Santa Cruz Island
This morning was a demonstration of the fact we have arrived into the “garúa” season – meaning the inversion layer, due to cooler sea surface temperatures, has finally cooled the air; it is felt in the lower temperatures and rolling banks of mist, and I love it! After a fairly hot and wet season, the cool temperatures are welcome, and as we disembarked into the grounds of the Galápagos National Park, we were dampened by one mist after another, and dried by clear weather in-between. At the far eastern end of the port town of Puerto Ayora lies the installations of the Charles Darwin Research Station, which in turn are next to the giant tortoise rearing center operated by the Park. The tortoises were our focus today, but on our way we stopped by the CDRS “Shade House” to see the local endemic and native plants the station personnel are trying to convince the locals to use as their ornamentals around their gardens, instead of the invasive, gaudy introduced plants that can cause great problems when they escape.
But back to tortoises again: Diego, the spectacular saddle-backed tortoise from Española Island who got his race back up and far from extinction; “Lonesome George” with his new girlfriends, remains in the spotlight in hopes a new generation will be produced (might take a while); six giant male tortoises with their shiny carapaces from the mist, caused some excitement by giving a good demonstration of how tortoises mate (the fact there was no female in the enclosure was not a deterrent); the young hatchling tortoises were peeking out from beneath their sheltering rocks as they awoke to a new day. It was a full morning, especially once it was combined with time in town for a bit of shopping before heading into the highlands. One group chose to visit a local school, whose novel approach to education is being supported by Lindblad Expeditions and our guests; another group chose to ride bicycles to the restaurant for lunch; we all stopped for a mid-morning coffee break in the highland town of Bellavista for fresh, Galápagos coffee, sugar cane juice (fresh-squeezed), and chocolate-swirl bread.
The afternoon was spent exploring further the highlands of this lush, green island, where giant tortoises roam at will, lava tubes disappear into the depths, and pit craters draw gasps of admiration. They were all seen, photographed and admired. By the time we returned back down to town, there was just a little time left for last-minute shopping or catching a few rounds of “Galápagos volleyball” in the town square before sunset.
One of our younger guests came up with a wonderful poem which expresses to perfection the day we spent on the island of Santa Cruz.
Galápagos Cruise
So lucky as one can be to see the things that you have and will see,
Including the Galápagos trees and the reptiles among these.
And with my injured knee, it has not stopped me from having fun and enjoying things we see.
Climb down the lava tube like Indiana Jones; conquer the wilderness like Christopher Columbus.
Next, sit down and enjoy chips and humus.
My trip with Papa Chuck and Nana Nancy, experiencing dinner right now is oh so fancy.
Writing things similar to what I’ve wrote, but have you ever wrote while sitting on a boat?
When I sit here and eat a little past the season of May, I look to my left and I see a sting ray.
Happy memories and no anger, it’s nice to become friends with someone who once appeared as a stranger.
On this fine cruise today there might have been rain,
But seeing Tortoises and nature did not cause us one pain.
Even though the trip will soon come to an end, it is not too early to set a trend.
So lucky as one can be, to see the things that you have and will see,
Including the Galápagos trees and the reptiles among these, and with my injured knee,
It has not stopped me from having fun and enjoying things we see,
But at the end of the day, I still stay happie.
By Chas Gustafson (a.k.a. Carlos Sanchez, 18 yrs)
