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Leg : Galapagos |
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On our way to the Galapagos Islands and just 30 miles from Panama City we decided to visit the Las Perlas Islands. While we were there there was a mix up with the ocean currents and the sea was very cold and full of algae making swimming and snorkelling impossible. However we were able to take the dinghy ashore and walk on long white beaches fringed with palm trees, a good introduction to the Pacific 'Dream' |
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Sue and Gill rejoined us in Galapagos and we made a day excusion to the hills to see the giant tortoises 'in the wild'. This picture gives some indication of the size of these monstrous creatures |
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Here we found a rare sight - one of the females on the move. Most are lying under bushes or in ponds, keeping cool |
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And here is one who was gettiing quite used to the camera. "This is my best side, I'll look over here, Hows That?" |
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It is very difficult to get permission to travel round the islands in a private boqat and so we left Spirit of Affric at anchor in Port Ayora and moved onto 'MV Seaman' for a four day cruise round some of the other islands |
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First stop was at 'Post Office Bay', where, for centuries, a tradition has grown for whalers and then other seamen to leave their mail in a barrel for onward delivery by other mariners. So we dropped off some post cards and collected others for Sue to take home to post in Scotland |
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The wild life of the Galapagos is truly amazing and for the most part the animals are unafrid of man. As we sailed along frigate birds would fly beside us, and some would take food from an upstreached hand. |
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When we went ashore on some of the islands the Frigate birds were courting and building nests. The male has a huge red sack that he inflates to attract his mate |
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Next there were the Boobies, and the most famous being the blue footed boobies. (Tee shirt makers have a field day with this one 'I {heart} blue boobies' etc.) But their mating dance is priceless. They do a 'silly walk' , posturing and stretching and making quite a noise |
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And here are two more. The male also picks up little sticks and places them near the female, who has to decide which male picks up his sticks most elegantly and who lifts his blue feet the highest............. |
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Everywhere there are fantastically coloured crabs and at certain times of the day you look at rocks in the sea and think they are red. Closer examination shows they are covered in crabs |
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There are several sorts of iguana in the islands, the land ones are unique to their own island although the marine iguanas swim long distances out to sea to find kelp to eat |
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These creatures give you the impression they have not changed since dinasaurs were walking the earth |
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Not all the wild life is on the islands and we were lucky enough to find a pod of pilot whales and spent some time with them. THey seemed to enjoy being near the boat and we wondered if the vibration from the idling engine was attracting them. |
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And best of all there were the sealions. We went swimming with them and they are so full of character, here one male who did not 'own' his own beach decided to use the dinghy for sun bathing |
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All together now "Aahhh" |
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The last word has to go to this female who takes relaxation to new heights as the sun sets over Galapagos and we must move on......................... |