Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Genovesa Island, located at the northeast part of the Galapagos archipeligo, is deemed a “pristine island” because it has no introduced species, only endemic ones. The island is most well known for it’s incredible density of sea birds, including frigate birds, storm petrals, tropic birds, swallow-tailed and lava gulls, and red, masked, and blue footed boobies. Genovesa is the only island in the Galapagos chain that is home to the red footed booby. The bay where the Angelique is moored is actually the water filled crater of an extinct volcano.
We spent the morning walking along the western crater wall, and the afternoon walking along the eastern crater wall. The strangest oddity was seeing the unlikely nesting spots of the boobies. One is accustomed to seeing birds nest in trees. As the boobies and frigate birds have no natural enemies, they are quite happy hanging about on the ground. Not only do they not move aside while you are walking down the trails, but they will actually saunter right through your legs as if you are some large white tree that has suddenly sprung up on the path.
We spent the morning walking along the western crater wall, and the afternoon walking along the eastern crater wall. The strangest oddity was seeing the unlikely nesting spots of the boobies. One is accustomed to seeing birds nest in trees. As the boobies and frigate birds have no natural enemies, they are quite happy hanging about on the ground. Not only do they not move aside while you are walking down the trails, but they will actually saunter right through your legs as if you are some large white tree that has suddenly sprung up on the path.
Lilli is currently filling the toilet tank with the nozzle from the shower. As our bathroom is only about two feet wide and four feet long it makes it quite easy to do certain things, and very difficult to do others. For instance I can just about brush my teeth from the top bunk in our room. I can nearly reach the facet from my perch close to the ceiling of the room if I stretch my hand through the door. As the toilet is actually under the sink, however, it is difficult to use this particular facility. One must hold the rim of the sink and swing into position. One can step into the shower apon standing from the toilet and if you are just about five feet tall it would be the perfect height. Our toilet is not refilling with water to flush, so Lilli has ingeniously elected to use the shower hose to fill the tank.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Galapagos Tales
June 27,2008
It’s 2:30am and the chain is going down. I can hear the rumbling and clanging as the anchor desends into the depths of the waters off Genovesa Island. “Thank goodness that crossing is over!” Seven hours of the rolling, pitching, and fighting with the waves is enough to make anyone want to pitch themselves overboard. Lilli said she heard someone getting sick. Luckily I didn’t, but I did hear something crash in the night and at least three doors slam at various intervals.
None the less we have survived the passage and have arrived at Genovesa Island, home of the Prince Albert steps and the red footed booby. Yesterday we had our first landing on Las Bachas, a white sandy beach so fine you could have baked bread with it. There were marine iguanas, Salley light foot crabs, blue footed boobies, and numerous frigate birds. We took a little snorkel around the black lava rocks and I chased a school of small silver fish. The flamingos had not come out to play, but we did see a lava heron.
Breakfast is at 7am and then we are off to see the next delights the Galapagos has in store for us.
It’s 2:30am and the chain is going down. I can hear the rumbling and clanging as the anchor desends into the depths of the waters off Genovesa Island. “Thank goodness that crossing is over!” Seven hours of the rolling, pitching, and fighting with the waves is enough to make anyone want to pitch themselves overboard. Lilli said she heard someone getting sick. Luckily I didn’t, but I did hear something crash in the night and at least three doors slam at various intervals.
None the less we have survived the passage and have arrived at Genovesa Island, home of the Prince Albert steps and the red footed booby. Yesterday we had our first landing on Las Bachas, a white sandy beach so fine you could have baked bread with it. There were marine iguanas, Salley light foot crabs, blue footed boobies, and numerous frigate birds. We took a little snorkel around the black lava rocks and I chased a school of small silver fish. The flamingos had not come out to play, but we did see a lava heron.
Breakfast is at 7am and then we are off to see the next delights the Galapagos has in store for us.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
June 22, 2008
I believe this day Jennifer is in the midst of the Ironman, running the race that tests the mind, body, and spirit. I pray that she completes it as I did a year ago and finds the wonder of the strength with in. Oh that I could run God’s race with the effort and sweat I put into training for that day!
Today Quito dawns overcast and grey after having rained the night through. My high school friend, Lilli, has come for two weeks to explore Ecuador. Lilli and I took Mr. Creighton’s Spanish class way back when. I don’t remember much from the class except that Señor Creighton made enchiladas from chicken feet and played “Señora de Tal” from the record player. I do remember that it was my first taste of cultures unknown and a look into the lives of others so different from my own.
Now Lilli and I embark to explore a bit more of the Ecuadorian culture, for a time seeing what they see and tasting the produce of their land. Yesterday was spent in Otovalo, Ecuador’s most famous market. We haggled with the best of them and came home loaded with leather bags, sparkly purses, silver jewelry, blankets, tapestries, linens, and even peanuts.
The goods for sale were only part of the fun. The Otovalanian women in their black skirts, embroidered white blouses, and gold beads were walking displays of art themselves. The market banter, wide-eyed babies nestled in their blankets, and workers trundeling past laden with textiles and vegetables were a vision as well.
I believe this day Jennifer is in the midst of the Ironman, running the race that tests the mind, body, and spirit. I pray that she completes it as I did a year ago and finds the wonder of the strength with in. Oh that I could run God’s race with the effort and sweat I put into training for that day!
Today Quito dawns overcast and grey after having rained the night through. My high school friend, Lilli, has come for two weeks to explore Ecuador. Lilli and I took Mr. Creighton’s Spanish class way back when. I don’t remember much from the class except that Señor Creighton made enchiladas from chicken feet and played “Señora de Tal” from the record player. I do remember that it was my first taste of cultures unknown and a look into the lives of others so different from my own.
Now Lilli and I embark to explore a bit more of the Ecuadorian culture, for a time seeing what they see and tasting the produce of their land. Yesterday was spent in Otovalo, Ecuador’s most famous market. We haggled with the best of them and came home loaded with leather bags, sparkly purses, silver jewelry, blankets, tapestries, linens, and even peanuts.
The goods for sale were only part of the fun. The Otovalanian women in their black skirts, embroidered white blouses, and gold beads were walking displays of art themselves. The market banter, wide-eyed babies nestled in their blankets, and workers trundeling past laden with textiles and vegetables were a vision as well.
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