Bartholomew and James Island
It is our first morning in the Galápagos Islands. We can hardly believe it or wait to get out of our home-for the week, the M.S.Islander, and onto these precious and prehistoric isles. Our first stop today is Bartholomew Island, famous for its geology and magnificent landscape. It is only 6:30 in the morning when our willful explorers set out for the climb to the top of the hill, treading up a couple hundred wooden steps. A few animals are found along the way; some marine iguanas at the landing dock, blue footed boobies flying and fishing nearby and later on, a few lava lizards. The real reward, however, is found at the summit where we have a wonderful view of the whole island of Bartholomew. Beyond its spatter cones and across a small expanse of blue ocean, we see the much larger neighbor island of James. After this energetic morning, we are so ready for breakfast. After breakfast, we prepared for our first snorkeling outing! We swim off the golden sand beach and encounter several playful sea lions and a couple of marine turtles. Over a sand dune to a second beach we watch sharks in the shallow. This is truly incredible.
In the afternoon, we land on a black beach on James Island. Some of us are snorkeling and others decide to walk first. We are all captured by the magic of James Island. When we reach the coast, we find our first fur seals. They are hidden under rocky overhangs and are resting among the lava rocks. Brown pelicans fly past us and many shore birds are feeding along the tide line. There are also many Galapagos sea lions here and some of the hungry pups come towards us hopefully. They sniff us and quickly realize that we are not their mothers! Marine iguanas are numerous along the coast. As the afternoon cools off we start seeing them in piles getting ready for the night. A close look at their faces and they appear to be grinning. From another angle, they look mysterious and enigmatic; as if they have secrets to hide. One secret that we have uncovered today is the fact that this is certainly a piece of paradise. We are happy and privileged to be here.
It is our first morning in the Galápagos Islands. We can hardly believe it or wait to get out of our home-for the week, the M.S.Islander, and onto these precious and prehistoric isles. Our first stop today is Bartholomew Island, famous for its geology and magnificent landscape. It is only 6:30 in the morning when our willful explorers set out for the climb to the top of the hill, treading up a couple hundred wooden steps. A few animals are found along the way; some marine iguanas at the landing dock, blue footed boobies flying and fishing nearby and later on, a few lava lizards. The real reward, however, is found at the summit where we have a wonderful view of the whole island of Bartholomew. Beyond its spatter cones and across a small expanse of blue ocean, we see the much larger neighbor island of James. After this energetic morning, we are so ready for breakfast. After breakfast, we prepared for our first snorkeling outing! We swim off the golden sand beach and encounter several playful sea lions and a couple of marine turtles. Over a sand dune to a second beach we watch sharks in the shallow. This is truly incredible.
In the afternoon, we land on a black beach on James Island. Some of us are snorkeling and others decide to walk first. We are all captured by the magic of James Island. When we reach the coast, we find our first fur seals. They are hidden under rocky overhangs and are resting among the lava rocks. Brown pelicans fly past us and many shore birds are feeding along the tide line. There are also many Galapagos sea lions here and some of the hungry pups come towards us hopefully. They sniff us and quickly realize that we are not their mothers! Marine iguanas are numerous along the coast. As the afternoon cools off we start seeing them in piles getting ready for the night. A close look at their faces and they appear to be grinning. From another angle, they look mysterious and enigmatic; as if they have secrets to hide. One secret that we have uncovered today is the fact that this is certainly a piece of paradise. We are happy and privileged to be here.
