From the Galapagos with Love... Part 1 Blue Footed Boobies and Mail Pickup

Tuesday, April 5, 2016, WTRD 88

Thinking of my Mom today, as she would have been 89 on this birthday.

We rocked and rolled on our way to our destination last night.  Russ and I slept soundly, but many of our fellow passengers had a rough night.  it is a bit overcast this morning.  While snorkeling yesterday, black flies kept landing on my buoyant fanny and nipping me right through my suit bottom.  They didn't bother me until this morning, now they itch like crazy.  Time for some hydrocortisone cream. First time I've had to use it.

Breakfast is 7:00 pm and we are out for a panga ride, short walk and human history lesson of the Galapagos by 8:00.  Sometimes, I think it is more to get us off the ship so the crew can clean our cabins, than for a compelling offshore experience.  I'm a bit cranky today I think, but the onshore excursion turned out fine, even though it was blistering hot and humid.

We saw a few critters this morning on our way to Florena, but our camera lenses were so steamed up we couldn't see through them.  The combination of humidity, cold air conditioning, and rising morning temperature created very foggy lenses.  We never seemed to have this problem when we were sailing on our own boat primarily because we did not have air conditioning.  A fellow passenger said we should put our cameras in a dry bag and leave them outside on our balcony at night.  We will have to give that a try.  Russ's camera recovered a little faster than mine, and we were able to catch a few shots in the morning, and a few more as the day wore on and the camera's dried out.

THE GALAPAGOS "Post Office".  THE EXCEPTION TO TAKE NOTHNG, LEAVE NOTHING 

When you are in National Parks, you are supposed to leave only light footfalls, and take only photos.

Today we took something special from the Island!  When my parents were alive, they loved getting messages from us as we traveled around the world.  That is why we started this blog.  Early sailors and cruisers used to stop in Floreana and leave messages for each other, basically "we were here, going there, where are you?"  Since cruisers are no longer allowed on the islands, those types of messages have been replaced with an informal mail delivery service for island visitors.

Our short walk this morning involved a visit to a mailbox, where we could deposit unstamped mail and pick up unstamped mail.  The idea is to hand deliver mail close to your residence or near future destination.  Unfortunately, we didn't come prepared to drop off anything, BUT











we did pick up a post card for "Mom" from newlyweds out of Cameron Park, about 35 miles from our home in California.

It is my Mom's birthday today and because she is lovingly in my mind and no longer living, I am drawn to this particular postcard.  

Happy Birthday Mom!

We look forward to delivering this card when we return,  to "Mom".

We saw some more sea lions this morning lounging about.  They look less like our California sea lions and more like our seals.  They are smaller, but the distinction between a seal and sea lion here, is that the seal isn't here and the sea lion unlike a seal that drags its lower fins through the sand, uses the back fins like legs and walks on all fours.  Very interesting to see these sea lions walking like dogs.

I bowed out of the morning snorkel.  I think I just needed some down time.  The snorkelers were gone for 45 minutes to a rocky beach close to the boat.  I tried to take a nap, but the activity and noise level on the ship from the crew squashed that notion, so I just read instead.  Russ came back with a couple of photos of a sea turtle in murky sea tossed waters.

1:00:  Lunch is over and now the boat is quiet.  Even the crew takes siesta.  There is another shore walk and snorkel this afternoon.  We enjoy the air conditioned stateroom.

Galapagos Penguin

2:00-4:00 We took a walk today from one side of Santa Fe Island to the other over a small saddle from leeward to windward.  On the leeward side, we saw some blue footed boobies,

heron,

sea lions,

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and penguins.

Mid island near the lagoon we spotted more flamingos.

On the windward side which was also to the east, we came to a beautiful beach where sea turtles have nested, frigates sailed overhead in the onshore breeze, and crabs either scurried or walked in slow motion over the lava rocks as the tide went out.

Galapagos Nature's Art

4:15 Today's snorkel is at Devil's Crown.  We were looking forward to it, but decided it might be more than we wanted to do when we realized we would be jumping into a washing machine of ocean swells on the windward side of the crown and a strong current around the outside that wrapped around the crown crashing on to the rocks so we didn't go.  

Tonight we say goodbye to some fellow passengers who are leaving in the morning.  Tomorrow we may be able to post the blogs on Santa Cruz Island, population 22,000 people.

All is Well wth the Worrall Travel Rs leaving Floreana for Santa Cruz

Sunrise, Marine Iguana, Penguins, Turtles, and Sea Lions

Galapagos Dawn

Monday, April 4, 2016, WTRD 87

We were up at 5:00, in the Pangas by 6:00, on the trail by 6:15 and watching the sunrise in the Galapagos.  On our way to the island, we spotted some Galapagos Penguins,



 Pelicans, and a Blue Footed Boobie, but the sun had not yet risen so taking photos was a bit problematic.  Our goal on this mornings walk was to visit the nesting grounds of the marine iguana.

