Thursday, 12 July (Part II)
Following our walk on the beautiful white sand beach at Las Bachas (post here), the snorkelers geared up and headed into the water without further ado. When I saw him again an hour later, Mui was grinning from ear to ear — he’d spent a good chunk of his time snorkeling with a Galápagos Sea Turtle! No wonder he was happy.
Join Mui for a 45-second snorkel with a sea turtle.
As for me, I spent my hour wandering along the beach, clicking the shutter when something caught my eye. I didn’t take too many pictures, though, preferring to sit with the crabs, marine iguanas, and oystercatchers to observe their behavior instead. Sometimes you just have to see things through your own eyes and not through the camera — it makes for a more complete experience.
the cloud deck is still low, but now we have patches of blue sky peeking through.
the soft light adds another layer of beauty to the landscape.
 |  |
Hairy Opuntia (prickly pear) is found in areas where the cactus doesn’t have to grow
stiff spines to protect itself from land animals that would otherwise feed on it.
The spiny lobster is one of two species most taken from the Galápagos waters.
Growing concern over the lobster population has led to the establishment
of strict quotas; which isn’t sitting well with Galápagos fishermen.
[Note: the other most-taken species is the sea cucumber.]
Warming up on the beach is what marine iguanas do best.
I know, I know; how many pictures does one need of marine iguanas?
Just can’t resist clicking the shutter one more time.
Here come the American oystercatchers for their …
… morning constitutional on the beach.
who's going to blink first, the Sally Lightfoot crab or me?
For its size, the brown pelican is a very graceful flyer ...
… and it does such a great job of skimming along the surface of the water.
A Sally Lightfoot Crab convention in progress.
Time to go back to the ship for lunch and R&R …
lovely walk on the beach and lots of 'creatures' to keep both of you busy!!..love the bright colours of the Sally Lightfoot Crab!
ReplyDeleteI loved the crabs and the oyster catchers. I could spend hours on that beach just enjoying everything there is to see.
ReplyDeleteMe too. If there is a downside to visiting the Galapagos Islands it's the restrictions placed on visitors on where they can go and how long they can stay. And, of course, that you can't do it on your own. Well, maybe you can if you have the bucks to charter a boat and hire your own naturalist :-)
DeleteWell then somebody needs to send us some bucks. I want to go back SO BAD! Mui’s turtle put a big dumb grin on my face. If we didn’t have time restrictions we’d stay in that water forever. You and the Driver would have to drag us out, shriveled but happy.
ReplyDeleteMe and the Driver would be enjoying the company of the creatures on land and in the air to give the shriveled snorkelers much thought :-)))
Delete[reposted without the advertising link]
ReplyDeletemixture of some wired [weird??] and beautiful pictures..
More great pictures, what a great place:)
ReplyDelete