These two islands were by far my favorite on the trip. That is not to say I would have skipped a single one, just that if I had two days, these are where I would spend my time. Continue reading “Genovesa and Bartolomé Islands”
Charles Darwin and the Galápagos are inextricably linked in many people’s mind. After all, this archipelago and its inhabitants gave birth to his theory of evolution. Darwin only spent five weeks on the islands, but what he observed resulted in his masterpiece On the Origin of Species. Santa Cruz Island is the most populated island in the Galápagos and home to the Charles Darwin Research Center. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Santa Cruz Island”
Rábida Island is relatively small, with steep rocky cliffs and only one beach where it is possible to land. The distinctive deep red color of its sand is due to the high iron content in the lava. The island is known for these maroon beaches and its abundance of birds. (The small black bird mid-photo above is a penguin!) Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Rábida Island”
While many people associate the Galápagos with Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution, what they may not realize is that the islands themselves evolve over time as well. The tectonic plates that caused the volcanic eruptions that became islands continue to move eastward at the rate of a few inches a year. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Isabela”
There are few places in the world more “wonder-full” than the Galápagos Islands. A magical combination of wilderness (only three of the 19 islands have any resident population of the human kind) and wildlife, activities in the archipelago are strictly regulated by the Ecuadorian government and its National Park Service in order to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I cannot think of another place I have visited where a picture is indeed worth more than a thousand words. Accordingly, my Galápagos posts will present a photographic record of a week beyond my imagination — with a few fun facts thrown in. As an introduction, here are seven of the infinite wonders we saw in just one week. Continue reading “Seven Wonders of The Galápagos”
Croatia has become an extremely popular destination in recent years, due in no small part to Game of Thrones‘ enormous success. Dubrovnik is lovely and GOT fans can visit many of the sites made famous by the show. However, Croatia’s charm is best manifested in the lesser known locales and especially the islands off the Dalmatian Coast. (See previous posts: Meet Me in Mljet, Lavandar Man and Other … Continue reading More on Magical Mljet, Croatia
