Passion et Liberté: The Galapagos Islands

The only important thing to say about the Galapagos is, that I have found a place on earth were I became one with it, only in these few weeks. I got so energetically attached to the plants, the animals and the people, that I had a nervous breakdown when I left. This place is amazing and it is around the top on the list of the best places I have ever visited in my life.

Well, there's so much to say about these islands but I'm not writing it down. I think it has to be experienced, and although it is far away, it's ease manageable to fly to from Ecuador. The Galapagos are volcanic islands 926 km west of Ecuador, and they are a strange and special paradise itself. They are actually under Ecuador. The animals and the plants are at the same time strange, weird, and magnificent. On each island the same species is different but perfectly adjusted to the habitat. So did Darwin visiting the islands come up with the idea of the Theory of Evolution. There are 19 main islands (bigger then 1 square km) and 5 are inhabited. Tom and me ended there on island Santa Cruz and St. Cristobal, settled there, surfed and drank rum in the evening. Here in addition are mostly just pics so you can imagine and dream about it.

It's a tree in the beginning, with bark and roots, but a cactus on the top.

Tortuga bay, Santa Cruz

The mangroves.

Marine iguana. They swim, they dive, they eat the weed of the rocks and go back outside to relax.

Santa Cruz

A fairy forest at Santa Cruz, covered in moss that hangs down from everywhere.

Land iguana.

The big and old tortoises.

The fish market at Santa Cruz, pelikans and sea lions waiting for a treat to fall down the tables. :)

And the sea lions can be literally everywhere. :)

But they are really cute.

And they do surf with you too. No joke, it happens that sea lions body surf a wave with you.

Tom hitting the waves, those breaking on the horizon. There was a monster swell coming in the following days, and although Tom surfed all of it, I took a body board on the biggest days and shit my pants. The spots are Loberia, Tongo reef and Suicidio (transalted Suicide). And all of them end in some volcanic rocks and are for experienced surfers.

St. Cristobal, the main place.

St. Cristobal, in front of the University. It had some nasty waves too when the swell hit.

The walks around the island, St. Cristobal.

St. Cristobal

Smelling really nice, St. Cristobal.

The best breakfast of all time, the ball is from the big bananas you have to cook. They call them the plantains.

My friends Tom and Jaume and me, St. Cristobal.

A pelikan, St. Cristobal

Kicker rock, or as the locals say "Leon Dormido". I finished a diving course at Jimbos place (the only PADI diving instructor and a really great guy) and we went to dive the rock. The highlights of the dive are sharks.

Some of the small islands, don't know the name.

The devils breath, hehe. If you are interested in it, google it.

Another iguana, St. Cristobal.

On the way to Loberia, St. Cristobal.

Loberia, in 10 minutes I counted around 20 sea turtles. Amazing when you snorkel. But outside there a nice surf break too.

More surf.

My friend singer songwriter Sebastian Pita, enjoying life and the ex-volcano on top of St. Cristobal. We spent some time playing guitar and having a perfect day.