These animals have adapted color-wise so much to their environment, they are very difficult to spot even when they are right in front of youl  These very prehistoric looking animals are black like the black lava stone and have white markings similar to the white lichen growing on the lava stone.

In addition, to the iguana, we saw some large green sea turtles,

Galapagos Penguins

sea lions walking on all fours,

and bright red crabs.

We returned to the boat by breakfast at 7:30, had enough time to let the food settle before going snorkeling at 9:30, on the the island Isabela.  The water clarity was much better today and I actually got to swim with a marine iguana.  Russ got to swim with some penguins. 

We  had enough time after snorkeling to take showers, eat lunch and take a siesta in the shade on the sun deck.  Indeed we fell asleep in  the company of almost everyone in our group who fell asleep with a gentle breeze and the rocking of the boat.

At 2:00 pm, we returned to Isla Isabela to visit a tortoise breeding project where the park is working hard to increase the tortoise population that have been severely reduced by whalers, pirates, rats who eat the eggs, donkeys and cattle that trample the eggs, and goats that eat the vegetation that tortoises eat.  Because temperature creates the gender of turtle egg, the National Park project, incubates eggs at a warmer temperature so that more females hatch than males and the breeding and egg laying  process is expedited.  Fortunately, the turtles were doing what they are supposed to do at the breeding center, so we got quite the Turtle Sex Show.  We were asked if we could distinguish the male from the female.  I said, "Position?"  Well turns out the correct answer is the males are much bigger than the females.

Love the expression on this guy's face.  Turtle sex takes 2-4  hours  This one just climaxed!

We walked from the breeding center back to the beach seeing flamingoes,

marine iguanas,

Marine iguanas swim with front leg along their sides like a snake

and various birds.















We stopped at a local palapa for beer and the local drink Cocoloco before heading back to the boat.  On our way back to the boat we saw more turtles, a manta ray, and and an eagle ray.

Once again, many of us were nearly nodding off at dinner.  The after dinner show was watching small reef sharks being attacked and eaten by sea lions off of our balcony.  Nice desserts.  We retired , took showers and are now in bed.  

Tonight we sail to Floreana, and tomorrow after lunch we sail to Cormorant Point.

All is well with the Worrall Travel Rs in the Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Islands

Sunday, April 3, 2016, WTRD 86

Three thirty in the morning rolled around fast.  We were enjoying a king size bed in a king size suite in Quito when the alarm went off.

We dressed, took the extra bags to hotel storage, locked up the small rolling duffles, grabbed our backpacks, checked out of the hotel, collected our box breakfast, and were loaded into the van and on our way to the airport at 4:30 am.  We ate our breakfast on our way to the airport.





There are 13 of us in the new group, us, Peter and Diane who were n Peru with us, Janet and her daughter Julie from England, Gill (Jill)  and Mick also from England, and the rest Aussies; Nathan, Bev and Leon, Jackie and Simon.  We arrived on Baltra Island, Or South Seymore around 9:30 as there was a 1 hour time change.

We boarded the Queen Beatriz, and our new guide gave us an orientation to Galapagos rules and safety talk.  We had about 45 minutes to organize our rooms before lunch was served. We have a nice size room with a private balcony.

The motor cat carries 16 people.  Passengers come and go depending on whether they are on a 17 day, 14 day, 10 day, 7 day, or 5 day expedition There isn't much on the itinerary today except for a snorkel.  When we joined the boat, all but 3 of the passengers had left this morning.  Our group of 13 joined with Thomas from Holland, Rudy from Belgium, and Robert from Canada.  They have 3 more days before they depart, and we will be the next ones to welcome newbies aboard.

Our first activity was a drift snorkel at Punta Carrion.  The water was warm and enjoyable, however it lacked clarity and coral.  The Galapagos has some coral but it is mostly volcanic rocks.  We saw angel fish, parrot fish, clown loaches, and schools of silver fish that we could not identify.  Not remarkable snorkeling, but it was wonderful to be back in the equatorial sea.  After over an hour of snorkeling, we returned to the QB for showers, briefing, Captain's welcome and cocktails, dinner and early treat to the cabins.  We were all exhausted.

Russ and I were hanging some clothing out on our balcony when we heard some thrashng in the water.  It looked like the crew had thrown some organics in the water just in front of our deck.  A huge shark 2-3 meters in length was snapping whatever they had thrown out.  There was very little moon, but our balcony light illuminated the thrashing creature and it looked ghostly white just under the surface of the water.  We would not have wanted to see this guy while snorkeling earlier.

Tomorrow we are up at 5:00 for a 6:00 am walk about to look for Marine Iguana.

All is well with The Worrall Travel Rs in the Galapagos.

