Today was our last day in paradise. We all bonded as one, even though we come from different places, as the Galapagos brought magic to our souls and mind. It was exciting traveling and reaching our destinations-from the youngest island, Fernandina, to one of the oldest islands, San Cristobal. It was a wonderful expedition, a journey of discovery through time.
Today we opted for a fun Zodiac ride searching for red-footed boobies, and soon after we landed on a green olivine beach for a 1.5 mile walk. The volcanic scenery that we observed during our hike was spectacular and red footed boobies were also there along with a pair of blue footed boobies and Nazca boobies in the distance. The landscapes were also outstanding. The peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we have already witnessed. Back on the beach we had fun swimming and a sea lion joined us on our Zodiac ride back to the ship, our ever-present friends. Some of us took pictures on the beach as a farewell to this wonderful week.
Later we repositioned to Cerro Brujo, an impressive tuff formation next to a beautiful, impressive mile long white sandy beach where turtles like to nest and sea lions like visit. Today we were greeted by pelicans and diving blue footed boobies. The ocean was rough and the waves were impressive, as if they were saying a nostalgic goodbye.
We are now together celebrating life. We’ve made it to the Galapagos! There is a deep appreciation of all who take the time to visit the islands. Statistics show that out of the 7 billion humans in this world, only a small number make it to the Galapagos; in contrast Hawaii gets 12 million visitors per year, Yellowstone Park: 3 million, Machu Picchu: 1 million, and finally, Galapagos islands, with only 204,000 visitors per year—a fraction compared to other places. This is why I say, today we were privileged to be part of their unforgettable experience and we hope that one day they will have the will and power to make a positive change in this wonderful world of ours.
Our expedition is now over, but we are sure this place has made an impression. This place can never be fully described. We all came together from different backgrounds to share this magic which will exist in our hearts and minds forever.
Farewell amigos.
