twangster

One thing I didn't mention...
Silver Origin has a staff photographer who joined us various on excursions.  On the last night he played a video of clips he captured during this voyage.  All of the content in the video was from this cruise.
For those of us that signed the photography waiver, we were presented with a thumbdrive that contained the video and some of the still pictures that he took.  On a couple tours he was sitting next to me on the zodiac and I recognized the angle and subject of some of his photos which are very close to some of the pictures I captured.  
He had a GoPro with him that he stuck in the water for scenes like the rays swimming in the lagoon.  That approach never occurred to me as it would eliminate any glare from the sun on the water.  Very clever.  
They said the video could be shared so I'm hoping to post it soon.

Yeah this isn't a cruise where the emphasis is laying on a lounger working on a suntan.  
Many of us felt a FOMO when it came to the excursions.   "If I go paddle boarding what will I miss on the zodiac tour?"  or "I'm exhausted but if I sit this one out and everyone comes back raving about seeing something I'll be mad at myself so I better go".  
 

Day 8 - We Start Our Return Home
Breakfast buffet from 6am to 7am then we were asked to meet in the Explorers Lounge and be out of our cabins so they could start the cleaning and sanitization process.  It looks like we have a new zodiac captain.

Cruise Summary
This has been hands down one of the best cruises I have experienced.  It was so worth it.  When can I come back?  I want to do the Southern Galapagos itinerary next time.
It’s hard to put into words just how incredible this experience has been.  
The Galápagos Islands have been on my bucket list for some time.  What a phenomenal way to get there.  I realize now there are mistakes I have made.  The first is that I waited too long to visit the Galápagos Islands.  The second is that I didn’t book a back to back cruise to see even more.    
There were so many nights I put my head on the pillow thinking about the amazing experience I had earlier that day.  Can it get any better I thought?  And then it did the very next day.    
Silversea made it all very easy.
As far as food goes we are all unique with our preferences and tastes.   I try not to comment on food because my tastes are different than everyone else.  What I crave or dislike shouldn't matter to anyone.   Having said that I ended up eating more fish than I normally do and I found myself liking it more than I normally do.  I enjoyed the wines offered each night.
Leaving the ship for the last time yesterday was a little emotional.  Over a lot of non-expedition cruising on a variety of cruise lines I have never felt that before.  I'm really going to miss the Silver Origin and the phenomenal team that made this trip something I'll never forget.
I haven’t seen many threads about the Galápagos Islands as a destination so I hope you have found this helpful and I thank you for viewing.  

A week ago I would have said... "Look a bird!"
Now it's "There is an American Oystercatcher".



What a glorious afternoon. 

Crabs everywhere who stayed near their holes burrowed in the sand.  Any time one of use got near they all disappeared back into their holes.

At the airport we were reunited with our luggage that was waiting for us.  LATAM once again requires that each passenger check in with their own luggage.

There are a couple of small gift shops before security.

Once they opened security there is a small deli shop and the Magna Lounge for those with Priority Pass access or $35 per person.



Soon enough our aircraft arrived and deplaned the incoming passengers.  Then it was our turn to board.



The picture I took seven days ago versus the picture of our flight today.  


Besides the row I was seated in what else has changed? 
In the first picture we were mostly strangers.  Now?  We are mostly on a first name basis with so many new friends.  
We all shared a special trip aboard a magnificent vessel with an awesome crew.
Seventy nine of us all united with an experience that will live in our memories for a lifetime. 
What a trip.   
 

We had started to make our way to Cerro Brujo during lunch so I took the opportunity to get some pictures around the ship while underway.




Once again past Kicker Rock but this time our Captain presented the other side for our viewing pleasure.


Is it just me or do I see a Booby face looking right at me on Kicker Rock?





With some excellent wine warming up my creative juices I spent some time in the comfort of the Observation Lounge.





The wine tasted like “more” so I had my glass refilled at The Grill for an aft view of Kicker Rock.


Then it was back to the Observation Lounge for a bit.

Day 8 - We Start Our Return Home
Breakfast buffet from 6am to 7am then we were asked to meet in the Explorers Lounge and be out of our cabins so they could start the cleaning and sanitization process.  It looks like we have a new zodiac captain.

Crabs everywhere who stayed near their holes burrowed in the sand.  Any time one of use got near they all disappeared back into their holes.

Day 7 - Isla Lobos and Cerro Brujo, San Cristóbal
Choices of a snorkel, paddle boarding or a zodiac tour.  I chose the zodiac tour mostly because they have been pretty awesome so far and I can bring my good camera on the zodiac.
We start with some Brown Pelicans, Frigatebirds, Sea Lions and Iguanas.  






