Boca de Soledad
Thick fog settled into the Boca de Soledad, or mouth of Solitude, a very fitting description of the early morning first run of Zodiacs, looking for the beautiful grays. Zen like monographic landscape surrounded us as we made our way from the ship, sea melting into sky in silver gray-tones as dark cormorants and pelicans flew nearby. Eager eyes spotted some large figures pushing from the formless sea, lazily making their way down the canal with babies in tow. As the sun broke through, the activity increased with more encounters and sightings, especially in the later morning runs.
To many, no words can explain the encounter of touching a whale as well as observing them in many behaviors, and for most of us, a first time event.
Life-changing, highly spiritual, pure joy, ecstasy, fun, exuberant, soft, rubbery-feeling are just a few descriptions of these close-up interactions. We take this event home with us in different ways; our memories, photos, sharing it with loved ones, but the message and heart of the matter seems to be that these creatures enjoy many of the things that we as humans also do. Playing with and protecting our young, socializing, feeding and exercising them, as well as their sense of curiosity and enjoyment of touch. It seems that they are as intrigued about us as we are of them.
As the light lengthened in the sky casting long rays of gold across the sandy shores and deep blue sea, numerous blows out towards the sand bar of the Boca drew our Zodiacs like a magnet. Many singles were congregated here, too numerous to count, displaying all the behaviors of highly exciting whale activity like spy-hopping, fluking, multiple breaches and mating behaviors! We had to pull ourselves away from the grand display as ol’ sol sunk low and happy hour called us in.
Music from the local trio called Los Coyotes filled the lounge as stories of the day were shared amidst suntanned faces and big smiles; a stellar day of truly being among the great whales!
Thick fog settled into the Boca de Soledad, or mouth of Solitude, a very fitting description of the early morning first run of Zodiacs, looking for the beautiful grays. Zen like monographic landscape surrounded us as we made our way from the ship, sea melting into sky in silver gray-tones as dark cormorants and pelicans flew nearby. Eager eyes spotted some large figures pushing from the formless sea, lazily making their way down the canal with babies in tow. As the sun broke through, the activity increased with more encounters and sightings, especially in the later morning runs.
To many, no words can explain the encounter of touching a whale as well as observing them in many behaviors, and for most of us, a first time event.
Life-changing, highly spiritual, pure joy, ecstasy, fun, exuberant, soft, rubbery-feeling are just a few descriptions of these close-up interactions. We take this event home with us in different ways; our memories, photos, sharing it with loved ones, but the message and heart of the matter seems to be that these creatures enjoy many of the things that we as humans also do. Playing with and protecting our young, socializing, feeding and exercising them, as well as their sense of curiosity and enjoyment of touch. It seems that they are as intrigued about us as we are of them.
As the light lengthened in the sky casting long rays of gold across the sandy shores and deep blue sea, numerous blows out towards the sand bar of the Boca drew our Zodiacs like a magnet. Many singles were congregated here, too numerous to count, displaying all the behaviors of highly exciting whale activity like spy-hopping, fluking, multiple breaches and mating behaviors! We had to pull ourselves away from the grand display as ol’ sol sunk low and happy hour called us in.
Music from the local trio called Los Coyotes filled the lounge as stories of the day were shared amidst suntanned faces and big smiles; a stellar day of truly being among the great whales!
