Espanola Island

 

We awoke this morning in the scenery of paradise. The sun was already announcing itself with rays reflecting on an immaculate, deep blue sky before it appeared above the horizon. At the first glare of light, the white, sandy bottom of Gardner Bay was reflected in the turquoise blue water with unreal intensity. A long, bright line of sand was tracing the shore line of the island. This landscape was inviting us to enjoy the day!

 

With such a beautiful day we decided to go for the water activity at first. What a delight to jump into the warm turquoise water.

 

We stayed floating along the shore of Gardner Islet so long that we barely had the time to land at Gardner Bay after. The beach offered superb moments. The juvenile sea lions sheltered there were lazily resting in the gentle surf, letting their bodies balance back and forth with the breathe of the sea. And we couldn’t resist joining them and sharing the shallow water in their innocent company.

 

This is a unique moment, of the same material that dreams are made of. This is Galapagos.

 

The afternoon at Suarez Point kept up the same intensity. The rocky path took us to the beach where the red marine iguanas were sunbathing. On the shore, a playful rookery of sea lions were chasing each other. Further along the trail, the blue footed boobies were shading themselves under the bush while the busy colony of noisy Nazca boobies were concentrated on the edge of the cliff. A couple of silent hawks glided just above our heads before rising high again.
 
 We may take many pictures of it all, but what we will remember is the emotion the day inspired within us.