We arried at 7pm and headed straight to the airport where we enquired about flights to the Galapagos. The response was not quite what we wanted...they were fully booked for another week. We found a guesthouse for the night and knew standby was our only option now.

4:45 up and by the airport at 5:30. First flight was at 8:40, no one on standby got onto this flight. Only hope were 2 more flights at 11. Rona and Leanne were at Tame airline and did not get on. The lady at Aerogal called e over to my surprise and said she had 2 spaces. Rona and I got on the flight after having to speadily buy the tickets ($460), queue for the landing tax card and make our way through passport control. Leanne was going to come back on standby the next day. As I got on I realise my seat was in the upper class section and Rona's in economy. The seat next to me was however open and Rona was able to sit there too. I was a bit disgusted though that there were so many seats open and there were still loads of people on standby. Apparently they determine the capacity by weight and not by the amount of seats. We arrived 90minues later to San Cristobal. Our first mission was to find an economy cruise which quickly proved to be an impossible task. I was feeling rubbish with a blocked nose and heavy head. I had an early night, which probably was not what I would have thought our first night on the Galapagos island would have been like.

We got the 7am ferry to Santa Cruz with a hope of finding more travel agents which potentially would have cruises available. 2 hours later we arrived and first had a gorgeous breakie. We walked the streets again in vain of finding a cruise. In the mean time Leanne let us know she got a flight and would land 2pm on Bahlta Santa Cruz. She met a guy at the airport, which was the same place we went in before. He created a bespoke all inclusive package deal for us. Our guide took us to the Darwin centre and showed us the giant tortoises. We had Lobster that night and stayed at Galapagos Perla B&B.

Our first day trip was to Santa Fe, a snorkelling trip which allowed us to swim with sea lions, into a cave and see a great collection of fish. The guide mentioned though that it wasnt the best conditions his had and the viz wasn't optimum. We had lovely sea food onboard. Back on Santa Cruz our guide took us to the highlands where we saw free roaming giant tortoises and when a lava tunnel which was formed hundreds of years ago under the ocean and now is a tunnel of volcanic rock.

Seymore north Island was our next day trip which took us 45min up north by bus and then another 40min by boat to get to the best island in my opinion on the galapagos. This island is home to Frigales, blue footed boobies and red footed and eyed gals. It was also mating season for these birds and we saw quite a few mating dances of the blue footed boobies. The male in this dance makes a whistle like sound and pushes out it's chest, lifts up his wings and struts around proudly in front of the female who obviously does not seem interested in the slightest. The Fragales are the birds with the red balloon in their neck when fully blown up is an indication that the male is looking to mate. He then bounces his beeck on the balloon and it creates a drum like sound, calling the female. This was really interesting to see. Once the mating has taken place they go their seperate ways. We had great seafood lunch on board and got to a secluded beach where we when looking for the flamingoes they have in a lake close by. These flamingoes were totally pink of colour. When born they are white and acquire the pink colour from pink shrimps they eat in the water. Back to the strating beach we went snorkelling and saw loads of fish, some small fish schools probably having a thousand little fish in it. We went to a nice restaurant as our last night on Santa Cruz.

Leanne and I went diving at Gordons Rock which is apparently known for strong currents but also the most likely place to spot hammerhead sharks. We saw a large amount of sharks, a couple of turtles and loads of other fish. The viz wasnt as good as I though it would be, but was great experience except for being sea sick on the unusually rough sea they had.

Directly after we got the ferry to Isabella where Rona had already gone in the morning and was waiting for us there. Arrived late afternoon and was taken directly to the tortoise sanctuary and to more pink flamingoes close by. Had sundowners on the beach and off to dinner. Had an early night for a change, must have been the fresh air.

7am start to go to Sierra Niegra Volcano. Walked 16km in around 4 hours, exploring the areas that erupted in 2005 and in 1979. This is the largest active volcano in the world. I've seen volcanos from a distance before, but have never walked around one. Was really interesting,

We tried to get a ferry the afternoon back to Santa Cruz as the snorkelling we wanted to was not taking place in the afternoon. Explored more beach bars and made our way back to book in for another night. Had dinner and found a lovely place for desert.

Up at 5am, car picked us up at 5:30 to take us to the port to get the 6am ferry. Arrived at Santa Cruz at 8:15 where we were greeted by our hosts who took us straight to a restaurant for a King's breakfast. Our guide is also a surf instuctor who took us to Tortuga bay for surfing lessons. Was good to be back on a board as the last time was in Perth, Australia. This time thought the waves were favourable though and I found it easier to stand and catch waves on my own.

It was a bit of a rush to have lunch, which was a traditional lunch consisting of soup and a main meal which was gorgeously prepared fish with potato and always rice (seems South America's staple food). We picked up our bags with the taxi and just made it to the taxi boat in time, which took as to the bigger ferry (size of a small yacht). For a change there was loads of space, as usually these boats get so overloaded even though there are regulation signs of no more than 26people. Arrived to San Cristobal at 4:30pm, booked into Casa de Laura which was lovely, had Fruitshake and pizza sundowners. As this was our last night on the Galapagos we made sure our packing was done and headed out for dinner and tasted what might be the most amazing bbq'd shrimps Ive had. Unfortunately no night caps were going to happen as everything seemed to be closed by 11pm.

Rona had promised earlier on our trip to make us pancakes with Dulce de Leche (Argentina's caramel). She surprised us with American pancakes and the Dulce de Leche she'd been carrying around for 2 months. We also had a few bakery goodies which left all of us very satisfied. We went to Playa Man which also had loads of Seals, one which almost attacked us as there was a nearby cub which I assumed was his. We had a quick swim, made our way back and got a taxi to the San Cristabal open air airport. They are busy building another airport so in the mean time the airport is a bit make shift.

Rona and I flew on the same airline and met Leanne in Quito.