Bartolomé & Santiago Islands
Is five thirty in the morning, the sea is as calm as it could be. So calm that one feels like if suspended in the air. The silhouette of Bartolomé grows brighter as the Southern Cross fades above me. Soon will be landing time and all the guests of the National Geographic Endeavor will have the opportunity to explore such a beautiful island. For me it will be a once again experience, one that has been repeated over more than twenty years and one that I keep expecting to have.
The landing place is all wet; it has been a night with big waves. The island is greening out. The normally grey plants are sprouting, giving the place a different appearance, but it still has a lot to go to considering this a rainy season. There is not that much water in the air. With all and all, once we reached the top we had a transforming experience that put serenity in our inner selves.
At mid-morning we started the expedition to the beach of Bartolomé where we re-discovered the abundance of sea turtle nests. There was evidence of turtles coming over the night to lay eggs and spread the very healthy population of pacific green sea turtles of the Galápagos.
The warmth of the equatorial sun made us enjoy a refreshing bath in a rather tepid ocean that notwithstanding was full of marine life.
Puerto Egas was a summarizing place. Our guests were remembering all that they saw during the week and we expended a good time photographing and contemplating, yet it was lots of excitement when we witnessed some American oystercatchers mating.
So, the week came to an end and I’m completely sure most of the people we have been walking with us during this Galápagos expedition are giving a second thought to the importance of protecting our planet. There is still time.
