A big male sea lion lets us know who's the boss on this beachWe're settling into life on the boat: early starts, afternoon naps, early bedtimes, wet landings, dry landings. If I'm honest, it's exhausting stuff. The sun here is hot, and the swimming and snorkeling wears you out quickly. It's a tough life ... really it is.
This is the final voyage of the Yolita. After 30 years on the high seas, the boat will be retiring, replaced by a newer and better model. Things are a little worse for wear on board. Our windows don't shut properly, which is not good when you're below deck. There's a slight leak from one of them above my bed and a steady stream of spray into the bathroom. At night, our cabin is like a little sauna. And the engine fumes do not mix well with the open sea.
Sante Fe Land IguanaLast night, we were travelling to Isla Espanola, one of the most southerly in the Galapagos archipelago. It was a long trip - about five hours - in our small rocky boat, so I went down to our cabin to lie down. But the fumes, the heat and the lurching of the boat got the better of me. Within seconds, I was back on the deck puking over the side of the boat. Thankfully, the wind drowned out the sound and the sea washed away any evidence I may or may not have left on the boat.
Really, it was only a minor hiccup at the end of a fantastic day. We've already been lucky enough to see the Santa Fe Land Iguana, found nowhere else in the world. In fact, our wildlife tally is looking pretty good:
- swimming with sea lions
- swimming alongside giant sea turtles
- hundreds of marine and land iguanas, and a couple of hybrids
- the dance of the blue footed boobies
- the waved albatross, the only colony in the world, during breeding season (even saw one of their eggs)
- the Nazca or masked boobies
- mockingbirds
- Galapagos eagle
- crabs
- a pod of dolphins swimming alongside a nearby boat
Blue-footed boobie
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