Hi All,
My last adventure on this trip - The Galapagos Islands. This is an incredible
place. Set 1000 KM off the Ecuadorian Coast, its isolation created species not
seen elswhere in the world. Of the 5000 species of animals, about half appear
nowhere else on earth. The same is true of the plant life, about 1/2 are
indigenous to the islands. When Darwin visited here in the mid 1800's, his
curiousity was arroused by the isolation of the islands and the amazing things
he noted how the different species evolved in an isolated environment.
Many of the islands are stark 'moonscape' topography, made up of geologically
new volcanic lava flows. Sticking out of this lava are amazing plantlife and
wildlife.
The animals are quite different, yet some are similiar to what we, living on the
coast, are familiar with. Sea lions are similiar, but the iguana lizards are
very unique. I believe this is the only place in the world where there exists
aquatic iguanas. Yes, they walk down the beach and stroll right into the water
and swim. They feed on plantlife (algae) in the surf. Then come back up on the
beach to warm up. They are cold blooded creatures.
And the birds are amazing. I went on an all day tour of Seymour Island, saw the
Frigate birds in mating season..the males puffing up a big red sack under their
chin, showing off trying to attract the females.
And the most impressive thing to me was, you stroll past the wildlife, just feet
away. A few feet away from mother birds and their young, and they seem calm.
There are no predators here. Humans have never been a threat to any of the
animals, so they have no fear of us. Its something that takes getting used to.
They just stay there and watch you.
Hope some of these pictures show just a few highlights of what I saw
Well Wednesday, I´m off back to Guayaquil, then home.
It's been an incredible journey, I enjoyed sharing it with you.
Yours in Travel
Bill
