Day 9 in Ecuador - Only 49 Years of Waiting!

Two uneventful flights, and I am FINALLY in the Galápagos Islands on Santa Cruz!  I explained on Day 1 my long awaited adventure desire.  A major bucket list item, maybe even Number One, and I am so happy I’m a little teary-eyed at the airport.  I haven’t even seen anything yet!


Sea lions…not seals…greet us at the boat dock where we will board dinghies to take us to our ship.  



The Koln will be home for the next eight days!



My room on the upper deck is cozy.  It has a very comfortable bed (which is made up for me twice a day)



and a large window through which I will enjoy watching birds, other ships, islands, and just the water.



Robyn choose to be on the lower deck and isn’t as happy with her room right next to the engine room with noise and diesel fumes.  The room size is the same, but she only has a very small window.  I hope the engine will lull her to sleep!


The ship is compact but has a crew of eight to make sure we enjoy our time.  There are lounge areas,

  


a sun deck,



and a dining room.



I am ready to lounge!



There are eight cabin rooms…four up and four down…which is the limit in the Galápagos Islands.  Our group of eleven has already congealed in Quito and the Amazon so we are all ready for this adventure.


The Galápagos Islands are part of a national park system with very tight control over this fragile and unique ecosystem.  A central agency controls the itinerary for each ship which is GPS tracked.  Naturalist guides are required for anyone to step onto the islands with a minimum of one guide per 16 people.  


Visitors are asked at the airport if they have camping equipment which is strictly regulated.  Non-reusable containers (such as plastic water bottles) also are not allowed along with plastic bags.  If you bring something to the Galápagos Islands, you better plan to eat it, drink it, use it, and take everything you bring here home with you!


We meet our local guide, Alberto, who is a native of the islands and a certified naturalist.  I find out later that over 600 people applied to the last class to gain this certification, and only 60 were accepted.  You only have one chance to pass the program; if you fail, you cannot repeat the class.  The last class was SIX years ago!


From the ship’s deck, I see black, long forked-tail birds flying along the island’s cliffs.  Some of them have a spot of red on their throats; the male frigate bird.


After our gear is stowed, we board two dinghies for our first excursion.   The thick mangroves are teeming with bird calls, 



and we watch a brown pelican diving and swallowing his catch.  There are several sitting patiently in the trees.

  


This access and nearest of wildlife is so different than our experience in the Amazon.  Wonder what this guy is thinking?



Sea lions pop up for a quick look, and then they are gone.  We see a stingray glide past the boat, and at least two turtles.  However, when we got near, they ducked into the water and disappeared.


A blue heron surveys the water below.  



It’s time for us to head back to the Koln, get settled, have our first meal aboard ship, and our first night sleep.  I’m ready!

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