| In August
2008 we joined many of our friends from the James Randi Educational Foundation on The Amazing Adventure 3, a tour of the Galapagos Islands on the good ship Celebrity Xpedition.
 |
We arrived in the Galapagos on the 2nd full day of our trip, after 2 nights and 1 day in Quito Ecuador. We landed at the airport on Baltra Island, then took Panga boats out to our home for the week, the Celebrity Xpedition.
After an elaborate lunch that made it clear we would be eating very well, we set sail for the island of North Seymour where most of these photos were taken.
The lovely bird in the thumbnail on our left is a Blue Footed Boobie, the cutest little creature I have ever seen, I love them! |
|
Overnight we sailed to San Cristobal Island which we visited during our morning tour, you can see the times for each photo in the EXIF data at the bottom of the page.
We returned to the Celebrity Xpedition for lunch while we sailed for Espanola Island, where we disembarked in the late afternoon to take the balance of the days photos.
This lovely sea lion was only one of literally thousands that we saw. |
 |
As we slept that night the ship went on to Floreana Island where we spent the entire day on August 12, 2008.
Shown on the left is a Sally Lightfoot Crab, we also saw Pink Flamingos, more Sea Lions, Frigate Birds, and I had my photo taken standing next to James Randi.
I also managed to fall, twisting my knee after photographing some Pink Flamingos. This resulted in my missing a few excursions later in the week. In the remaining sets of photos, many were taken by my lovely husband Terry.
|
 |
Overnight we sailed to Bachas Beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. In the morning I discovered a giant grasshopper on the deck outside our top deck cabin. On shore we found many Marine Iguanas (shown left), the only Iguana that swims. They feed on algae and often pile up in huge groups on the lava rock shore.
That afternoon we went to Bartolome Island, I stayed on board while Terry joined the gang climbing to a high lookout point. Many folks went swimming. And there were Galapagos Penguins too, the only warm climate species of Penguin. There were more Sally Lightfoot Crabs too. |
 |
In the morning of August 14, 2008 we visited Isabela Island where we saw many Galapagos Land Iguanas like the handsome lad on the left. Just after lunch I saw a Penguin swimming next to the ship and photographed it looking straight down into the beautiful blue Pacific waters.
After lunch we visited Fernandina Island where we saw many species of birds, Mangrove trees, and an unusual cactus called Lava Cactus.
There was a whale skeleton set up as f a museum piece, and lots of very, very black lava rock.
Terry fell on a slippery lava rock but fortunately he was not injured.
|
 |
Friday August 15th found us at Santiago Island in the morning.
Again we saw many species of birds and also Galapagos Fur Seals, which are really a type of Sea Lion. There were more Sally Lightfoot Crabs, tidal pools and lava tubes to explore.
I stayed onboard nursing my kneee, all of these photos were taken by Terry using my camera.
In the afternoon we visited Santa Cruz Island and saw lizards and Land Iguanas. |
 |
Overnight we sailed around Santa Cruz Island to the south side and the city of Puerto Ayora. We all went onshore and visited the world famous Charles Darwin Research Station, home of Lonesome George, the last known survivor of the Pinta Island subspecies (Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni) of Giant Galapagos Tortoise.
We got many fantastic photos of Giant Tortoises, but George was hiding in the shrubbery. Can you find the single photo showing the top of the carapace of Lonesome George? (hint: 5814)
The next day we flew back to Quito, and on Monday August 18th we returned to the United States. |
|
