Galapagos Islands Day 3 & 4

Stereotypes start somewhere
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After such an amazing few days I was pretty excited about what else I would see. Day 3 we awoke off another volcanic island and only a couple of other small boats near by. We landed and were immediately greeted by a sea lion chilling out on the steps - quite the welcoming party. The island was one big volcano surrounded by smaller craters and it looked like the moon.. it also looked like it happened only the day before as the whole island was so untouched. Lots of ´lava bombs´ were scattered over the black landscape and they looked like they were still glowing due to the red of the iron. We climbed the volcano for some stunning views of the surrounding islands and then headed for some snorkelling.

Boobies!
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As soon as I put my head under water a sea lion shot past me - quite the fright, but very exciting! I again was taken by the hand by the guide and saw lots of beautiful fish, starfish and a shark!!

Where´s Charles Darwin when you need him

During lunch we motored to another nearby island that was covered in ´fresh´ lava (about 120yrs old) and it was incredible to wander about on. There were lots of marine iguanas and crabs near the water and the black lava flowed into the water. We walked all over and saw lava pots and bubbles, vents and tunnels.

A new friend
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I then went snorkelling again and this time found myself above a school of little fish and there were penguins diving all around me catching them - it was so cool to watch!! They barely noticed me and I felt like I was the only person in the ocean - bliss....

The next day was our final day so that night we had bit of a cocktail night on the boat and the crew let their hair down (and the contents of their stomachs out later on...) with some dancing and singing.

We were up early on the last day (including the crew) and headed to another island at 6am to see the blue footed boobies and other sea birds. We saw heaps of them and also some land iguanas and all the associated mating displays. The birds were not bothered by us and hardly noticed us (a general theme in the Galapagos) and we also saw lots of baby sea lions. The blue footed boobies were very cute, though seeing the chicks was a bit sad as the stronger of the two generally pecks the weaker to death...

Lava pots
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For all the mating displays we saw on land however, the ones on the boat were more amusing.. There were 4 single men (if you included the 74 yr old) on board, or closer to a dozen if you included the crew - and apparently you could, and 5 single women. The younger males put on a display of diving off the boat to impress the girls, while the older gent offered to share his smuggled whisky and was the first to ask a girl (me) to dance. The local single men, missing the language skills of the single male passengers, opted for whistling, offering drinks and dancing and singing..

So cute
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All up, I now have a response for the question, "what the best place you’ve travelled to" as I just loved the Galapagos Islands and want to go back again soon. It’s possibly the last place on earth were you can get away from everyone and see animals who are not aware of humans. If you enjoy nature and animals - it is the best place in the world :-)

Quote of the day (from American tourist while watching blue footed boobie chicks):

"Oh no, look what that chick is doing to the other one, someone should do something - where’s Charles Darwin when you need him"