Morning found us quite far up the Gulf of California, with Isla Santa Catalina on our right, and Isla Monserrate on our left. Way ahead we could barely discern a large and long island, Isla del Carmen, discovered in the late 1500s by the Spaniards. The sun shed some light at that time, but barely a clear sky in the east. And then it happened: the Green Flash! Few of us saw it, as we were the only ones on deck at that moment. This phenomenon has been studied and clearly explained by scientists.
Shortly after that surprise, the daily stretch class was announced. And shortly after that, as usual, breakfast! During this time we saw a big pod of common dolphins, perhaps 200 animals of this graceful species. A good number of young and babies were seen! By this time we were already in view of the southern entrance of the Bay of Loreto.
It was in this bay that the Jesuit missionaries founded the first church/chapel on the peninsula, in what would become the capital of the California’s, Alta and Baja California, in 1702. Originally the missionaries began the construction of the mission at San Javier, quite a ways up into the mountains behind Loreto, but were ordered to stop that construction, and to begin the construction of a chapel right at the coast, today the city of Loreto. This church was called the Church of our Lady of Loreto. After this building was finished, they went up the river again, and founded the Church of San Javier.
After clambering over the top of a rise on Isla Danzante, we had a magnificent view of the whole ocean (or a good part of it) around the island. Snorkeling was undertaken, with magnificent views of all the semi-tropical fish and other invertebrates, and kayaking was tried out by a good number of us. Eventually the day began to run out, and we all returned to the ship to rest after such an exciting and interesting first day of our voyage!
