@Strevor
Gwen’s Galapagos Adventure
6 years ago
@Strevor
No entries have been mapped yet.
1
Sanibel
May 31 2019

Buttoned up the house and headed off for MIA to meet up with Alex, Crystal, Lali, Gwen, an Justin. \240Crossing Alligator Alley..

Uncle Alex showing Gwen Local Lightfield app from Fyuse.

Take out lunch at Sushi Maki, \240then ride the

Our plane to Guayaquil....

Everyone made it in time to MIA

Florida Keys - goodbye USA!

Seat belts fastened!

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2
Guayaquil
Jun 01 2019

Bedtime snack at Hilton Colon

Checking in with Lindblad at Guayaquil airport.

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3
El Malecón Restaurant
Jun 01 2019

Shrimp & corn omelet for breakfast

Lobby art

Gwen says we need a pic of our room. I’m not so sure.

From our room

Gotta try everything

Elevator with a view of the city

Playing Phase 10

Working out while waiting for bus to airport

Children ‘s day in Ecuador. Who knew?

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Jun 02 2019

Avianca somehow changed our flight from 9:30am to 1:30pm so we \240got to Galapagos too late to explore San Christobal - but we got to watch cavorting sea lions, frigate birds and boobies while we waited 45 minutes on the pier for a zodiac to take us to Endeavour II.

On the zodiac to ship

At the pier

Waiting for order to abandon ship

Frigate birds

Gwen with new friend

Kicker Rock

Sea lions & Gwen

San Christobal - first view of Galapagos

Disembarking

At the abandon ship muster station.

Waiting for zodiac

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Jun 02 2019

Gwen and Lali’s morning stretch on the Observation Deck

And Gwen writing her journal.

Amazing afternoon on other side of Hispanola - Waved Albatross...

Blue Footed Boobies

Snorkeled at Gardiners Beach on Hispanola Island. Afterwards, photo lessons.

Nazca Boobies, tons of them

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Jun 03 2019

Off to the olivine beach on Floreana before breakfast, and a short hike to a large salt pond populated with flamingos, black necked stilts etc. Saw the flamingos take off.

Took a zodiac to Champion Island where we would snorkel after breakfast. Decided on the “bay” snorkel because the other side was pretty choppy.

Returning to the ship we diverted to observe a feeding frenzy of boobies and noddy terns.

After breakfast Ellen & Gwen went on the glass bottom boat to see the schools of colorful reef fish and playful sea lions, who looked up at them through the glass. The rest of us snorkeled in the same area - amazing fish, and sea lions were all over us.

Later we visited the “post office” on Floriana where Gwen mailed a card and we picked up a card to deliver in Nashville.

All tired out after a long day.

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Jun 05 2019

Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island... Gwen visited the Darwin Research Station but Ellen & I skipped it since we had been there 4 years ago. ET & I visited a school \240then we all met for lunch at an upland farm restaurant. \240We then all went to another ranch to see the giant tortoises.

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Jun 06 2019

6am took zodiac to dry landing on Santa Cruz for hike up Dragon Hill. \240Marine iguanas, great blue herons and stilts populated the beach. \240Higher up we saw land iguanas. \240We were all on different groups but passed each other on the loop trail.

Daily wrap-up

Galapagos mocking bird

It was hot!

Marine iguana

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Jun 06 2019

Climbed to lookout on top of Bartoleme(behind guide)

After breakfast visited beach with iconic pinnacle behind Lali & Gwen.

Immediately after Sandy & Justin snorkled along the shore around the point.

After Mexican lunch

the ship moved to Chinese Hat islet and another snorkel for Justin & Lali. Gwen played blackjack with Babu & Alex.

Later Alex, Crystal & Sandy took a zodiac to Chinese Hat and watched a flock/herd of Galapagos Penguins fishing.

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Jun 07 2019

Final day in the Galapagos - the ship is in the caldera of Genovesa Island. No land animals here- the land and sky are full of birds: red footed and Nazca Boobies, frigate birds in full color, swallow tailed gulls etc. We go ashore at 6:10. Unfortunately Gwen has usually gone on different zodiacs with different naturalists, so we didn’t get as many pictures of Gwen as I’d like.

We provide amusement for Nazca Boobies along trail.

Farewell dinner on Endeavour II.

Off for last hike to Prince Phillip’s steps to top of Genovesa.

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