Isabela & Fernandina Islands
When I first came to the Galapagos, I didn’t really know what to expect. Before I came, I was immersed in classrooms studying biology with teachers who told me about the natural world and predicted what things would be like when it was my turn to face it. Little did I know that my first job experience would be so mind-blowing and enjoyable that I would hardly ever look forward to vacations.
Landing in this arid and uninviting environment did not make for the best of first impressions. Cacti and dry, almost dead plants, were my first view of these islands. However, immediately my curiosity cancelled any possible thought of leaving right away. Of course since I was young and inexperienced I came with a lot of questions. It turned out that many of these questions could be best answered here.
It has now been eight years since I first set foot in Galapagos and with confidence I can state that the strong connection I have established with these islands will never be broken. Today I woke up early enough to see the first rays of light pouring into my porthole. When my eyes were used to the daylight, I looked out and could see that volcanoes surrounded me. Like tired ancient giants, they lay partly asleep on the ocean as if waiting to be awoken.
Every time I come to this part of the Archipelago my feelings for the islands grow much deeper. The westernmost part of Galapagos is enchanted and the spell works its way into everyone who sets eyes on these volcanoes. The day for me and for our guests passed rather quickly. When I think about all the wonderful experiences that happened to us today, it all seems so unreal.
I can hardly believe that after breakfast we went on a Zodiac ride with dolphins. I can hardly believe that this morning we were snorkeling with penguins, cormorants, sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles. Or that our encounter after lunch with 40 or 50 pilot whales really happened (see today’s photo).
My life has changed quite a bit since I left the classrooms. I have encountered a slice of the natural world that is even more exciting than what my teachers had promised. It is six o’clock in the evening now. The last rays of sunlight are gone. The dark sky and the stars have already appeared. I think of this not as the end of a day but as a beginning of a new one. Even better than that, I think of it as the beginning of a new day in my own real and special life...
When I first came to the Galapagos, I didn’t really know what to expect. Before I came, I was immersed in classrooms studying biology with teachers who told me about the natural world and predicted what things would be like when it was my turn to face it. Little did I know that my first job experience would be so mind-blowing and enjoyable that I would hardly ever look forward to vacations.
Landing in this arid and uninviting environment did not make for the best of first impressions. Cacti and dry, almost dead plants, were my first view of these islands. However, immediately my curiosity cancelled any possible thought of leaving right away. Of course since I was young and inexperienced I came with a lot of questions. It turned out that many of these questions could be best answered here.
It has now been eight years since I first set foot in Galapagos and with confidence I can state that the strong connection I have established with these islands will never be broken. Today I woke up early enough to see the first rays of light pouring into my porthole. When my eyes were used to the daylight, I looked out and could see that volcanoes surrounded me. Like tired ancient giants, they lay partly asleep on the ocean as if waiting to be awoken.
Every time I come to this part of the Archipelago my feelings for the islands grow much deeper. The westernmost part of Galapagos is enchanted and the spell works its way into everyone who sets eyes on these volcanoes. The day for me and for our guests passed rather quickly. When I think about all the wonderful experiences that happened to us today, it all seems so unreal.
I can hardly believe that after breakfast we went on a Zodiac ride with dolphins. I can hardly believe that this morning we were snorkeling with penguins, cormorants, sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles. Or that our encounter after lunch with 40 or 50 pilot whales really happened (see today’s photo).
My life has changed quite a bit since I left the classrooms. I have encountered a slice of the natural world that is even more exciting than what my teachers had promised. It is six o’clock in the evening now. The last rays of sunlight are gone. The dark sky and the stars have already appeared. I think of this not as the end of a day but as a beginning of a new one. Even better than that, I think of it as the beginning of a new day in my own real and special life...
