Lindblad Expeditions: Daily Expedition Reports Put it here! en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:14:13 EST maxr@expeditions.com (Maxim Rubis) http://www.expeditions.com/Daily_Expedition_Rep54.asp http://www.expeditions.com/images/template_2and3.jpg Lindblad Expeditions: Daily Expedition Reports http://www.expeditions.com/Daily_Expedition_Rep54.asp http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149889&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos]]> Cerro Dragon & Sombrero Chino Island

After a full day in the southeastern corner of Santa Cruz Island with giant tortoises in captivity and in the wild, this morning we were still on the same island but in the northwestern corner. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149944&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=20 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica]]> Deception Island, South Shetland Islands

Drake Passage was unusually calm, so by late this morning, we were at the South Shetland Islands. We went ashore at Bailey Head on Deception Island, where the steep, black beach was topped with chunks of ice tossed up by waves. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149959&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=9 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Islander in Galápagos]]> Urbina Bay & Punta Moreno

Today’s two locations, on the western side of the Island of Isabela, are fabulous. The volcanic uplift of 1954 created an impressive environment at Urvina Bay. Even though I have walked here during many years, it is still hard to understand that a force could exist that could lift this shoreline. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149888&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos]]> Santa Cruz Island

Early in the morning we had a post-breakfast outing, with a dry landing on the pier of Puerto Ayora (the largest town in the Galápagos Islands). After a five-minute bus ride, we arrived at the entrance to the Galápagos National Park and walked past the Charles Darwin Research Station, an amazing place where we got to learn about the major projects that are being applied to increase the rate of survival of endemic species from the islands like the land iguanas and other species to the rearing center for the giant tortoises. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149943&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=20 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica]]> Drake Passage

Our first impression this morning is one of disbelief! We are experiencing the “Drake Lake”; for most of us it is a relief as we were all expecting much worse from this infamous body of water. However there are few complaints to be heard. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149958&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=9 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Islander in Galápagos]]> Northern Isabela & Fernandina

We sailed on a glassy calm ocean under sunny skies along the coast of Northern Isabela Island. Although no dolphins or whales were seen, we delighted in the glorious conditions and watched endemic dark-rumped petrels, Galápagos shearwaters, noddy terns, a manta ray and several pods of fur seals that were returning from a night of fishing. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149887&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos]]> Isabela Island

Enough wildlife seems to be not a valid expression today. We have been exposed to surprising sightings, one after the other, from sunrise to sunset.

We cruised this morning along the northern tip of Isabela Island and discovered an amazing pod of Pilot whales. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149957&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=9 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Islander in Galápagos]]> Santa Cruz Island

The most dynamic town of the Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, holds the headquarters of the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galápagos National Park, on Santa Cruz Island. Right after breakfast, we were ready to disembark and see it all! Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149886&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=5 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Endeavour in Galápagos]]> Floreana Island

We woke up this morning in front of Post Office Bay on Floreana Island. This was a great day and we saw everything we could have dreamed of. We started very early in the morning with a wet landing on a smooth sandy beach. Read more ...]]> http://www.expeditions.com/DER_Details113.asp?DailyReport=149942&SearchSource=Rss&Ship=20 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST <![CDATA[From the National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica]]> Cape Horn & Beagle Channel

For many early mariners, the view of Cape Horn signaled the end of the known world, beyond which may have existed the realms of fantastic mythological beasts and lost civilizations, or as easily, a mist-shrouded expanse of endless unnavigable and bottomless sea. Read more ...]]>