I always wanted to visit the place that inspired Charles Darwin to conclude that spices evolved — so Ros and I went to the Galapagos.
Our home for the five day cruise was the M/V Explorer, which can accommodate up to 100 passengers. Lucky for us, there were only 25 passengers on board during our stay, so with a full crew complement, we were positively pampered! Our cabin was small but comfortable and equipped with a private bathroom.
The food was absolutely fabulous, so Ros reminded me on a few occasions that I’d “already had lunch” after I returned to the table with Full Plate #2 or #3. (I battled with my weight for years and don’t want to go back there — but sometimes the temptation is just too much!)
Each evening there was a presentation about what we were going to do and see the next day.
Typically, there were two outings each day. We would put ashore in small groups about 8 persons with a guide. Some afternoons would be spent at leisure on the beach where we could swim and snorkel.
It was thrilling to see the wonderful creatures that can only be found on these remote islands. We saw sea lions, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, flightless cormorants, pelicans, dolphins, whales, Darwin finches and giant tortoises.
Better yet, in the Galapagos islands you can get up close and personal with the wildlife.
We swam with sea lions. It was amazing to be in the water with these animals who seemed to be perpetually smiling and having fun. The best part was when they would swim directly at you and then turn at the very last second. It was almost as if they were playing with us.
The Galapagos Islands lie 650 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Our visited started with a flight from Guayaquil to Baltra. The airport at Baltra was built by the U.S. military during World War 2 to guard the Panama Canal.
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