Thanks for the Memories

Tomorrow I am leaving the gorgeous Galapagos. I'm very sad to say goodbye, but also, I'm tired and broke and ready to sleep in my own bed (I use the term "own bed" loosely, since 1. it's not my own bed, and 2. I just moved and have only slept in my new bed once!). It's been the most amazing trip, and I'm going to remember it forever.

On the way to the internet cafe, I was trying to think of my very favorite memory of the Galapagos, but was unable to come up with just one. However, I was able to narrow it down to three, and one of them is just Isla Isabella, the most beautiful island in the world. We spent three days on Isabella, and I would've been happy to spend the whole entire trip there. It's not as touristy as the other islands, although it is the biggest island in the Galapagos. The cruise ships don't usually stop there, which makes it a glorious stop for sun and snorkeling. The island's port town, Villamil, is totally chill, with sandy streets and grass shacks, and a long white sand beach with swaying palm trees and black lava reefs jutting out into the ocean. It was totally picturesque, and it was amazing that the landscape wasn't ruined already by highrise hotels and resorts.

While on Isabella, we partook in a half day snorkeling tour. It was just us and a guide, and we told him we wanted to see sharks. He took us to a small lava island about ten minutes off the coast, and as we climbed out of the boat, he reminded us to take our snorkels and cameras. We walked about ten minutes, picking our way carefully over the black rock, until we came to a small canyon in the rock. Looking down, the guide pointed out about 5 or 6 white tipped sharks, swimming and sleeping below. Satisfied, our group continued on, past barking sea lions and hissing marine iguanas. Finally, we arrived at a small shallow inlet, and our guide told us to put on our gear. He pointed into the water and said "Now you swim with sharks." We all laughed, thinking he was out of his gourd, but his deadpan face told us he was completely serious. I asked him if these sharks tended to feast upon gringos, and he laughed and said they were vegetarians. Hmmmm...I'd never heard of vegetarian sharks, but I was willing to believe anything if it would get me in the water. Once we were all goggled and flippered, the four of us carefully and slowly got into the inlet. At one point Coreen brushed my leg and I screamed, thinking it was a shark, and everyone got mad at me for giving them heart attacks. We swam together, us girls holding hands at some points, until we saw the sharks. Now, they weren't HUGE like great white sharks, but they were BIG. At least 5 or 6 feet long, with beady black shark eyes and I'm sure rows of sharp white shark teeth. I think I forgot to breath for about a minute, and when I finally started again, I was hyperventilating. Also, I kept getting water in my snorkel, and had to raise my head above water in order to blow it out, thus taking my eyes off the man-eating "vegetarian" sharks. After about two or three minutes, Coreen looked at me and Alena and said, "What the f*** are we doing?! Had enough? I'm getting out." Relieved that we weren't the only ones freaking out, Alena and I followed her out of the water, until the guide forced us back in, shaking his head with shame at our sad pathetic excuses. All in all, we were probably in there for ten or so minutes the second time, and we saw quite a few sharks. At one point there were three swimming in circles around us. Again, I kept forgetting to breathe. I was more than relieved when the guide finally let us scamper out of the water, tripping over our flippers in our rush to leave the sharks. However, that was probably one of my favorite memories of my trip. It was so scary but so funny at the same time.

Later on that same day, as we recovered from our near death shark attack, the guide stopped the boat and told us to get in the water. He pointed out two or three dark shadows in the water that turned out to be giant turtles, and so we all gladly got in. We swam around chasing turtles (they are surprisingly fast in the water) until we were cold. As Alena, Chris and Coreen were getting in the boat, two small sea lions popped their heads out of the water a few feet away, so I ended up staying in and playing with them for the next fifteen minutes. It was amazing. They dipped and flipped and rolled and twisted. I played copy-cat with one of them, and she would mimic me (but far more gracefully!). Then she would swim away, then flip around and head full force towards me. The instant before collision, she would suddenly flip and glide down the length of my body. One of my friends took a video, and as soon as she uploads it, I will post a link so everyone can see. That was my other most favorite experience.

So, all in all, I had a most fantastic time. I know the chances are slim that I'll ever get back here, but I would definitely recommend everyone to get out here while you still can. You won't regret it.