Santa Cruz Island
When I arrive to the dock, thirty one kids in bright uniforms crowd the benches. They look anxious, and search the horizon for the National Geographic Polaris, the famous ship on which they are about to embark. For most of them it is the first time ever visiting a boat bigger than the yellow fiberglass dinghies that serve as aqua taxis in town. For most of them it is the first time exploring Punta Estrada, its cliffs, and the bay around the corner.
I introduce myself; introduce the drivers of the three Zodiacs that take us through the waves. Some kids look nervous; the sea, part of their everyday lives, is a vast unexplored world they seldom enjoy; and when there is lack of knowledge, there is fear. It seems unbelievable, but few Galápaguenian children really take advantage of the marvelous ocean that surrounds their islands. Most of their parents came from the highlands of Ecuador, and have a deep rooted apprehension for the seas. It isn’t easy either to just take a boat and move around. So, here I am, with 31 kids that laugh, cry, and scream to celebrate each swell, each sea turtle and blue-footed booby.
On board they meet the captain and Hotel staff. They actively participate in my presentation. They know what endemic, native, and introduced mean; they have learnt the theory at school; today they were at sea, they smelled it, they saw its creatures first hand.
In the mean time our guests explore the Charles Darwin Research Station headquarters, meet tortoises George and Diego. The highlands were crowded with tortoises in the wild; vermillion flycatchers and woodpecker finches made several apparitions. I am happy today!
When I arrive to the dock, thirty one kids in bright uniforms crowd the benches. They look anxious, and search the horizon for the National Geographic Polaris, the famous ship on which they are about to embark. For most of them it is the first time ever visiting a boat bigger than the yellow fiberglass dinghies that serve as aqua taxis in town. For most of them it is the first time exploring Punta Estrada, its cliffs, and the bay around the corner.
I introduce myself; introduce the drivers of the three Zodiacs that take us through the waves. Some kids look nervous; the sea, part of their everyday lives, is a vast unexplored world they seldom enjoy; and when there is lack of knowledge, there is fear. It seems unbelievable, but few Galápaguenian children really take advantage of the marvelous ocean that surrounds their islands. Most of their parents came from the highlands of Ecuador, and have a deep rooted apprehension for the seas. It isn’t easy either to just take a boat and move around. So, here I am, with 31 kids that laugh, cry, and scream to celebrate each swell, each sea turtle and blue-footed booby.
On board they meet the captain and Hotel staff. They actively participate in my presentation. They know what endemic, native, and introduced mean; they have learnt the theory at school; today they were at sea, they smelled it, they saw its creatures first hand.
In the mean time our guests explore the Charles Darwin Research Station headquarters, meet tortoises George and Diego. The highlands were crowded with tortoises in the wild; vermillion flycatchers and woodpecker finches made several apparitions. I am happy today!
