Santa Cruz Island
We arrived early this morning at Academy Bay, on the island of Santa Cruz. The day began looking rather threatening, as if it would burst out in rain showers at any moment. On the contrary, we got sun most of the day, and very warm air. The water temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air felt even hotter. We were heading to the Charles Darwin Research Station and its collection of giant tortoises, as our visit was aimed towards learning about the breeding program of these strange animals. On disembarking on the man-made National Park Service dock though, the first reptiles to welcome us were marine iguanas, amongst the largest of the Galapagos subspecies.
The two kids that we have on board this week were constantly amazed. Very few Ecuadorian kids, even Galapageans (Galapageños), ever have the chance to visit the uninhabited islands of this wondrous archipelago. In this case the boys, residents of the islands, were completely committed, with every new encounter, to respect and protect this place as they grow up.
We have a deep obligation to help as much as we can, so that those that will take our place will in their turn one day help to maintain a beautiful and clean Galapagos (…and rest of the world!).
We arrived early this morning at Academy Bay, on the island of Santa Cruz. The day began looking rather threatening, as if it would burst out in rain showers at any moment. On the contrary, we got sun most of the day, and very warm air. The water temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air felt even hotter. We were heading to the Charles Darwin Research Station and its collection of giant tortoises, as our visit was aimed towards learning about the breeding program of these strange animals. On disembarking on the man-made National Park Service dock though, the first reptiles to welcome us were marine iguanas, amongst the largest of the Galapagos subspecies.
The two kids that we have on board this week were constantly amazed. Very few Ecuadorian kids, even Galapageans (Galapageños), ever have the chance to visit the uninhabited islands of this wondrous archipelago. In this case the boys, residents of the islands, were completely committed, with every new encounter, to respect and protect this place as they grow up.
We have a deep obligation to help as much as we can, so that those that will take our place will in their turn one day help to maintain a beautiful and clean Galapagos (…and rest of the world!).
