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Published: November 19th 2007
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We have so many photos for this island, they have run over two pages, so make sure you don´t miss the second page of snaps!!
Post Office Bay First stop on our Galapagos itinerary was Post Office Bay. This is famous for it´s old postal service - years ago people could leave their mail in a little barrel on the island, and passing ships would collect the post and send it on for them. This tradition is still honoured by tourists who leave a postcard in the barrel and take one from their country home with them. We were a bit skeptical but played along and left a scribbled card in the barrel and took two with us to post back in the UK. Amazingly a lady from Sussex personally delivered the card to Rachel´s house two days ago - she was in the area visiting someone in Slitting Mill. Certainly faster than the Air Mail service!!
Lava Tube The Galapagos Islands are very volcanic and on Floreana we visited a cave, which was actually a lava tube, which Marta rather than our guide pointed out. We descended a set of steep ladders into the abyss and crouched down
to stumble into the darkness. We heard Jim skid and fall on his ass, but only his pride was wounded. We probably had one flashlight between two people, and it was incredibly dark. We clambered through until we reached a pool, which a few brave souls wandered through to the end, but we didn´t want to get our trainers wet. The tunnel didn´t lead anywhere, so we admired the darkness and scooted back up the ladders to daylight.
On the beach, we enjoyed watching the Sally Lightfoot crabs skittering over the rocks. We found a pair that dancing almost in combat and we thought they were having a scrap, but then they started humping! Jase took some crab porn photos and then we left them in peace. The seal lions were far more interesting, so we eagerly donned our wetsuits and snorkel gear and jumped into the rather chilly surf. The sea lions swimming in the shallows were eager to play and perform for our camera, and were very curious, swimming right up to us to check us out. It was amazing to be so close to them! We snorkelled around the rocks looking at fish and rays hiding
on the sandy floor. Just before we left the bay, we found a turtle swimming in the shallows.
Cormorant Point In the afternoon, we visited Cormorant Point on Floreana and were greeted by sleepy sealions on the beach. We trekked up to a look out point, and spied on flamingoes trailing around a shallow lake for food, leaving a vivid set of tracks behind them, like a crazy spirograph design. We walked along the track to the beach, finding a shy, pretty lava lizard sunning itself on the rocks. As we waded in the gentle surf of the beach, we realised our feet were surrounded by loads of baby rays, just visible in the sand. They were drifting backwards and forwards in the tide and were only just visible in the waves breaking on the shore. Amazingly the sea was also full of turtles - mummies waiting for nightfall to scramble up the beach to lay their eggs. You could see them bobbing up and down in the waves, with an occasional head poking up for a puff of air.
Devil´s Crown We finished the afternoon with snorkelling at Devil´s Crown, a circle of rocks in the sea
near the island. We kitted up and went out on the little RIB, and rolled off into the freezing waves. There was quite a bit of swell and a strong current on the far side, but we swam to the rocks and the current drifted us to the other side, where we could enter the Crown for a nosey inside. We saw lots of King Angelfish, Yellowtail Surgeons and Bicolour Parrotfish. Inside the crown we swam with a big sea turtle for ages which was really cool, but we were both amazed when a blue-footed booby dived down in front of us and snapped up a fish. It was so fast it really took us by surprise!
For dinner it was seafood (ahhh!!!! no!!!!), we had actually enjoyed the fish steaks at lunchtime because they were so yummy and fresh, but we weren´t brave enough to eat the squidfest in front of us tonight. So we ate rice, carrots and salad - very low cal dinner! It didn´t stay down that long for Rach, when we pulled off and started rolling around in the cabin. Why is it you are always sick after eating carrots??? The tablets must have
post office bay
sailors would leave post for other ships to pick up to take with them. worn off by then, so decided to take them only we travel as it was fine when we were anchored.
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Debra
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Cute ahh
Cute sleepy seal lion, it looks friendly and smiley. Ahh. Your Ma was really chuffed getting the post card without a stamp from the nice lady from Sussex. :) Watch out Royal Mail.