The South America Chronicles - Tres

Well, this morning we finally had to say goodbye to Brad & Sharon after 3 weeks, which really sucked. Was great having travelling companions - someone to share experiences with. Plus, having Brad around meant that I had someone to give a walloping in Euchre (the final match score was 20-7 to me). So now Anna and I are friendless (and Spanishless as well).

But we have had a great time together. We have just finished our 10 days in the Galapagos Islands, and what an amazing place. When the first sailors hit the shores centuries ago, you could understand why they thought of it as ´hell on earth´. Though appearances are deceiving, amidst this seemingly desolate volcanic landscape is so much diverse and fascinating life it was somewhat overwhleming. Animals - many of them endemic to the Galapagos - are just everywhere. And they have no fear of humans so you can interact and observe them will incredible ease.

The stars of the show were most definitely the Galapagos sea lions - or as we dubbed them, the ´sea dogs´. We had a couple of great snorkelling sessions swimming with these playful and inquisitive creatives. There ae so much fun and seem to be just as interested in us as we are in them. We also snorkelled with Galapagos penguins, rays, timid white tip reef sharks, docile turtles, and multitudes of fish of various colours and sizes. We saw plenty of boobies - Blue Footed Boobies that is - with their amazing diving for fish and comical walk. On dry land we saw plenty of other strange creatures - piles of marine iguanas snorting salt from their nostrils, wave albatross engaged in mating dances, and Giant Tortoises in the wild. And probably the most amazing experience, finding a Blue Whale on one of our sails. An unbelieveably large creature, and a one in a million encounter.

And the boat we were on for 8 days - the Diamant - was great. Nice and cosy with just us 12 guests, comfortable, a great crew and great food. We also managed to escape having to be teamed up with any Americans and meet some good people. It was hard leaving the relative luxury at the end of the week.

But the show must go on, and Anna and I have a flight to Cusco in the morning. We have a few days to look around the ´Sacred Valley´and then we have the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Will be a lot harder than crusing on a boat for 8 days, but hopefully just as enjoyable. I will update you on our bruised and battered bodies in about a weeks time.