Wet & Wild

5.24.18 Time to strap on the fins and Snorkel! Floreana Island Our first time snorkeling. I had to replace my mask & snorkel because I kept getting water up my nose and in my mouth, but thankfully I was fine without a wet suit. Our wet landing was on Cormorant Point - more of the lovable blue footed boobies (so-named by the Spaniards as "bobos" - meaning stupid - because they never flew away whenever humans came near); greater flamingos; hermit crabs; sting rays; sea turtles; lava herons and lava lizards. Hermit crab fully open after Juan breathed on it. Mac trying to stir up some rays -  not realizing he was slowly being surrounded. This was a very cool piece of driftwood that resembled a llama head. When we returned to our ship for lunch, Juan tres (so named because he was the third Juan aboard the ship) was our cabin steward.  I think he was in my room every 15 minutes straightening one thing or another.  He wo

5.23.18 Crabs, Boobies, Sea Lions and Iguanas Galore!   Our first dry landing in  South Plaza  is unbelievable - opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, swallowtail and lava gulls, red-billed tropic birds.  The sea lions were waiting for us as soon as we landed ashore at South Plaza.  Check out these hilarious short videos: https://youtu.be/T_8J7iNlxPg https://youtu.be/1SQu9NF8pCo https://youtu.be/8rM23WwrjLk https://youtu.be/3LisxNckBwc Sally Lightfoot crab The land iguana makes its first of many appearances. The skeletal remains of an angry land iguana. Opuntia cacti. Tammy enjoying the wonderful view. Gigantic opuntia cactus. Coastline. Lava gulls. Blue-footed booby factoids: - during the mating ritual, males show off their feet to prospective mates in a high-stepping strut