2-18-01 Quito to Galapagos

We sit in the airport chatting with others on the same boat. There is the usual flight delay and yet another immigration form.

We fly into the island of Baltra, an Ecuadorian military base that is the remnant of a U.S. Military base in WWII. These are indeed desert islands. 

Officially, the Galapagos are on GMT+6 (CST), while Quito and the rest of the country are on GMT+5 (EST). But here on the M/Y Eric, we use mainland time so that the waking hour of 7 doesn't seem so unreasonable. And it works - because we have a community unto ourselves for 7 days. 

We've been fire drilled and indoctrinated on the boat and park. We're awaiting the beginning of our first cruise to a beach on Santa Cruz Island. 

2-18-01 Playas Bachas, Isla Santa Cruz

 We see strange and wonderful animals as we walk along the beach. Marine Iguanas are very black and camouflage perfectly on the lava rocks as do the lava gulls. The flamingos in the lagoon are very pink and don't camouflage well at all. Bright Red Crabs named Sally Lightfoot scurry over the lava. Tracks are the only evidence of the turtles. We swim after the walk. Then back to the boat for a shower and dinner.