Santa Cruz Island

The huge dark cloud that we found early this morning was slowly displaced by the rising sun, giving the morning a glorious tint typical of a movie scene. The morning was going to be bright and probably hot! And indeed, during our visit to the tortoise corrals at the National Park Service facilities, we experienced a very tropical humid heat accompanied by a sustained light breeze that made the experience a very pleasant one.

The giant tortoises, as usual, gave us many things to think about, such as their longevity, how efficient their digestion is, how long they can go without food and many other facts that make a tortoise a tortoise.

The morning heat was transformed almost magically into a pleasant overcast, although it was still warm again during our afternoon visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Immense black cedar trees created an inviting landscape where at least a dozen giant tortoises were grazing. The presence of cattle among our surrounds made the scene somehow odd, but we understood immediately how contrasting these Enchanted Islands can be.

As we descended to town, gradually a huge dark cloud started to cover the highlands of Santa Cruz as the sun set… it may rain tonight.

We have had a great day, where everybody; children and adults altogether enjoyed their moments, their families and new friends.