DAY 26 THURS. OCT. 25 QUITO - GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ( BALTRA )

For most of us, the name "Galapagos Islands" evokes the strength and mystery of nature itself. Forever linked with Darwin and evolutio, these strange islands were like the far side of the moon: exotic, familiar in books and movies, but completely unattainable - until today.

Another groggy early morning saw us navigate the quaint uncertainty of Quito Airport and fly to Guyaquil and thence to Baltra on the Galapagos Islands. The first glance of these fabled isles revealed a stark, dry, rocky colourless landscape. Not very inviting, but then again, the far side of the moon must be equally desolate. We tendered out to our vessel, the MV Galapagos Legend. Built in Germany in the 1960's and used in the Vietnam War as a hospital ship, there is little luxurious about her. She's somewhat like the Playa Costa Verde, our resort in Holguin, Cuba: clean, functional and friendly, but worn at the heels and old. She is home for the next 4 days, and our mother ship for all of our explorations.

 

After the mandatory Marx-Brothers safety drill and opening lecture, we settled in. Ross and Barb did the first deep water snorkel and we endured a short panga ride ( "panga" is the local word for the inflatable zodiacs used to shuttle us from the mother ship to our points of landing ) where we spotted blue footed boobies (!), sea lions, crabs, and other birds. The food is plentiful and good and, after some much needed rest, we hope for a good day tomorrow. Kind of like our first space walk.