Our travels

27th July 2025 at 05:56 - Damian

I have no photos or videos for this. They wouldn't do it justice anyway.

We were snorkeling in clear, turquoise water this morning when we came across a large ball of silvery sardines around 3m wide. The shapes and glints of colour of the ball as the fish all moved in coordination was perhaps the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

But to top it off there was a family of five penguins flashing through the ball turning it into a torus, a spinning top, a disc and every other shape. Eating sardines, of course. So it goes.

I'm lost for words but I wish you all had seen it, too.

25th July 2025 at 04:13 - Damian

Changing of the guard blue-footed booby style.

A male blue-footed booby arrives to take over childcare.

24th July 2025 at 06:37 - Damian

A large land iguana

24th July 2025 at 06:37 - Damian

A small marine iguana

24th July 2025 at 06:31 - Damian

Sally sharing a seat with a sealion.

24th July 2025 at 06:29 - Damian

At the fish market in Puerto Ayora they're not allowed to feed the wildlife but I've got a feeling they do from time to time.

A pelican watching a heron watching a sealion watching the fishmonger.

Keen seafood fans.

24th July 2025 at 06:04 - Damian

Update on the cranium. I went to the local public hospital in Puerto Ayora where, with the help of Roberto our guide as interpreter, they x-rayed my skull to check for damage (none), removed our emergency dressings (compliments to Roberto on his handiwork), cleaned everything up and redressed.

Total cost? $0.

Hooray for socialised healthcare!

I had to buy $18 worth of ibuprofen and dressings from the pharmacy. I'm also good to keep snorkeling and have bought a dashing silver latex swimming cap.

23rd July 2025 at 11:02 - Damian

Here's the footage I was trying to get when I bonked my bonce (at 0:24). Disappointingly it wasn't even that great.

Footage from inside a sea cave before ascending and hitting my head.

23rd July 2025 at 06:37 - Damian

I did a boo-boo. We were snorkeling in a cave and I borrowed someone's GoPro to dive down and film the people and the fish above in the gorgeous blue of the water.

Coming back up for air I didn't realise I'd drifted under the overhang and hit my head on the volcanic rock under water. Managed to not swallow water, found the surface and swam to the nearest inflatable boat where they washed the cuts and got me to the boat for disinfection and bandages.

We're going to be near Santa Cruz island tomorrow where I'll pop in to the doctor's there to see if I need antibiotics.

I'm disappointed that this may jeopardise future snorkeling on this trip. We'll see.

My bonce covered in gauze

22nd July 2025 at 12:15 - Damian

Some pics from our walk up Isla Bartolomé.

The moonscape of Isla Bartolomé. Can you see the lava lizard?

Sally struggling to keep her hair under control in the wind at the top of Isla Bartolomé.

Two penguins beneath Pinnacle Rock. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacle_Rock_(Gal%C3%A1pagos)

Pahoehoe lava. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava#P%C4%81hoehoe

22nd July 2025 at 12:03 - Damian

Lava cactus. The only species of its genus.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_cactus

Lava cactus. A precarious existence.

22nd July 2025 at 10:59 - Damian

Great frigatebirds fly like how I imagine pterodactyls flew.

Flying great frigatebirds

22nd July 2025 at 10:55 - Damian

Great frigatebird

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_frigatebird

Great frigatebird shortly after taking off from our boat.

22nd July 2025 at 07:56 - Damian

Tiquilia nesiotica (grey matplant)[1] is endemic to the Galapagos. It survives the dry volcanic environment by capturing moisture in its hairy leaves. Its tiny flowers attract insects which in turn feed lizards who feed hawks. Etc, etc.

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiquilia_nesiotica