twangster

Behind the cone of lava rock we find an oasis of growth, at least for a volcanic island.  Over thousands of years vegetation has taken root.  We are in the western or youngest part of the chain of Galapagos Islands.  In thousands of more years this island may look like some of the islands we saw in the beginning of this trip.
This is just a start.

We continue after a water break.

Back here we find an area where the lava flow stopped in its tracks having run out of magma for this eruption.  Looks like a photo op!


Onward back onto the black lava towards our Origin.

A cactus has taken root.  Where the hill has broken down from exposure indeed we see it too has a black lava base.

Paúl offers to take pictures with our phones.  Fashion has gone out the window, I'm all about protection from the sun.  Doh!  I should have smiled.

It's not a hike with a very much of an elevation change but you do have to watch each step as there is loose broken lava bits with many cracks and crevices.  It would be easy to catch a toe and stumble so it's all about watching where you step.  


Our trail will take us around the back side of that brown hill pictured above where we will circle around and loop back to the start.  

Compared to staring at black lava the hill appears to be dirt but it too has a volcanic origin so it's really lava rock that has been discolored by centuries of exposure to the elements compared to the relatively young lava flow we have been walking on at around 125 years old.   In another couple of thousands of years the black lava probably won't be as black.

This lava rocks reminds me of what one might find in a gas grill back home, at least the small bits.

Today's nature walk will take place on a relatively young lava flow.  But first, now that we are all zodiac masters, we take to the sea.

The short ride in from the Silver Origin.

Pinnacle Rock is another icon of the Galapagos and it looks very different from what we saw from the ship.

They offer walking sticks for this hike.  

It was hot and the sun was bright.  Walking on black lava contributed to the effect.  


This lava flow is from an eruption in 1897 which in geological time is pretty much yesterday.  Once again pictures don't do it justice.


This is Pahoehoe lava named from Hawaii which roughly translates to rope like.
Paúl our guide provides all the details for this hike and encouraged frequent water breaks.

While at lunch we started underway to our second stop of the day... Sullivan Bay.
I knew a Galapagos cruise was all about visiting the islands of the Galapagos but the scenery today was unreal.  You can't do it justice in pictures.  The slow cruise through the passages to reach Sullivan's Bay was breathtaking.





When we arrived the unloading of the zodiacs began.

There were a couple of drivers for me that led me to Silversea.
Celebrity rarely offers a reduced single supplement on the fleet.  Even when they do on ships elsewhere in the world their policies are still unfriendly to the solo guest.  Even if you do find a solo fare their Always Included packages remains priced for two guests.  For example you pay for two drink packages but as a solo you only get one, and what would as a solo guest do with a second drink package?  Drink twice as much? It makes no sense. When X does offer a solo fare it's generally 'no perks' because it never makes sense to pay for two perks for a solo guest.  Plus, I've never seen a solo fare for Flora in the Galapagos.   
Silversea sometimes (but not often) offers a solo fare on the Silver Origin.  When you can get a Silversea solo fare it's actually several thousand less than Flora would be for a solo guest.  I can sail Silversea and fly business class for less than the cruise fare alone on Celebrity.
Silversea has always intrigued me.  I've wanted to try Silversea to experience a level of cruising above and beyond Royal or Celebrity.   
The Galapagos Islands are not going to be an inexpensive experience no matter how you choose to come here. If I am going to invest this much into a Galapagos visit I might as well do so in luxury.  
When I was on the Edge I attended a Galapagos presentation.  Everything looks fine and for a couple it would be a different equation but for me Celebrity rarely makes sense as a solo.  It's why I don't sail them that often.  Their ships, their rules.  I generally cruise other lines mostly but I do have an X booking next year.  
Putting all of these factors together and choosing Silversea and the Silver Origin was the perfect choice for me.

This never gets old.


The Silver Origin is such a beautiful ship.  It's so prefect for the Galapagos.

 
 

With a pretty great zodiac tour behind us it was time to head back to our Origin.

Our guide reported they found something else when they scouted the area earlier.

It was the nest of the Great Blue Heron.

The parents were off finding food leaving these little chicks on their own.








They were pretty well camouflaged. 


 

This is were good polarizing sunglasses come in handy as they take the glare off the surface of the water allowing you see more clearly below the surface.


The sheltered water of this lagoon was teaming with rays and even some small sharks.

The wingtips of the rays were occasionally breaking the surface.



It was pretty magical.

Beware I'm about to go overboard with Penguin pictures! 


How often will I get a chance like this to be so close to true wildlife.















 

After snorkeling it's lunch!

I have a little time before the afternoon zodiac tour so I enjoyed the magnificent views as we slowly sailed to our next stop.



Out here on the Western end of the island chain the volcanoes are not dormant.  Compared to the islands that have slid to the East these islands still look the part from their volcanic origin.





Given that we are at the Equator basically, note the shadow from table.  It's almost straight down. 

After snorkeling it's lunch!

I have a little time before the afternoon zodiac tour so I enjoyed the magnificent views as we slowly sailed to our next stop.



