March 28
This morning I took my time and just walked around the neighbourhood. I started off walking a short distance to Laguna de las Ninfas. They have a boardwalk approximately 75% of the way around the Laguna. This Laguna is a small river that runs into a lagoon and is met here by the sea water. The sea water comes in on the rising tide and takes some of the fresh water out to sea during direction of low tide. The water is crystal clear and a variety of fish can be seen here.
I walked downtown to check on some more tours and I decided to book the tour to Isla Pinzon. They told me I may see a variety of animals but that the trip is mainly snorkelling. Three different people told me that it was a great day tour to do. We shall see. Most tour places were charge between $110.00 to 130.00USD. I was at one tour shop and he pointed to two options, a comfortable boat tour for $120.00 or a fishing type of boat for $100.00. The tour is the same, but one is more comfortable. I booked the $120.00 boat. They only take cash so I had to ask to put my name down and I would come back later in the afternoon to pay for it. All shops are closed from noon until 4pm because of the heat.
I returned around 6pm to pay for the ticket. When Jorge called the boat company, I was the only one who booked on this boat so I had no choice but to go on the other tour boat … no worries, fishing boat it is.
After getting my ticket, I was about to go for a walk and then had a place I wanted to try out for supper. Before I left, I asked Jorge where Los Kioskos was located; this was a restaurant that was suggested by a friend of mine whose brother was here before and made this suggestion. Jorge informed me it was two blocks up and to the right. I thought I would check it out to pass some time before I go to the place I wanted to try. After walking up two blocks and turning right, I was at the same place where I wanted to eat! It was not a restaurant but the name of the street that was a block long restaurants where the street is closed after 6pm and made into a street of restaurants. I started to laugh thinking I was looking for a restaurant and it was the entire street. Hahaha
I took a walk around for about an hour and watched some 3 member teams play volleyball near the docks and walked on a few streets that I had not been on.
I went up to Los Kioskos, now that I know what it is called (LOL), and had some beef with a large beer. The food was very good and a large portion for only $9.00USD. I was very pleased … I will be back tomorrow night to try some pasta.
March 29th
What an amazing day!!!!!
I had to be down by the tour shop by 8am for the tour to Pinzon Island. While waiting, I was given some fins to take with me. About 8:30am we finally got down to the dock. We hopped on a small ferry boat that took us out to the fishing tour boat. After we boarded the boat another boat came aside and two people got off it onto our boat. It turned out that they boarded the wrong tour boat … that is why we were so late starting.
We got going and the boat operator did not waste any time. We passed two other tour boats and the guide with us held out a rope to the other boat to jokingly ask if they needed a tow they were going so slow. LOL
Our first stop we at Le Fe Beach, which is part of mainland Isla Santa Cruz. Le Fe means, “No Name”. The guide ushered me to walk passed all the others to come over beside him. He told me to put my fins on and jump in the water. He would then get all the others ready. I did just that … everyone was waiting to see what my expression would be once I entered the water. One guy from Columbia asked if the water was refreshing. For those that know me well, know that I don’t mind cold water. LOL I stated that it was a great way to start off the day. Hahaha Actually, it was not that bad.
The guide told me to snorkel around the area and to wait for him to get all the others geared up and then we would snorkel together. I observed a variety of tropical fish and then spotted a stingray. I took a few pictures of it and informed the others that it was there.
Now that everyone was in the water, we worked our way around and entered a small inlet to a naturally protected area. We went over to the shoreline and I saw my first time ever, blue-footed booby! I took a few photos of it and got closer.
While I was taking photo’s the guide told me that an iguana was swimming right towards me. Just before it reached me, the iguana got out of the water and walked along the rocks.
The guide went up the rocks to take a photo of a sea lion that was beaching on the rocks. After he re-entered the water he joined the major group and I went over a little ways to take some photos of a large group of iguanas. Just then the guide said, “Hey my friend! There is a sea lion swimming right towards you!” And sure enough there was! I took a few more photos of the iguana’s and blue-footed booby and then snorkelled out to the center of this inlet. The sea lion came towards me and circled around me … I was able to get a few photos.
We then left the inlet and went back out the only way in and then snorkelled up a channel. In this channel there were some small sharks about a foot to two feet long. We made our way back to the boat and I saw another stingray on the bottom with some fish hanging just above him. What a beautiful spot!
We boarded the boat and then made our way to an island that was sheer cliff all around. We drove to one side and observed a large number of sea lions chilling in any little spot they could find.
The water swells along the island were over ten feet and when the swells were down it looked like waterfalls along the bank of the island.
We then made our way to Isla Pinzon. No other boats were in this area and again the guide pointed for me to get into the water. Before I hopped in we saw a sea turtle heading out to open water. I was going to go in that direction, but the guide mentioned that there were sharks in that region. I assumed he was telling me this for safety reasons and to stay away from there. I swam around until all the others were ready and the guide whistled for me and all the others to join him.
