23rd September - to Galapagos

Thursday 23^rd September

To Galapagos. Flew direct to Baltra Island. Sunshine, warmth, smell of vegetation, and friendly people.

Baltra is an ex-US air force base; beautifully bleak. A few kiosks and that's it!

[I relaxed immediately on touchdown. - P]

What a contrast. We both had the biggest smiles as soon as we reached the tarmac from the plane. Within seconds I had seen a lizard, a finch, and within minutes of leaving the open air barn that masqueraded as the airport, we saw sea lions, pelicans, frigate birds, bright orange Sally Lightfoot Crabs. It all simply got better during the transfer to ferry to Santa Cruz, and a crazy 100kph dash down the single road that cuts across the island to Porto Ayora. Saw 'ghost trees' lining the route; ashen looking trees that somehow live for ages without water and thn burst into blossom when the rain arrives.

Met Omar,our guide for the week (nephew of the driver, funnily enough), and having dumped our luggage in our cabins, took us on a tour to the highlands, to see some massive craters created by lava air bubbles, the Giant Tortoise breeding area. Back to the boat for dinner, and meeting the rest of the 16 people on the boat, and back to the Port for a beer, trying not to worry about Omar’s warning that the night’s sail would take us through some choppy waters. Back on board, we took a seasickness pill, and slept deeply, finding the motion comforting. Even the engine noise felt like a loud but constant companion.