Today's magic marked the end of our week in Baja California. We spent the day cruising the waters of the Sea of Cortez near Isla Monserrate, and managed to encounter six different species of marine mammals prior to lunch. We spent time with a Bryde's whale before breakfast, a fin whale mother with her calf and an amazingly close encounter with a blue whale. We also floated in the midst of a boil of about 800 common dolphins, waited for 200 or so bottlenose dolphins to move off before we could drop our anchor and waved at a small group of California sea lions passing by.
After such a frenzy of aquatic activity, our walk at Santa Catalina island was blissfully peaceful, and offered these sweet flowers atop a giant cardon cactus.
