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Published: November 9th 2007
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Hello Everybody.
Oh my goodness its been a very long time now since I made a blog entry... The past few weeks have gone in a blur, we´ve been on the go constantly and now that I´ve finally got the time to sit down and complete some blog entries I´m not quite sure where to start!
I know that when I last spoke to you all I was about to go on a boat tour (Cruise - you could call it) of the Galapagos Islands which are unreachable in a day trip. So I guess this would be a good place to start.
My Friend Lee and myself managed to get our selves booked on a four day/ 3 night cruise of the South Islands (you need 8 days to travel to the north Islands as well). This included the Islands of Española, Floreana and Santa Fe.
I left the booking agents feeling considerably lighter given that my wallet (and pockets and security belt) had just been completely emptied to pay for this trip but looking forward to the novelty of being on a "Tourist class" boat for 4days. For your information there are about 6 classes
above "Tourist Class" and only one below aka. "See you at the bottom of the ocean" class. Mine was at least "get you most of the way before the engine packs up" class.
We spent the First day visiting the ranch on which the Tortoises gallop free (previously mentioned on Santa Cruz) I´m sure you can imagine how delighted I was to see my old Tortoise friends once again and they seemed equally pleased to see me! What followed was an hour of hearing the same "fascinating" Tortoise facts, that I´ve heard, lived and Swept up for the past month! It was worth the trip however to bond with my new boat mates, with whom I would be spending the next four days in a very small space. It turns out I was going to be sharing the boat with 9 Australians who enjoyed nearly every word spoken in an English accent (easily pleased!)
We arrived on our Catamaran on the first evening and it really was going to be a snug 4 days. There were 10 tourists and 5 crew. Plus in each cabin for 2 there was about enough space to turn around (barely ) and
all the beds were two mattresses next to each other...i.e a nice cosy double bed. Luckily I was in a cabin with Lee who was already well accustomed to my napping habits.
To be honest the whole trip from the first night onwards tended to blend into one with no hugely outstanding features. The days we spent on the various islands,enjoying the wildlife and snorkelling whenever we got the opportunity. The nights were spent travelling to the various Islands , the furthest of which was Española which took 9 hours to get to.
All the islands were beautiful but in a very sparse way. As they are all volcanic rock there is very little greenery and most of the islands look quiet like I imagine the moon. The animals are amazing and completely unthreatened, you can get so close to all of them and we had great fun snorkelling with the sharks, sea lions and tortoises. I managed to impress everyone with my completely natural, cool, calm, survival skills when a shark swam past, which consisted of me swallowing half the water in my snorkel, spluttering out the rest while shouting "assume the vertical position" (so´s not to
resemble a sea lion (i.e. food)). Thank God for David Attenborough and the Blue Planet, I think I may have saved lives!!
My favourites, however, are easily the Blue Footed Boobies or the Pelicans. They´re so impressive when they fly and dive. The Sealions are cute but they absolutely stink (Wet Fishy Dog!) urrrggghhh.
One Highlight was visiting Post office Island one which travellers have built a small post office i.e. a barrel with loads of post cards inside. It depends completely on other travellers looking through the pile of cards in the barrel and finding one that's from someone close to home. They then need to take that card and delivery it by hand when they get home. At the same time, hopefully someone will find the card they have deposited and deliver it by hand (NO STAMPS - that's naughty!)
I found a card from a really interesting woman in Brierley Hill, Birmingham. I say "interesting" as her message all the way from the Galapagos Islands for her loved ones was.... "Doug, let me know if the system works!". Still I´m sure this message is important for Doug so I will deliver it on my
return.
So all the islands were lovely, the boat was good fun, our chef was great (pancakes for breakfast!!) but my favourite part of the whole boating experience was sitting with my book on the top of the Catamaran at sunset, just enjoying the ocean... oh if only I had a guitar (and could play it!)
The boat tour was well worth it and I was actually very fond of our little boat when it was parked along side huge first class Yachts that couldn´t get nearly as close to shore as our little "Galapagos Vision".
I would definitely recommend slumming it for the most fun!
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non-member comment
hello nump
guess what nump i am sat at work taking call after call and when eventually there is a break i can have a good giggle at you new blogg , thought i would let you know that i was thinking of you x