Floreana Island
In the early hours of the day we visited Post Office Bay. This island was one of the favorite places that pirates and buccaneers in the 1700s used for hiding and resting. In the highlands of Floreana, one can still find caves with carved beds and seats made by those early visitors. Floreana was very important for the early sailors because of the land tortoises. Tortoises were the most important source of meat for anyone traveling around this side of the Pacific. This island also became well known for the post office barrel since this was the only way to get in touch with the outside world. Our goal this morning was to leave some letters in the barrel and take those going close to where we live. Letters will be hand delivered in a continuation with the old tradition, as the early sailors did in the past.
At Post Office Bay we observed the remains of a Norwegian settlement. One can still find where their houses were built. The settlement failed and after a short period of time they left. Some of their descendants still live in Galápagos and of course, we still have the stories of their adventures.
We returned to the Islander for breakfast and navigated a short distance to Champion Islet, one of the most spectacular snorkeling sites. As the Captain dropped anchor we suited up for snorkeling eager to get into the water despite the thermometer reading 65 degrees Farenheit. We had a delightful time as there were several very playful sea lions, large schools of colorful fish and a variety of marine invertebrates.
In the afternoon we kayaked along the colorful cliffs of Punta Cormorant; several Pacific sea turtles, Galápagos sea lions and juvenile blue-footed boobies made this outing exciting. Afterwards we went ashore for a walk through a deciduous forest of Palo Santo. These trees are known for their natural incense, and are an efficient way to keep mosquitoes away from a home. We followed a trail beside a brackish water lagoon where flamingoes were feeding and resting; their bright pink color contrasted with the color of the surrounding lava and vegetation. As night fell over the island and we shared some of our happy memories and enjoyed a deck barbecue dinner.
In the early hours of the day we visited Post Office Bay. This island was one of the favorite places that pirates and buccaneers in the 1700s used for hiding and resting. In the highlands of Floreana, one can still find caves with carved beds and seats made by those early visitors. Floreana was very important for the early sailors because of the land tortoises. Tortoises were the most important source of meat for anyone traveling around this side of the Pacific. This island also became well known for the post office barrel since this was the only way to get in touch with the outside world. Our goal this morning was to leave some letters in the barrel and take those going close to where we live. Letters will be hand delivered in a continuation with the old tradition, as the early sailors did in the past.
At Post Office Bay we observed the remains of a Norwegian settlement. One can still find where their houses were built. The settlement failed and after a short period of time they left. Some of their descendants still live in Galápagos and of course, we still have the stories of their adventures.
We returned to the Islander for breakfast and navigated a short distance to Champion Islet, one of the most spectacular snorkeling sites. As the Captain dropped anchor we suited up for snorkeling eager to get into the water despite the thermometer reading 65 degrees Farenheit. We had a delightful time as there were several very playful sea lions, large schools of colorful fish and a variety of marine invertebrates.
In the afternoon we kayaked along the colorful cliffs of Punta Cormorant; several Pacific sea turtles, Galápagos sea lions and juvenile blue-footed boobies made this outing exciting. Afterwards we went ashore for a walk through a deciduous forest of Palo Santo. These trees are known for their natural incense, and are an efficient way to keep mosquitoes away from a home. We followed a trail beside a brackish water lagoon where flamingoes were feeding and resting; their bright pink color contrasted with the color of the surrounding lava and vegetation. As night fell over the island and we shared some of our happy memories and enjoyed a deck barbecue dinner.
