Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Books are my comfort food!

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

This blog will pay for itself.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On The Road – arrieve – The Galapagos, part 4

On The Road – arrieve – The Galapagos, part 4

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arrieve

Santa Cruz, unlike the other islands we’d visited previously, is inhabited. There are plantations in the highlands that have been there since before the park was created, and Puerto Ayora looks like any other tourist spot, with restaurants, hotels, and shops.

On The Road - arrieve - The Galapagos, part 4 7
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

We were told that the fish market in Puerto Ayora was definitely worth visiting. This blue-footed booby clearly thought so as well. I love the “Nothing to see here, folks” attitude while he tries to get close to the fish.

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Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Behind the counter at the fish market.

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Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

What happens when you hold an open air fish market surrounded by big birds who love love love fish and have no fear of humans? The frigatebirds flew in like an invading army — their wingspan can reach seven feet, so even though there were only half a dozen or so, it felt like a lot more. Fortunately they just circled around a few times and then left.

On The Road - arrieve - The Galapagos, part 4 4
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

One of the frigatebirds who remained behind to keep an eye on the fish. It wasn’t mating season, so I never got to see them with their red pouches puffed out.

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Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Puerto Ayora is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, dedicated to the study and preservation of the Galapagos species. This handsome fellow is Diego, the stud of the Galapagos. He was one of the last surviving Hood Island (now called Española) tortoises, and had been living in the San Diego zoo for decades, when he was brought back to the Galapagos in 1976 for breeding. He has since sired hundreds of offspring, and was recently released back into the wild on Española. In 2013, he was still living in the Charles Darwin center, gearing up for another breeding season.

On The Road - arrieve - The Galapagos, part 4 2
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

I don’t know if this was one of Diego’s lady friends, but I loved that pose.

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Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Products of the breeding program — these young tortoises were maybe a foot in length.

On The Road - arrieve - The Galapagos, part 4
Near Santa Cruz island, Galapagos

A sunset taken from the ship after the day in Puerto Ayora.

Reader Interactions

15Comments

  2. 2.

    Steeplejack

    FYWP site buffer seems to be sleeping in this morning. New posts not showing up in “next post” wings (Win10, Firefox). This one and—oh, look—the COVID update.

    ETA: Also on Android with Samsung browser.

    ETFA: And now the wings are  showing up. ?

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    What a life Diego had.  In a zoo for decades, then decades of breeding in Galapagos, sexy lady friends, hundreds of offspring, and then finally released into the wild.  I wonder what he is up to now.

  5. 5.

    Wag

    The blue footed booby is such a dandy.  Just needs a top hat and a walking stick to complete his ensemble.

  6. 6.

    JanieM

    The pictures are interesting and the captions are wonderful. I keep thinking how exotic these critters are and reminding myself that they’re perfectly ordinary in their own context. Thanks for bringing us a taste of it.

  9. 9.

    MelissaM

    I, too, am enjoying the booby picture. I think he’s “stepping out with my baby – can’t go wrong ’cause I’m in right!”

  15. 15.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @JanieM: Yes! I’ve noticed that especially in birding; people get so excited about a bird out of place. Of course, if you can’t travel to where they are common, it’s worth seeing rarities when they show up. But so much more fun to see them where they are common. I’ll never forget a trip to Alaska where the Bald Eagles are so common that seeing them got boring (!!!).

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