On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
arrieve
Still on Española Island, now at Punta Suarez, otherwise known as Iguanaville.
Another Hood mockingbird, on the park sign.
Española is the oldest of the islands, with lava worn to smooth boulders. And at Punta Suarez, every one of those boulders was draped with at least one iguana. I took the allegedly “easy” hike over the rocks to the beach; we all had walking sticks and had to step from boulder to boulder, avoiding the iguanas who showed no interest in getting out of anyone’s way.
Though they can move quickly enough when they want to, basking on the rocks, draped over and around each other, they don’t move a single muscle. It’s almost uncanny, as though you’re looking at some very strange statuary.
Then one of them sneezes, blinks a few times, and freezes again, back to recharging the batteries. The “sneezing” is how they expel excess salt from their bodies.
Darwin didn’t think much of the iguanas in the Galapagos either:
It is extremely common on all the islands throughout the group, and lives exclusively on the rocky sea-beaches, being never found, at least I never saw one, even ten yards in-shore. It is a hideous-looking creature, of a dirty black colour, stupid, and sluggish in its movements.
But he never made it to Española. The iguanas here are unique in having a vivid Christmas coloring during the rainy season, and they were in the process of changing color. And though I’ve never been that interested in reptiles, I found their faces fascinating.
This one is a little blurry, but you can really see the Christmas colors.
There was also a sea lion nursery by the beach. Here two of the youngsters are having a disagreement.
One of the caretakers by the nursery.
Someone needs a bath.
On The Road – way2blue – Paris in June
sab
These photos are amazing.
Also too: sea lions are larger seals with tiny ears (actual seals have no outside ears.)
sab
@sab: amazing photos.
sab
sab
Could some Floridian please photo an anole.? Adorable lizards of my childhood.
Craig
Gorgeous photos. I went there once on a job. Absolutely an amazing place. We ran all night every night to a different harbor. I slept on deck on the scuba gear storage so I could see the dawn(and avoid my snoring cabin mates), my pal would bring coffee just before dawn-she’d wake when the engines stopped-, one morning we sat and watched as shapes appeared, then when color started to enter our eyes we saw that the cliffs of our anchorage were covered in graffiti. It was old 19th century whalers messaging each other. Mind blowing. I’d broken my camera 3 days earlier diving a foot or so too deep when a sea lion was playing with me and showed their teeth as it ripped by my head then spun around and laughed at me. They’re amazing. So smart, playful, and incredibly fast. Probably the best 2 week job I’ve ever had.
Laura Too
Beautiful, thanks!!!
Anonymous At Work
Pretty sure “Iguanaville” is a registered trademark of Miami-Dade County.
MelissaM
Funny how Darwin dismissed the iquanas as hideous and stupid. They aren’t my favorite creature, but I wouldn’t say hideous. Interesting at least, but with those colors which he missed, fascinating.
@sab: We have a 24# rescue terrier/shih tzu who prefers our bed (much to my husband’s dismay. I just wasn’t up for the fight to relocate her repeatedly when she started.) But she’s a hot dog, so it’s mostly in winter that she’s on the bed. Except during thunderstorms, when I wake with all 24#s of her at my head needing comfort. Like last night.
TomatoQueen
Iguanas…smile. Oh.
arrieve
Thanks, all, for the kind comments. It is truly one of the most magical places and I love being able to share it while reliving the memories.
JanieM
Great pictures — the magic comes through loud and clear in both the pictures and the stories. Trying not to anthropomorphize the second to last, but the caretaker’s look just begs for a caption. It looks kinda like someone I know.
WaterGirl
@arrieve: The final 3 parts for Galapagos will all be next week.
arrieve
@WaterGirl: I’m putting together some more sets. Maybe 2?
CaseyL
Thank you for these photos, and the series to come! I went to the Galapagos in 2009, and it was pure magic. So many amazing sights!
Magnificent Frigate (species name, not description, but they *were* magnificent, too!) birds followed our ship everywhere, and perched on every horizontal bit of ship they could find. One night, while sleeping on the deck, I could look up and see frigates roosting everywhere.
Schools of brightly colored fish – trigger fish, parrot fish, I can’t remember what else – also followed our ship. Particularly during meal-prep times, when our chefs tossed scraps out the windows for them. It was quite a thing to see these animated rainbows swarm.
way2blue
Nature. Has a whimsical bent. I’d no idea that iguanas could dress up so fashionably. Thanks for the photos!
WaterGirl
@arrieve: 2 more Galapagos sets, beyond the 6 you have already submitted? (not judging, just trying to be sure i understand)
arrieve
@WaterGirl: These would be 7 and 8. I could probably do more than that but everyone would be sick of the Galapagos by then.
WaterGirl
@arrieve: If you think there’s something new to share, by all means add the 2 posts!