valley of parasitic volcanos. It was beautiful! At one point , we peered into the inside of a steaming volcano. There were small ferns growing on the inside of it.
On the way back in the taxi, we stopped along the road and picked passion fruit (it looks like an yellow pomagranite with green seeds and smells amazing).
We had our first dive in the Galapagos today. There was a strong surge that took us 10 feet to our right, then back to where we started. It was a little unnerving at first, but it was easy once I was able to relax and enjoy it.
We saw some cool things while we were down there. A few people in our group saw a hammerhead (Joe and I missed it). Then Dillon, Bayleigh, Joe and I swam with playful sea lions. They effortlessly glided and twirled through the the water all around us.
We saw Lonesome George today! He is the last giant tortoise of his
kind. Then we went into a habitat and took pictures with live 400 pound tortoises! These animals are am
azing. The can live to be 200 years old.
4-1-09
We are in the Galapagos! It is not what I exp
ected at all. The landscape is light-green and dry. We went into port, a
nd as we boated in, we saw sea lions everywhere. They had climbed up into small boats and onto the swim platforms on bigger boats to rest.
boats to rest. They thought they owned the place. We walked on the boardwalk, we were surprised to their reign extended up there. They strategically set themselves in every spot of shade
possible. We were able to stand very close to the female sea lions and the
babies (Dillon accidentally stepped on
a baby one.
That night we all the kids (including
Joe and I) had a huge wrestling/tickle/weggie fight.
3/30 in Cocos
We went scuba diving again today and then traveled the rest of the day. Before we took off, we ate spaghetti (which Angela and I made) and we sang happy birthday to Joe as he sat smiling in front of a cheesecake.
3-31-09 traveling to the Galapagos
Today is Joe's real birthday. We had a fun, smooth travel day.
