Bartolome and Santiago Islands
A day starts so well when one has the chance to go out with the rising sun, and walk to the top of a mountain to enjoy the splendorous view of an island waking up. We rouse while the animals and the colors stir and change. Only at the very top of the mountain do our eyes finally absorb it all: the beauty of a young volcano covered by lava flows and parasitic spatter cones (see today’s photo of the view from Bartolome). And all this was on today’s early morning walk at Bartolome!
Back on the Polaris we had breakfast on the Teak Deck, and continued admiring the view of the island and of the varied colors and pure volcanic beauty. With our energy renewed, we took the Zodiacs again to land on a different location of the same small island. This time there was a short beach walk, glass bottom boating and a chance to get in the water with penguins and sharks. And again, all this in the morning!
The afternoon brought us yet another good snorkeling opportunity, where some of us saw green sea turtles, many fish and sea lions. Then we took a walk, the grand finale of the week, where we had the chance to see many of the species we have enjoyed tremendously this week. Iguanas, fur seals, various shore birds, and recently born sea lions awaited us along the shoreline of Santiago Island. They seemed to be trying to remind us of every amazing and unique creature found in this unique part of the world. We don’t want to forget them; we hope that memories of Galapagos stay with us forever!
A day starts so well when one has the chance to go out with the rising sun, and walk to the top of a mountain to enjoy the splendorous view of an island waking up. We rouse while the animals and the colors stir and change. Only at the very top of the mountain do our eyes finally absorb it all: the beauty of a young volcano covered by lava flows and parasitic spatter cones (see today’s photo of the view from Bartolome). And all this was on today’s early morning walk at Bartolome!
Back on the Polaris we had breakfast on the Teak Deck, and continued admiring the view of the island and of the varied colors and pure volcanic beauty. With our energy renewed, we took the Zodiacs again to land on a different location of the same small island. This time there was a short beach walk, glass bottom boating and a chance to get in the water with penguins and sharks. And again, all this in the morning!
The afternoon brought us yet another good snorkeling opportunity, where some of us saw green sea turtles, many fish and sea lions. Then we took a walk, the grand finale of the week, where we had the chance to see many of the species we have enjoyed tremendously this week. Iguanas, fur seals, various shore birds, and recently born sea lions awaited us along the shoreline of Santiago Island. They seemed to be trying to remind us of every amazing and unique creature found in this unique part of the world. We don’t want to forget them; we hope that memories of Galapagos stay with us forever!
