Welcome aboard the Treasure of Galapagos
LOCATION: Baltra, Galapagos Islands
That was a quick turn around! Barely time to sing Happy Anniversary in the dark as the alarms fired off at 4.30. Bags packed, clothes organised - we are masters at this early get away stuff. Paid our transport bill from yesterday as part of the checkout and then gave @DeLoys a little frightened as @Mac tried to smile with his swollen distorted leftcheek and top lip. A little reaction to medication had him looking like Quazimoto.
Not the first time the Swisshotel has bid farewell to guests early - they have a little breakfast station setup for guests - not that @Mac could take advantage of it without a straw!
Back on that narrow run to the airport with @Danny and @JuanCarlos - crossed the Equator and reported to Quito International one of the most beautiful airports we have visited on this trip. New and sparkling and fitted with every comfort amenity you can imagine - even has designated and immaculately appointed Pet Restrooms!
Met by @Tatiana from the Treasures of Galapagos boat and reminded once again about the US$200 per person in cash, the transit card and the Biosecurity Declaration. Absolutely nothing left to chance here and have to say @Tatiana took care of everything even down to completing the baggage handling and check-in process. We were just whisked through to find a comfortable spot to wait for boarding.
Didn’t have the luxury of the behind the curtain service today but were only a few rows back. Mind you, didn't need the toulet urgently so it was okay to do that long walk to the back of the plane.
A two stage process to get us south. 45 minutes from Quito to Guayaquil - a 50 minute sit in the plane for a refuel - then a final 1 hour 45 minute hop to Baltra Island. Flew from the volcanic peaks of Quito to the coastal islands of Galapgos and once again accompanied by reminders of biosecirty QR codes, park entry in cash, transit cards and as a final touch, were sprayed with some aerosol fumigant as we came in to land.
Welcome to Galapagos
What a difference an airplane ride can make. Back at sea level, stunning heat, turquoise blue water and a welcome to the Galapagos complete with walking your shoes through the disinfectant tank, handing over all that paperwork and cash and passing the dog sniffing test for organic material. @Lloyd's luggage was singled out - but a false alarm.
Ushered through and met by Expedition Leader @Jaime to help us navigate the bus ride, the pier and the dinghy to board our home for the next 5 days - The Treasure of the Galapagos.
Hospitality instantly welcoming led by Cruise Director, @Kelly. We were on the guest list of 16 - Auatralian, British and American and it will take a while to get the names sorted. We are supported by 12 crew and all the introductions and briefings were conducted as the forerunner to lunch (surf and turf ... wow, best meal of the trip) and then it was straight into the business of expeditions.
The Adventure
A three hour excursion had us ashore and in the mountains of Santa Cruz for our first 3 hour excursion, a first walk with the Galapagos Tortoise and a scramble through the lava tube caves at El Chapo. Hard to believe we had been stumbling into our clothing in the early hours of the morning and were now strolling in gumboots getting our first history and biology lessons from @Jaime. And biology it was - because our first sighting was of two giant tortoises mating on the side of the dirt road on the bus journey!
Getting our dinghy on
Lots of similarities here in relation to keeping the area pristine and protecting the environment. And although everything was calm and relaxed, there are understandably plenty of rules and guidelines for maintaining the pristine state of this environment.
Appreciating the pace - all supportive and designed to make sure you cope with the heat and get up close and personal. It was a stroll with conversation - prefaced by a change into the big gumboots - big mounds of tortoise scattered everywhere in the fields chomping their way through the grass. I am not suggesting they were speedsters but they were surprisingly agile over the uneven ground and not quite sure how they navigated the steep sides of the ponds to appear as stepping stones in the water.
All then in reverse to get us back on board and into the routine of clambering into the dinghy, removing shoes once back on board and taking the welcome face and hand cleanse.
As it turned out, all 16 guests had been assembled in Quito in preparation for the journey south. We all had similar stories to share of our single day in Quito and conversation flowed easily with the background of summer heat,, turquoise calm water and clear blue skies.
The boat is extremely comfortable - loads of room, lovingly cared for spread over three decks. Massive cabin with ensuite and a small balcony and so much cavernous cupboard space we have unpacked everything.
Dinner - another stunner with plenty of seafood and fresh vegetables followed by a detailed briefing for tomorrow's activities.
Hope they do a little rinse and repeat tomorrow because not sure we took in all the details. Wrestled with the water controls in the shower and fell into bed absolutely knackered rocked to sleep by the gentle movement of The Treasure as she quietly made her way to the next anchorage point.
Can you believe this?
Amazing & Weird Facts from Co-Pilot
Survive Almost Anything: They can go for up to a year without food or water, storing water in their bodies to survive long periods of drought.
Slow Metabolism, High Age: These reptiles can live well over 100 years, with some living to 177 years.
They Cannot Swim: Despite their ability to float, they do not swim and spend their time walking on the sea floor or basking in muddy ponds.
"Tortoise Highways": They are known to travel in groups along well-worn paths called "tortoise highways".
They Feed on Toxic Fruit: They are herbivores and can eat the poisonous manzanillo tree fruit that would make humans sick.
No Teeth: They do not have teeth but have sharp, beak-like edges on their mouths to eat vegetables.
Name Origin: The islands were actually named after the tortoises; galapago is an old Spanish word for saddle, referring to the shell shape.
Survival Barometer
Steps 9 956
Weather 34 degrees, humid and sticky
Health - I am back to normal and feeling great. @Mac has a little drug reaction thing happening and the left hand side of his face was swollen and distorted. Glad they weren't using facial recognition - he would not have matched his passport!
PS Happy Anniversary to us - not a bad way to celebrate with a welcome aboard the "Treasures of Galapagos."
"Grandad, we're twins!"
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