Our flight out the next morning from Quito out to the island of San Cristobal proved the thought wrong, it was HOT and HUMID. Our rather large group was divied up into 3 smaller groups to lodge in our 'homestays'- I wouldn't quite have classified it as such. You don't really stay with a family, but it was more like a guest house. Regardless, it was still fine and our shower was hot. Our house full of girls headed down to the pier, where we were greeted by a shwack ton of lounging sea lions! They were everywhere, on benches, under them, in shade, in the sun, along the boardwalk, blocking people from passing. It was so hilarious to watch them laze about, bark, and canoodle with their family members. We visited a small museum, that focused on the terrible history of the killing of the sea turtles and tortoises, the persecution of those that had done it, and the reparations that have been done since and are currently being done to maintain an adequate environment for the animals on the island. They had displays of the figures and stats of energy harvesting from solar, wind and water power, amongst other impressive steps that they are acting in to improve the environment of the Galapagos Islands. We walked along a pathway surrounded by the immense amount of volcanic rock to a cove that we all swam out into, where we discovered our first encounter snorkelling with sea turtles, and cool little fish that inhabited the reef. The next day we taken out by boat to this one channel that housed loads of sea lions that would come up and swim with you. Being the curious creatures they are, they would essentially play 'chicken' with you where they would swim up to you face to face, till you though they would smack into you, then they would dart at the last minute to avoid you---VERY cool and fun! We then got boated out to this amazing landmark known as Kicker Rock, where we did some more snorkelling and swimming with hammerhead and galapagos sharks and other variety of colourful fish. It would have been really cool to scuba dive there, but alas I have yet to be certified-shoot. Apparently we saw the same things though, so I guess I didn't miss out on much.
The next day we boated over to Santa Cruz Island, a tad more of a city-ish town. We went to visit the Charles Darwin centre and the tortoise rehabilitation park. It was short and sweet, especially on such a hot sunny day. We went for a stroll to this white sand beach that afternoon, where we saw along the way blue footed boobies (a type of bird), Fregets (another type of bird with a big red beak sak), some more sea lions, and Sea Iguanas. When we finally got to the beach, it was breathtakingly beautiful, the water so so blue, and the sand so white, paradise! That night there were festivities for Earth Day at the main square, lots of fun to watch the dancing and listen to the live music. The next morning we ventured up to the highlands to visit a wild tortoise habitat...which was on a ranch, I dunno how 'wild' they really were, but they were scared of us and would growl if we came to close which may be a good sign that they are indeed wild?-I hope. Then a few of us ladies helped our 'guide'-(who was a little featherbrained, and not that well at being organized-and slightly rude at times) with grocery shopping for our camping night and trek on Isabella Island. He said that was the fastest shopping trip he ever had-what can I say we're efficient gals.
We took a boat ride over to Isabella Island and then headed off into the mist covered hills in the center of the island. We cooked and bbq'd up a storm that night. A few of us, including myself slept in the hammocks in the covered sheltered building, comfier than the ground that's for sure! That morning we walked up to Volcan Sierra Negra, essentially a crater, a HUGE lava field and some surrounding active volcanoes. It was a pretty neat hike about that area, definitely different views than I'm used to. The rest of the last few days were spent snorkelling, beachside, bar side, slack lining, on the dance floor, being whewed by locals. Fantastic end to a wonderful three month trip
We had a one final day in Quito, to have a wonderful dinner, go out dance, then go to the equator line the next morning before I flew out, and left some amazing people to carry on with the dream. Travel well, and travel safe my friends. It's been emotional, it's been a pleasure!
