We're on a Boat

     The past few days have been beyond perfect!! Starting with yesterday, our group woke up around 6:30 for our day trip to the island of Bartoleme. We got on this mini yacht looking this called El Espanola 1. We all were embracing the journey we were about to experience by taking the classic Titanic photos and scoping out the best places to catch some rays and look for sea creatures. I found my spot at the front of the boat, all ready to look for dolphins, whales, mantarays and various other things that have been spotted. I also hoped that sea sickness would not fall upon me. 

     We started the two and half hike with clouds out but still a nice calm of a day. As I was very interested in looking for the ocean animals occasionally we would see things jump. A girl  on my trip and I first saw a giant tuna jump from the water which was great! Then the biggest and coolest thing was we saw a giant mantaray with a 4 and 1/2 wing span go right by our boat! It was amazinng! We continued to see many sea lions and mantarays on our way to the island with a sighting of what we believed to be a shark!

     After about our 2 1/2 boat ride we had finaly arrived at our destiation, Bartoleme Island. It was a voclanic lava foramtion of an island in which we rode a diggy from our boat to the mainland. In doing this there were many crbs we saw on the shore which was really cool because it wasn't just a red crab. They had different colorings like a light blue and yellow on their shell as well. Our hike was right during the middle time of the day so the sun was really burning down on us. But the view we saw was great! I love playing the game with our group, how many islands can you spot. In a way it is a little decieving. As we often hike to the top of the volcanic structures you can see many of the island or islets that form the galapagos. In asking our guide this question, he said we could see about 11 different island from the point at which we were.

     The best part is next, after getting done with our hike we got to snorkel!! It was my first time doing this so it was a great experience. However, at first it was a bit of a stuggle. When I first jumped in I got a good gulp of salt water which then ensued into a panic attack because my googles were began filling up with water as well. After this first reaction I began to figure out. I successfully was then able to swim around the rock we were going around and saw Dory and Nemo! Also, I saw my first Blue-footed Boobie that is another Galapagean famous animal. After this we ate fresh tuna on the boat and then began the excursion back to the island back. We again were looking for interesting animal in which we saw a mantaray flip three times! It was great!

     Our group had a free day the next day so it was time to have a good night as a group! One thing we've learned in our time here is that it is election time. Unlike the frequent commercials we encounter back home, the Ecuadorians blast music through the streets or have political concerts in support of them. So we all decided to go to one of the concerts in thinking it would be very interesting. It wasn't really what we thought, so instead we decided to go to the discoteca. It was great because we were the only ones there and they were playing America songs so it was good! 

      After a long night it was really good to finally get a good nights sleep. We woke up a little later than normal and now we are headed off to Tortuga Bay. We are hoping to see the iganuas and possibly another shark as the group yesterday saw it! Well I better go! Hopefully blog again soon!