Santa Cruz Island
Today is the first day that we really felt the heat. The humidity that came with it was an indication of recent rain. As we walked through the grounds of the National Park, the rich green of the surrounding arid zone plants marked a sharp contrast with the dry zones that we had seen over the last few days. As we stood before the giant tortoises, many of us realized that only three days before the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, was admiring the very same individuals. He made a very important speech about the conservation of these giants and the importance of it to the United Nations, and the recognition of Ecuador in preserving these pre-historic beasts.
The walk across town was quite speedy for some keen cyclists. Taking the first bus into the highlands of Santa Cruz, our five cyclists pedaled 5 miles to our lunch spot at ‘Altair’ Restaurant.
The ‘Tortoise Territory’ (Butterfly Ranch) was teaming with those reptiles again. Their numbers seem to be growing every week and at over 50 individuals we must be getting close to the record of numbers seen there at any one time!
The vermilion flycatchers were everywhere today. When we consider the times of the year when maybe we only catch a glimpse of that brilliant red bird, today we were really lucky.
Today is the first day that we really felt the heat. The humidity that came with it was an indication of recent rain. As we walked through the grounds of the National Park, the rich green of the surrounding arid zone plants marked a sharp contrast with the dry zones that we had seen over the last few days. As we stood before the giant tortoises, many of us realized that only three days before the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, was admiring the very same individuals. He made a very important speech about the conservation of these giants and the importance of it to the United Nations, and the recognition of Ecuador in preserving these pre-historic beasts.
The walk across town was quite speedy for some keen cyclists. Taking the first bus into the highlands of Santa Cruz, our five cyclists pedaled 5 miles to our lunch spot at ‘Altair’ Restaurant.
The ‘Tortoise Territory’ (Butterfly Ranch) was teaming with those reptiles again. Their numbers seem to be growing every week and at over 50 individuals we must be getting close to the record of numbers seen there at any one time!
The vermilion flycatchers were everywhere today. When we consider the times of the year when maybe we only catch a glimpse of that brilliant red bird, today we were really lucky.
