Española (Hood) Island
Our first full day in the Galápagos was a spectacular one. The Photo Expedition gang got an early start, rising to go ashore at sunrise at Punta Suarez. Other more civilized people ventured to the island after breakfast. This location on Española Island is one of the most remarkable wildlife viewing areas in the archipelago. Sea lions, with their newborn pups, greeted us as we arrived ashore. We stepped carefully around them and countless brightly colored marine iguanas as we strolled along the loop trail at this end of the island. Farther along we encountered many other denizens of this island. There were many Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and the grand bird of the day, the waved albatross which we watched performing its elaborate courtship ritual. All along the way we enjoyed the constant companionship of numerous, curious Hood mockingbirds. They scurried around our feet, investigated idle daypacks, and even hopped onto cameras to be sure to get in the picture.
During lunchtime we repositioned to the northeastern side of the island to Gardner Bay. After a well-appreciated siesta, we joined Ralph Hopkins for his presentation on “Creativity and Your Camera.” We then slathered on more sunscreen and headed out for an afternoon of adventure. This was our first chance to see the underwater world of the Galápagos. Many people went snorkeling amid schools of brightly colored fish, while others took the drier approach via the glass bottom boat. Meanwhile onshore there was a lovely, long, white sand beach that beckoned to many of us. We weren’t the only ones attracted to this beach, and certainly not the first, as there were dozens of sea lions who call this area home. They were sprawled out contentedly on the sand, or rolling leisurely in the gentle waves washing the shoreline. Tiny young pups, only weeks old at most, entertained us with their adorable looks and amusing antics. In the turquoise waters rimming the bay, blue-footed boobies displayed their spectacular aerial plunge dives fishing for minnows in the shallows near shore. As the evening sun set amid tinted clouds, we made our way back to the Polaris as a sliver moon hung in the darkening sky. A peaceful end to a most memorable day.
After cocktails and dinner, we joined photographer Bob Krist in the lounge as he entertained and awed us with his hilarious stories and outstanding photography from other parts of the world.
Our first full day in the Galápagos was a spectacular one. The Photo Expedition gang got an early start, rising to go ashore at sunrise at Punta Suarez. Other more civilized people ventured to the island after breakfast. This location on Española Island is one of the most remarkable wildlife viewing areas in the archipelago. Sea lions, with their newborn pups, greeted us as we arrived ashore. We stepped carefully around them and countless brightly colored marine iguanas as we strolled along the loop trail at this end of the island. Farther along we encountered many other denizens of this island. There were many Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and the grand bird of the day, the waved albatross which we watched performing its elaborate courtship ritual. All along the way we enjoyed the constant companionship of numerous, curious Hood mockingbirds. They scurried around our feet, investigated idle daypacks, and even hopped onto cameras to be sure to get in the picture.
During lunchtime we repositioned to the northeastern side of the island to Gardner Bay. After a well-appreciated siesta, we joined Ralph Hopkins for his presentation on “Creativity and Your Camera.” We then slathered on more sunscreen and headed out for an afternoon of adventure. This was our first chance to see the underwater world of the Galápagos. Many people went snorkeling amid schools of brightly colored fish, while others took the drier approach via the glass bottom boat. Meanwhile onshore there was a lovely, long, white sand beach that beckoned to many of us. We weren’t the only ones attracted to this beach, and certainly not the first, as there were dozens of sea lions who call this area home. They were sprawled out contentedly on the sand, or rolling leisurely in the gentle waves washing the shoreline. Tiny young pups, only weeks old at most, entertained us with their adorable looks and amusing antics. In the turquoise waters rimming the bay, blue-footed boobies displayed their spectacular aerial plunge dives fishing for minnows in the shallows near shore. As the evening sun set amid tinted clouds, we made our way back to the Polaris as a sliver moon hung in the darkening sky. A peaceful end to a most memorable day.
After cocktails and dinner, we joined photographer Bob Krist in the lounge as he entertained and awed us with his hilarious stories and outstanding photography from other parts of the world.
