Floreana Island
Early in the morning we arrived to Floreana Island and anchored right in front of Post Office Bay. After a light breakfast, we headed ashore to look for a wooden barrel in which letters and postcards were left by others that, just like us, are using this barrel as a way to send out mail. The way it works is still the way it did since the late 1700’s, when Captain James Colnett came to the island and used the barrel. He was the one who mentioned the barrel for the first time; therefore, it is assumed he left it there first. The main idea of it was to leave mail that was supposed to be picked up and later on was going to be hand-delivered on the way back home by other sailors.
The tradition continues still today and we picked up some letters to be hand-delivered later on when we get back home. After honoring this tradition we returned aboard to continue to Champion Islet where we went looking for the elusive Floreana mockingbird and later on we went snorkeling.
For the afternoon we went kayaking, had some time on the beach of Punta Cormorant and went walking along a volcanic cinder trail looking for flamingoes, coastal and lagoon birds, and finally at the end of the trail we got to a gorgeous white sand beach where sea turtles laid their eggs. There we encountered not only the turtle’s nesting ground but also a lonely frigate patrolling just in case the turtle hatchlings came out of their nests during day time, which may be possible but very unusual.
We returned back to the ship to have the preview from Rodrigo, our Video Chronicler, and to share all the great things we saw and experienced today.