Out here on the Western end of the island chain the volcanoes are not dormant.  Compared to the islands that have slid to the East these islands still look the part from their volcanic origin.





Given that we are at the Equator basically, note the shadow from table.  It's almost straight down. 

The thermoclines were very strong and at times it was like someone smeared vaseline on the mask the water was so distorted.  This made picture taking a challenge.  Despite this it was a very enjoyable snorkel.








After 45 minutes it time to leave our snorkel buddy pups in the sea and return to the ship.



There is nothing like coming back to warm bathrobes...

... and hot Ecuadorian chocolate waiting for you.

After a short break it was snorkel time.

Today the water was noticeably cooler being where we were on the Western end of the island chain and the Cromwell current that brings nutrient rich cold water up from the floor of the sea to the West.



Eventually we came along some Penguins on the shore.  




Despite our best wishes they stayed on the lava.
That's okay because apparently we had been ignoring the playful Sea Lion pups who swam in to steal the show.



I wasn't giving it enough attention so it made a point of swimming right up into my face several times.








 

After a short break it was snorkel time.

Today the water was noticeably cooler being where we were on the Western end of the island chain and the Cromwell current that brings nutrient rich cold water up from the floor of the sea to the West.



Eventually we came along some Penguins on the shore.  




Despite our best wishes they stayed on the lava.
That's okay because apparently we had been ignoring the playful Sea Lion pups who swam in to steal the show.



I wasn't giving it enough attention so it made a point of swimming right up into my face several times.








 

After a short break it was snorkel time.

Today the water was noticeably cooler being where we were on the Western end of the island chain and the Cromwell current that brings nutrient rich cold water up from the floor of the sea to the West.



Eventually we came along some Penguins on the shore.  




Despite our best wishes they stayed on the lava.
That's okay because apparently we had been ignoring the playful Sea Lion pups who swam in to steal the show.



I wasn't giving it enough attention so it made a point of swimming right up into my face several times.








 

Guayaquil airport was smooth and frictionless.  Short line at immigration and outside in 15 minutes. 

Complimentary hotel shuttle. 

 
 

With that we had to say goodbye and head back to our Origin.

And to think I was anticipating a boring zodiac run down the coast see nothing but rocks and waves.  It was anything but that.  It was a pretty amazing excursion.

Finishing up with a few last photos of our new best friends.











 


 

Finishing up with a few last photos of our new best friends.











 


 

After dinner I ventured outside to see how the night sky was looking.  The cloud cover from earlier remained so I returned to my cabin to go through some pictures. 
Around 10:00pm I went out on my balcony and saw what I thought might be the Milky Way off my balcony.  Sure enough an app confirmed it so I went out to the deck eight forward star gazing deck that I took the pictures of Kicker Rock from.
I haven't spent a lot of time tweaking this just yet, but here is what I captured with a long exposure. 

 

Another male Magnificent Frigatebird showing off his chest.

A Blue Footed Booby near a nest.

North Seymour had many Blue Footed Boobies.  Along our trail were three sets of Boobies who appeared to going through mating rituals.


"Look at my blue feet!"


They were so close we had to walk around them to maintain some distance.  Absolutely no fear of us.



Pictures don't do this justice, you have to experience it right in front of you.

Check out those blue feet!

This guy had a slight turquoise hue to his feet which he continued to lift up and down to make sure she saw them.

Quite the moves.


She must have been impressed because it looks like success!

Check out those blue eyes.




 
 

Dinner menu.

Before dinner was a lecture followed by the destination talk for tomorrow.
The lecture was about the currents that prevail in the Galapagos Islands and it really helped to explain so much about the Galapagos Islands.
The Finch beverage (look it up on the bar menu posted earlier).


We cross the Equator four times on this itinerary (the yellow dotted line).  Given the different currents we learned about, this means at times, depending on the currents, we can experience some motion.  It hasn't bothered me yet and I'm pretty far forward but if you are sensitive you'll want to explore motion remedies before you depart for any cruise and this cruise is no different. 

Tomorrow will not involve a landing on the island.  There will be zodiac tours of the coast in the morning and afternoon with a deep water snorkel before lunch.

Spoiler alert - I'm writing this post on day four after dinner having experienced what this destination talk highlighted and wow!  What a day.  But more on that later...

This has been awaiting us each evening in the suite.  I've been collecting the Chronicles for another time.  Picari chocolate is a premium Ecuadorian brand I learned about at the Cocoa museum in Guayaquil.  There have been different flavors for us on the bed each evening.  All I can say is...it's good, very good, 

 

Behind the cone of lava rock we find an oasis of growth, at least for a volcanic island.  Over thousands of years vegetation has taken root.  We are in the western or youngest part of the chain of Galapagos Islands.  In thousands of more years this island may look like some of the islands we saw in the beginning of this trip.
This is just a start.

We continue after a water break.

Back here we find an area where the lava flow stopped in its tracks having run out of magma for this eruption.  Looks like a photo op!


Onward back onto the black lava towards our Origin.

A cactus has taken root.  Where the hill has broken down from exposure indeed we see it too has a black lava base.