Just arrived in Santa Cruz and depart tomorrow for Quito then Costa Rica on Tuesday. The Galapagos Islands have been everything and more than I ever dreamed of or anticipated. Isabela was very special and I did fear that taking another eight days to see the rest of the islands might be an anticlimax. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over the last eight days I have travelled to most of the inhabited islands here. I have seen sealions and seals and their babies on the beaches completely unconcerned by the humans around them, blue footed boobies and their chicks, land and sea iguanas of a different breed to those on Isabela, bottle nosed dolphins who swam with our boat and performed the most wonderful aqua ballet for us, the male frigate birds puffing up so their red pouch under their chin is hugh, all trying to attract one of the females. I´ve seen golden rays, sharks, sea turtles, penguins and oh so much more. It´s been a privilege to have this opportunity and long may these islands remain unspoilt for all to enjoy. The Ecuadorian Government have a mammoth task in retaining the wilderness that is the Galapagos and at the same time trying to satisfy the demands made upon it by all of us tourists who want to visit. I shall be sorry to leave tomorrow after my five weeks here but new places and people await.

Thought you might like the following. I´m still chuckling.....

The tale of the cake I speak a bit of French (although some who hear me try may dispute this fact!) and a smattering of Spanish. I went to a beach side bar on Isabela and ordered a drink and 'un gateaux'. I didn't really know the Spanish for cake but thought 'gateaux' would be close enough.The answer was 'No'.I thought no more about it and sat with my friend who seemed to be amused by something but wasn't saying what. We were enjoying the view of the beach when up came a pick up truck from wherein alighted a local lady cuddling something.She approached us and said 'el gato' and proceeded to hand me a kitten.Whereupon my 'friend' collapsed into fits of laughter.She was a friend but I'm not sure any more, I may not forgive her! She spoke Spanish and knew that I had asked for 'cat' instead of cake.After even more laughter and loads of Spanish that I didn't understand, the truck departed, complete with the local lady and the kitten.Shame really, it was a sweet little thing but not sure I had room for it in my luggage.But at least it didn't come cooked on a plate like the guinea pig in Peru but that is a story for another time…..a gruesome tale I fear.