So back from the Galapagos Islands, one of the most amazing places I have been to in the world !!

We have seen so much in the eight days we spent on the islands all of them unique and different from each other and with an abundance of wildlife !!!

On the first day we flew in to the Island of Baltra, we got picked up by a representative from Gadventures and was taken to the harbor a short bus ride from the airport. As we where waiting for the dingies to pick us up and take us to the G1/Pelikano our home for the next eight days, we watched the galapagos sealions lounging around the jetty, relaxing in the sun or plunging into the water and playing catch with each other ...

We got to Pelikano and the first thing I saw getting on to the boat was a Frigate bird taking a rest on the railing :o)

We got assigned our cabins, meet our naturalist guide Diego and the rest of the crew and had a briefing about safety on the boat and what we where going to be doing. We sailed around the bay got into the dingies and was on our way to start our adventure. As I set foot on the Santa Cruz island and started walking along the beach I almost felt like an explorer about to discover a whole new world I didn´t know what we would see and what it would be like ...

We saw colourfull Sally Lightfoot crabs, Iguanas, flamingoes on land and went snorkeling from the shore. There was lots of colourful fish and the water was crystal clear.

The next day we spent exploring Genovesa Island. Here we saw mostly birds lots of Nazca Boobies some of them nesting so there was quite a few fluffy little chicks about. It was mating season for the frigate birds as well and we saw quite a few with their pouches all blown up. It still felt strange being able to get that close with them not seeming to care at all .... Snorkeling was part of today as well, we saw lots again, most noticeable probably the big Galapagos Shark.

On the third day we went to Santiago Island quite distinctively different from the other islands, consisting of black lava fields although quite old everything looked as if the volcano had erupted recently and the landscape had just frozen for us to look at it. More snorkeling, saw huge schools of colorful fish and a few bright yellow pufferfish. After that we sailed on to North Seymore where we saw Land Iguanas all of them with yellowish skin and looking like they had a smile on their faces, eating away at the grass or relaxing in the sun.

On the fourth day we set out on the search of juvenile giant tortoise, we only saw one hiding in a bush though, but it was a change to see a very lush and green island. On to Rabida island where we saw Marine Iguanas and Sealions. In the evening we sailed into Puerto Ayora in the dingies for people to do a little souvenir shopping, internet etc. felt kind of strange to be in a city ( although not a very big one of course ) .

The next day we spent the morning at the Charles Darwin Research Center saw lonesome George with his backside turned though - much to my dissapointment had rather looked forward to see the Galapagos celebrity .... In the afternoon we went up into the highlands and saw the giant tortoise, it was great to see these strange and ancient looking creatures up close. Went to explore a nearby lava tube as well ....

The next day was more sea turtle day, saw the from the shaw and saw three while snorkeling. We went to postoffice bay on Floreana where we left some postcards and took some to bring to each of our countries. After that went exploring the nearby lava tuba and swam in it too - a little cold but also refreshing it was a scorching hot day ! Then onto snorkeling with the sealions - we had seen them the other days too but not as many as today, they came VERY close and seemed just as curious to look at us as we where looking at them.

Our last full day I could not believe it, time had passed so quickly ! We got into the dingies and went exploring Black turtle cove. We saw little sea turtles, baby sharks and different Rays ..... Then onto South Plaza where we saw the last Iguanas, sealions and bluefooted Boobies. Got up early the next day to go to the airport and all of the sudden our Galapagos adventure was over .....