This place looks like magic has built it! All those rocks sticking out of the ocean and the waves crashing against them! That is the impression the shoreline at Urbina Bay gives to those who visit. That was the impression we all had. Once on land, we were overwhelmed by several hundred finches and mockingbirds. The land iguanas were in high numbers, and very active too. We were all shocked and certainly amused by the loose behavior of the Galapagos hawks. Four individuals, all of them young, curious and audacious worked as masters of ceremony for us, giving such a funny time. It was outstanding seeing them catching wasps and eating them. At least somebody is taking care of those introduced insects. That will make me sleep better tonight!
Tagus Cove was the visiting place for the afternoon. This place which is the result of the confluence of two tuff cones fused in a single bay is always impressive, to say the least. The limpid waters revealed an immense array of life, where birds, fish, and mammals were acting together on the same side. This doesn’t necessarily mean one is helping the others, but certainly one is eating the others (the same side, in this case, means surviving).
One of the most exceptional sightings was viewing big yellow fin tunas merging at the surface of the ocean while they were eating. They disrupted the smoothness of the water in such a gentle way that it was difficult for us to figure out they were at first!
Every one of us received the blessings of Mother Nature today. Having seen what we saw, having experienced what these two places we visited had for us - intensity, refreshment, naivety, roughness, and purity were all mixed up in a single feeling, in a single expression that reminded us that we need to pay more attention to our environment, and to our lives.
