Truthfully, there are so many vivid memories from this adventure that in hindsight I am not sure I can adequately retell them all.  The best I can do at this point is share the highlights that stick with me – and show through photos the awesomeness of the ecosystems we were priviledged to be guests in.  Truth be told, my overriding feeling while we wandered the cliffs and beaches of the islands was that we were guests in the home of so many beautiful inhabitants – we had to be on our best behavior, be sure not to make their homes dirty, tread gently on their paths, and be humbled by the relative harmony they all lived in. So, here are selected “breathtakers” from the islands.

The variety of birds we encountered was mindblowing.  The majestic frigates were everywhere – acting like divebombers when fishing for food in the ocean and freeloading a ride on our boat tower when we moved island-to-island; small finches that would appear along a path and disappear just as quickly – like a brush of bright color on a bland palette that surprised and delighted; and pink flamingos skimming the water of a lagoon looking for little nibbles – a little like slender vacuum cleaners. And yes, even more Boobies – these were Nezca boobies, with newborns still covered in baby down.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We spent a morning on a deserted beach – save the turtles that were mating at sea just barely in our sight and stingrays skimming the floor of the crystal clear water.

On the final day, we were treated to a visit to a land tortoise preserve – we met some of these incredible creatures that can live to 180 years old!  Definitely slow-moving (what do they have to rush about?),  they seemed to have personalities that sitcom characters are made of!  I had to get into the act when all was said and done…

There is no way to fully express how blessed I feel for having had the opportunity to do this exploration with Andrew.  After seeing how a virtually untouched…unscathed ecosystem of sea, land, flora and fauna function and flourish so magnificently, I cannot fathom how we as a global society are debating the merits of doing everything we can to reverse the damaging effects we have wrought in the form of climate change.  We are in the home of life forms that came before us…and they know how to live in harmony with the earth they were born to.  What is our problem?

If I am able, I’d love to return to see the other Galapagos Islands in the future –  it will help me hold onto faith that a serene and harmonious way of life really is possible.

With all good cheer…

Esther