T h e b e s t w e e k o f m y l i f e … The Galapagos!

“Welcome to the Galapagos ” October 23, 2014: My grandmother flew in from California to pick me up in the Denver Airport. Two days, three planes, and with little to no food or sleep, we finally arrived at the San Cristóbal island in the Galapagos where we boarded our ship. Welcome to the Galapagos

Welcome, to your new home… Well, technically, The National Geographic Endeavor wasn’t really my home, but over the next week, I’d come to wish it was. The ship itself is quite possibly the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Up in the bridge, I could look over the huge panels of controls, flashing lights, and apparatuses that made absolutely no sense what-so-ever to me. Later, the Captain and some of the crew explained to me how some of the instruments worked.

Turns out, I was the only kid on the boat but that didn’t prevent me from making some friends 4x my age. It also felt like I got a little extra attention from the photographers, and naturalists. I learned about the ISO, apertures, and the white balance. The Naturalists taught me about the different types of birds, why the Galapagos has so much wildlife, and how the archipelago was formed… just to name a few of the things I learned.

Welcome, to Española Española was the runner-up to the best island we visited. Inhabited mostly by birds we got close up views at Blue Footed Boobies, Albatrosses, and a Galapagos Hawk! Adult albatrosses in a pre-mating dance  Welcome to Española Española was the runner-up to the best island we visited. Inhabited mostly by birds, we got close up views at Blue Footed Boobies, Albatrosses, and a Galapagos Hawk. This is 2 adult albatrosses in a pre-mating dance.

This is the famous Blue Footed Booby. There are also Red Footed and Nazca Boobies, (which have grey feet). I preferred the Blue Footed Booby because of the blues, browns and molted colors on it’s beak and wings.

Santa Cruz was what I had been waiting for the whole trip. HUGE tortoises that I bet weighed 3 times my weight roamed the surface here. We got to meet Super Diego, originally n amed Diego, but after having sired 1,700 tortoises, they re- named him (he is also 91 years old). Welcome to Santa Cruz

“Tortuga” is turtle, or tortoise, in Spanish

Welcome, to Floreana On Floreana, there is a small unremarkable barrel, filled to the top with post cards and letters from people who live all over the world. When the addresses on the postcards are read out, and if you live near that address, the tradition is to deliver it by hand. The post barrel itself is fairly new, but the tradition has been around from as early as the 18 th century, when whalers used it to communicate with their family. The postcard I wrote was delivered to our house only 2 weeks after I returned home! Floreana

A Marine Iguana basks in the Floreana sunlight.

Welcome, to Santa Fé Santa Fé was…. AMAZING!!! We got the special treat of waking up at 5:00 and going on a photography walk. (The Photography was great, 5:00 wake up…? Not so much) Not only that… flamingos just happened to be waiting for us there, as well as a mama turtle, just going back into the sea after laying her eggs. On Santa Fé, we woke up at 5:00 and went on a special photography walk. We woke up early because that time of day gives the best light for taking pictures. Not only that… flamingos just happened to be waiting for us there, as well as a mama turtle, just going back into the sea after laying her eggs. At first, I was really sad because some of the Naturalists thought she was dead. So when she lifted her head, I couldn’t help but smile. Santa Fé

Welcome, to Fernandina Fernandina had a little bit of everything, birds, crabs, sea lions, you name it. It was also where I met my new best friend, a baby Sea Lion. As far as I know, he never even knew I was there, but if he was aware of me, I’m sure we would have been friends Instantly. Welcome to Fernandina This little crab is called a Sally Light Foot. It is probably the most common crab in the Galapagos. Because of the small hooks at the end of each leg, these crabs can grip the underside of rocks to avoid predators like Boobies, Albatrosses, and other birds of prey. The island Fernandina had these little guys every where you looked. Not only that, but we got to see a mother Hawk sitting in her nest, with her two babies.

This Galapagos Sea Lion is one of my favorite photos that I took on the entire trip.

I kept a journal through the entire trip in the Galapagos. I don’t have any photographs of the Galapagos penguins so here is one I drew… Every night after the long, adventurous day, I would go into my cabin and write in my journal for about 20 minutes before passing out from exhaustion.

The Special Parts My own personal experiences in the Galapagos are most likely what made it the best week of my life. I got to, for example, ride a donkey at a sugar making outpost. It’s these little things, that made it so wondrous. Following, are a few. My own personal experiences in the Galapagos are most likely what made it the best week of my life. For example, I got to ride a donkey at a sugar making outpost. It’s these little things, that made it so wondrous. Following, are a few.

Flamingos Flamingos have always been of interest to me, but when one walked right up to me and when a flock of them flew over our Zodiac, my breath left me in an instant. The most fascinating thing I learned about them is that when they don’t eat shellfish, their feathers will turn white.

Zodiacs The Zodiac The 12 person rubber motor-like boats were awesome enough when you just got to zoom around to different islands, but driving one, was 10 times better. One of the professionals and the videographer had come with us (me and my grandma) to teach me how to drive, their comments about how good I was boosted my confidence by 100,000 times.

Owls Galapagos owls are semi-rare during the time of year I visited. They are also one of the few animals that are actually hunted by other animals for food in the Galapagos. So when I stumbled upon this juvenile owl siting at the base of my feet, I took this picture to remember this owl forever. It is one of my favorite pictures.

Before I go, I would like to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who has made this trip so great. From the Kitchen staff to the Naturalists. This has been the most wonderful experience of my life because of you. I will always remember it. Special thanks to the exceedingly helpful photographers, Krista, Jennifer, and Steve. I hope I get to return someday.