Goodbye Peru, Hello Ecuador

Goodbye Agua Calientes

Thursday-Saturday, March 31-April 2, 2016 WTRD 83-85

Thursday, March 31 - WTRD 83

We returned last night from Agua Calientes, and are now back in our hotel in Cusco.  Today is mostly free with a short tour of the artisan quarter and a demonstration at the Coca Museum.  Now that Holy week is over, the city streets are filled more with locals than tourists, and they are busy with people going about their business.

Our guide tells us there are only half a million people here, but it looks and feels like more.  We are approached every two minutes by a street vendor wanting to sell the same thing as the vendor who approached us two minutes before.  It's a hard way to make a living.  We empathize with these folks, and at the same time growweary of saying "no gracias," and have pretty much shortened it to a head shake, no eye contact, and keep on moving.

After our morning tour, Russ and I visited the Inca Museum which was very interesting; finished up our shopping for last minute items; ate lunch at nice little cafe, and returned to our hotel for an afternoon of rest and readiness for our flight out in the morning back to Lima.

Our group, minus 1 who has a bronchial infection, meets for the last meal with our guide Reny.

Left back and around to Right: Gary, Lorraine, Dianne, Peter, Pete, Marguerite, Janne, Roz, Russ, and Reny (Anna not pictured)

He will take us to the airport tomorrow and make sure we are on the plane, but will stay in his home city of Cusco with five days off before the next tour group.  We've been a good group, but a sickly one, so he has had his hands full and will no doubt be relieved to no longer have us as his responsibility.

Friday, April 1, 2016 - WTRD 84

Everyone, but our guide is up and ready to go by 6:00 am.  Our plane for Lima leaves at 7:30.  Reny is running late and has some difficulty contacting the bus driver at the bottom of the hill to pick us up.  If you remember from previous blogs, this is the hotel that has little to no parking space on a narrow street, and when the bus is summoned,  we all have to jump on and off quickly with luggage as if our pants are on fire. By the time we are loaded and rolling away it is nearly 6:20.  Our group is checked in already, but still have to make our way through traffic to the airport, drop our bags, clear security, and board our plane in the next hour.

My stomach starts to knot up.  I hate being late. Russ and I try to give ourselves plenty of time at airports so that if there are any snags, we can flex easily.  We make it to the airport at 6:40.  It is a small airport and not busy, phew.  We grab our bags off the van, check in, drop our luggage, clear security, and make it to the gate by 6:55.  The plane started boarding at 6:45 and the line is already pretty short.  We are in our seats by 7:00.

The plane is not fully booked, but everyone is onboard by 7:10, so we take off early!  I finally exhale.

When we arrive in Lima, it is only 9:00 am.  We are met by a local day guide.  The 10 of us board a private bus intended for 30 people and are whisked away to the hotel where we started the tour 2 weeks ago.  Of course the rooms are not yet ready, with the exception of one that is available for the person with bronchial infection.  We drop our bags, and half the group who are ill or just tuckered out or not interested in a city tour.  It is in the high 80's F, and staying in the cool hotel looks appealing, but we push on.

Five us re-board the big bus that takes us down town.  Once we are in the downtown area, we are on a 2 hour walking tour that takes us from one beautiful square to the next through a pedestrian only shopping area.

The fountains and buildings were built and rebuilt due to earthquakes in 19th and 20th century.  I am glad we saw these buildings, as it gives us a little nicer opinion of the metropolitan area of Lima.

Converted Train Station to Cultural Center

The public schools here are on triple session.  Middle school kids go in the morning (4 hours), followed by elementary students in the afternoon, and high school students in the evening.  The streets are filled with students coming from school.  Public schools are free but the education is abbreviated. What can students really learn in 4 hours a day?  Our guide tells us that private schools start at 1,000 soles a month and can run up $2,000 USD a month.  The average salary in Peru in 770 soles per month...that's about $250.00 USD.  Can you imagine that?  No wonder all of these folks take to the streets to sell stuff.

Our last stop is at the Franciscan Monastery.  Built in 1643, this edifice has also been built and rebuilt after earthquakes.  It has a Moorish flavor with beautiful carved dome ceilings and decorative ceramic tiles.  The library looks like something out of Harry Potter movie, very impressive two story room with spiral wood staircases to the second level.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any photos of the Monastery interior.  The most interesting part of the monastery were the catacombs beneath, filled with the bones of an estimated 25,000 people.

We returned to the hotel late in the day, checked into our room which was on the second floor with a lovely balcony right outside our door.  With our new friends, we sat on the balcony, drank wine, ate appetizers and said our final goodbyes.

We leave tomorrow for Ecuador.

Saturday, April 2, 2016 - WTRD 85

We leave this morning at 9:00 this morning for the airport, headed for Quito Ecuador.  One other couple from our group is continuing on with us to the Galapagos.  Four of our friends, left this morning at 2:00 am to head back to Australia.  

If anything exciting happens today, I'll update this blog later, but suspect, we will arrive in Quito, meet-up with our new group, repack our bags once again into something small for the boat, hang out and go to bed.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's Saying Goodbye to Peru