When I got up to him he pointed down and said, “Sharks!” I looked down and didn’t see anything and then the guide went down to a opening in a coral and there were two in there!
We were about to leave when a third shark went in there. I took a picture but don’t know if it turned out ... it did :-).
We then swam around a small island and saw lots of tropical fish. We got around the other side and the guide tapped me on the shoulder and pointed for us to go straight ahead. We got up close to the shore line and I saw a large animal ahead but couldn’t make it out until we got closer. The guide tapped me and told me to hold onto the rock but do not stand on it. We swam up a little closer and the one animal was now two animals … they were sea lions!
Before you know it there were about six of the sea lions that came out of nowhere. They swam around us and up to us out of curiosity. Soon all the others joined us to take some photos’. What fun it was to swim with them.
The guide then tapped me on the shoulder and indicated it was time to go for lunch. I was the last one leaving and one of the sea lions was following the group. I was behind the sea lion taking some photos. He turned around and did a loop in front of me, then joined his mates.
Just as we got back to the boat, there were five other boats now here! I didn’t hear them come in. We boarded our boat, when the guide was talking to one of the other guys. He looked at me and said, “There’s a big shark right there, you coming?!” I thought he was joking ... then he jumped in. Well, when you hear there is a big shark, are you coming in? Your first instinct isn’t to jump back into the water. Hahahaha
Well, I did put my fins back on and jumped in the water. I swam over to where he was, but did not see it. Another couple also joined us and the shark was not to be seen.
We had a lovely chicken and rice lunch, it was very warm and tasty. The guide then said, you can go back in now and swim over there. You have forty minutes. He talked to the guy on the other boat and then told me the shark is in the area, to hurry up and get in. I can assure you I have never been told to hurry to get into the water because a big shark was nearby. LOL
I was the first in and started to snorkel up the coastline. After about ten minutes of not seeing anything, and no one else was in the water from our boat, I figured I would observe the tropical fish.
I started to snorkel away from the boat and a couple minutes later saw a large movement about ten feet from my right side. I turned to see a five to six foot shark!!! Wow! My first BIG shark in open water! What a cool experience! No one was in the water nor around where I was snorkelling, but I did get some photo’s as evidence. LOL
About five minutes later the group came into the water. I told them I saw the shark and where I saw it. They swam passed me and went a little ways up the coast. I was taking photos of large groups of fish and then a sea lion swam over to me. I got a few nice photo’s of the little guy. I looked up to see where everyone was and they were quite a ways away. I swam around my area and the shark came by me again! I got a few nice photo’s of it and tried to do a video, but the camera does not seem to like to do video for whatever reason. What a neat site! I snorkelled over to the others and asked if they had seen the shark yet. They indicated they had not and I told them where I saw it. We got back to the boat and after boarding I asked if they had seen it, they stated they did not. I showed them a photo. I truly think they thought I was kidding. Hahaha.
We attempted to try fishing for a few minutes with no luck. We then made our way back to Puerto Ayora. It was about an hour and a half boat ride. About half way back we hit a real rough patch of water. The spray was consistently hitting all of us sitting at the back of the boat. On many occasions, the boat was airborne and landed with a heavy thud. COOL! Hahahaha. Well, for the first ten times it was then after that it was no longer fun. LOL We made it back safe and sound and a little toastier than when I started the day. The guide thanked me for joining and I thanked him for a fantastic day! What an amazing experience and incredible sites. So glad I did this tour.
When we got back to the main wharf, I looked over at the benches to see a Sea Lion sleeping on one of them. I thought this was just to crazy, it didn't seem to be bothered by anyone near him. So, I had to stop for a photo of my new buddy. LOL
Okay, I thought my blog was done for the day. I was getting hungry so I shut it down and headed to Los Kiosko’s for some pasta. I ended up sitting with three blokes that were sailing and are moored in the harbour, waiting to get some fuel to move on to their next location. They are making their way to Haiti as their final destination before heading home. Very interesting group to say the least.
We sat and chatted for about 3 hours and had a brew or two. At about 9:45pm I realized I had forgotten my key to get into the castle. I had not had to use it before as they were always up and the gate was always open. The difference this time is that it was close to 10pm. I paid my bill and said my good-byes and did a quick walk back to my accommodation. I arrived at 9:57pm and the gate was closed and locked! I rang the buzzer, but no response. I tried to jimmy the lock with no luck. I had only one choice left, to climb over the castle wall. HaHaHaHa. I managed to do it without getting arrested. Got down inside the wall and found the front door was locked … oh boy! I went around to the side and found that the door was open … was I ever relieved to get back to my room. Nothing like scaling a wall after a couple brews. It was not pretty. LOL