We came to a Sea Lion community with several young pups, their mothers and of course a male Sea Lion responsible for his territory.




The male Sea Lion wasn’t thrilled with our presence and he was very vocal to let us know.

Time for our beach break.  After such a hectic go, go, go week it was nice to have a slower day to recuperate.  This brings us to our second last zodiac ride.


 

 

 

 

And then we arrived to a gorgeous beach with fine white sand.

Wet landing of course.

Nikolai calls the wildlife on the radio and tells then to start doing their thing.

The beach time was open for us to do whatever we wanted.  We could swim or lay in the sun.  They only asked that we lay on beach towels and not directly on the sand.



Sea Lions doing Sea Lions things.



This Sea Lion was rolling in the waves as they broke near the edge of the beach.  Most were resting.

It was pretty cool sharing a beach with these Sea Lions.  We didn't bother them and they didn't bother us.

At 2:30pm there was a talk in the Explorers Lounge to explain the debarking process the next morning.  Luggage had to put out by 11pm so I returned to my cabin to change for the beach and start packing.
Not a bad view from my bathroom.  

I’ve also been meaning to go through the interactive video wall in the Basecamp.


It's a pretty impressive way to research each stop.

Morning arrived to find the closest thing to a sister ship for the Silver Origin arriving on our port side.  
It was the Celebrity Flora.

Sea Lions playing around the ship.



The Flora was on my list when I looked into this trip but I'm glad I went with Silversea. 

Our zodiac driver once again was finding various wildlife for our enjoyment.  This Frigatebird chick was hard to spot at first.


Sea Lions doing Sea Lion things but mostly resting.  There was one jumping in and out of the water while swimming at high speed.  Our guide told us this would be a male being chased by another male who was defending his territory.  Too fast for pictures.

 

 

This nursing Sea Lion mother had enough of her pup demanding more so she hid in the rocks for a rest.

 




 

After a warm shower and a cold drink delivered by my butler it was time to head down to the Explorers Lounge for another lecture and our final destination talk.
The Bloody Baroness (see drink menu posted much earlier).

After the talk it was dinner in the dining room.  I managed to slip in before anyone else so here are some pictures of the dining room aboard the Silver Origin.


 Dinner menu:

A Blue Footed Booby always warrants some attention.


The zodiacs have made this trip into the experience it has become.  

Without zodiacs I don't know how we could have managed to see and experience so much.

Our guides have been amazing but the zodiac drivers have also been fantastic.   They have made this trip.

We come to the cave I spotted from the zodiac on the ride in.

It's not a very deep cave but it was packed with marine life.


Guess what else joined us in the cave?








What an amazing snorkel.  But it was time to head back, there is yet another excursion that needs the zodiacs.

JC points out a Moray Eel in the rocks.

It was moving through the rocks 


Next he finds another Diamond Stingray for us.


And then he finds us a Stone Fish.  This fish is a master of camouflage.  He lays in wait for something tempting to come along and strikes like lightning.

The afternoon snorkel was quite popular and they used almost every guide and zodiac to get us all out today.
JC will be our guide.





Can you spot the fish?

We spotted a turtle on the bottom.

Then the turtle moved.

Then the turtle swam right for us.


we weren't chasing the turtle or trying to follow it, it decided to swim with us.








That was pretty amazing.

A Spotted Eagle Ray swims past us at a distance. 


With that it's time to leave.  It was a very enjoyable snorkel. 

There are hundreds of small fish.






And hundreds more of slightly larger fish.


Jeffo has spotted something.

It's the shell of a Galapagos Spiny Lobster.

Back on board I change and head back down for a morning snorkel.  As it turns out our guide is Jeffo again.


Jeffo points out a Diamond Stingray.



Naturally a Sea Lion joins us.

A school of young Pelican Barracuda swims past.


Water was pretty clear and there was a lot of marine life.



Jeffo excitedly points out a Hawksbill Turtle.  He tells us they are pretty rare.  He hasn't seen one anywhere for a couple of years.








 

Turning a corner in the trail and we come to different beach.


Surprise!  More Sea Lions.  Didn't see that coming.

A male Sea Lion keeps order on the beach.




A Galapagos Hawk keeps an eye on us.





From here our zodiac picks us up.  In the background you can see an alternate kayak excursion you could choose instead of the nature walk.

The terrain changes into more of a meadow we cross.