Española Island
What a blast we have ALL had, here on the Islander, during every single minute of the last day of this year. Wrapping 2005 up and stepping into 2006, with incredible and unforgettable experiences in nature, and with great fun and good cheer, gives me high hopes that this will be an exceptionally good year.
I can’t even begin to recount all that we have done and seen and felt today – so for those of you who were sadly not here on the ship with us, the best I can do is outline our activities. If you have had the privilege of voyaging with Lindblad in these Enchanted Galápagos Islands, then you will no doubt understand why I am having such a hard time expressing the magic we shared yesterday. If you have not been to these Islands yet, you really must come: and no time in the year is more fun or more beautiful than the New Year’s trip.
In the morning we chose to snorkel (wonderful conditions and great fish and wildlife sightings) or kayak (spectacular paddling across the turquoise bay among sea turtles and then along the shore of a couple islets where sea lions and marine iguanas rested). Then we all visited one of the most beautiful island beaches in the world that does not have a hotel on it! This mile long beach of fine white sand is home for a large number of sea lions and the pesky and curious endemic Hood Island mockingbirds. It was so beautiful on shore this morning that we were reluctant to leave. We could easily have stayed all day long right here. Back on the ship we jumped from the bridge deck expressing our exuberance and joy in screams and laughter as we plunged into the cool turquoise ocean.
The afternoon’s walk was right up there at the top of the list of our best hikes this week. Colourful “Christmas iguanas” (male marine iguanas in their red and turquoise courtship coloration), sea lions with young pups, Nazca boobies with fluffy chicks and tiny naked recently hatched ons, and dancing waved albatross are some of the highlights from our walk along that rocky trail. An adult hawk perched regally on a lava outcrop and inspected us as we passed. Where else do wild raptors let humans come so close to them? We enjoyed breathtaking views from the high cliffs and of the blow hole and then looped back across the island through the albatross nesting colony.
When we stepped into the Zodiacs we bid a sad farewell to the islands; but the fun was about to begin back on board. We gathered in the lounge and entertained each other with songs and poems and skits, the likes of which have never been seen before on the Islander! What a talented and cohesive group of guests!! Then we enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner that was set up on the Sky Deck; crew and guests dined together, then danced (and laughed, whistled and hollered) until midnight. Waiter Xavier dressed as the “Old Year’s” desolate widow and cried and carried on, we wore red and yellow (for luck in love and in general), carried money in our pockets (so we will have money during the year) and ran around deck toting suitcases (we hope for much travel). We yelled out the countdown, had a champagne toast and then burned up the paper mache and cardboard “Old Year” figures that the crew had constructed. After several hours of such merriment and dancing, most of us now hurried off to bed.
M/S Islander has been in operation here in the Galápagos for exactly one year: we inaugurated with the Christmas and New Year expeditions in 2004. It has been a fabulous year for those of us who make up the IL team: we are a closely knit group of staff, crew and officers and we all love our jobs on this happy ship. I have spent a lot of last year on this lovely little ship and I know what it means to have a good group and a good time, but I had a hard time explaining yesterday… Yep, I guess you just had to be here, to completely understand what an awesome day we had!
What a blast we have ALL had, here on the Islander, during every single minute of the last day of this year. Wrapping 2005 up and stepping into 2006, with incredible and unforgettable experiences in nature, and with great fun and good cheer, gives me high hopes that this will be an exceptionally good year.
I can’t even begin to recount all that we have done and seen and felt today – so for those of you who were sadly not here on the ship with us, the best I can do is outline our activities. If you have had the privilege of voyaging with Lindblad in these Enchanted Galápagos Islands, then you will no doubt understand why I am having such a hard time expressing the magic we shared yesterday. If you have not been to these Islands yet, you really must come: and no time in the year is more fun or more beautiful than the New Year’s trip.
In the morning we chose to snorkel (wonderful conditions and great fish and wildlife sightings) or kayak (spectacular paddling across the turquoise bay among sea turtles and then along the shore of a couple islets where sea lions and marine iguanas rested). Then we all visited one of the most beautiful island beaches in the world that does not have a hotel on it! This mile long beach of fine white sand is home for a large number of sea lions and the pesky and curious endemic Hood Island mockingbirds. It was so beautiful on shore this morning that we were reluctant to leave. We could easily have stayed all day long right here. Back on the ship we jumped from the bridge deck expressing our exuberance and joy in screams and laughter as we plunged into the cool turquoise ocean.
The afternoon’s walk was right up there at the top of the list of our best hikes this week. Colourful “Christmas iguanas” (male marine iguanas in their red and turquoise courtship coloration), sea lions with young pups, Nazca boobies with fluffy chicks and tiny naked recently hatched ons, and dancing waved albatross are some of the highlights from our walk along that rocky trail. An adult hawk perched regally on a lava outcrop and inspected us as we passed. Where else do wild raptors let humans come so close to them? We enjoyed breathtaking views from the high cliffs and of the blow hole and then looped back across the island through the albatross nesting colony.
When we stepped into the Zodiacs we bid a sad farewell to the islands; but the fun was about to begin back on board. We gathered in the lounge and entertained each other with songs and poems and skits, the likes of which have never been seen before on the Islander! What a talented and cohesive group of guests!! Then we enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner that was set up on the Sky Deck; crew and guests dined together, then danced (and laughed, whistled and hollered) until midnight. Waiter Xavier dressed as the “Old Year’s” desolate widow and cried and carried on, we wore red and yellow (for luck in love and in general), carried money in our pockets (so we will have money during the year) and ran around deck toting suitcases (we hope for much travel). We yelled out the countdown, had a champagne toast and then burned up the paper mache and cardboard “Old Year” figures that the crew had constructed. After several hours of such merriment and dancing, most of us now hurried off to bed.
M/S Islander has been in operation here in the Galápagos for exactly one year: we inaugurated with the Christmas and New Year expeditions in 2004. It has been a fabulous year for those of us who make up the IL team: we are a closely knit group of staff, crew and officers and we all love our jobs on this happy ship. I have spent a lot of last year on this lovely little ship and I know what it means to have a good group and a good time, but I had a hard time explaining yesterday… Yep, I guess you just had to be here, to completely understand what an awesome day we had!
