22nd Oct - morning - Seymour island

Note: While most of this blog is written on my phone on the day it happens (usually at lunch or while I'm travelling) I do need to sit at a computer to upload the photos and videos. I had both a 4Mb and a 2Mb memory card in the Galapagos and I'm pretty gutted but when I got back from the Galapagos, the 2Mb one wasn't working. I did get lucky and managed to get some of the videos back from someone else but most of the card is lost until I get back home and try to get it fixed. So disappointingly I can't put everything up here that I want.

First activity after breakfast this morning was to take the panga (small lifeboat) out and look for fish in the water and birds in the trees. It was grand like, but not overly exciting. Catching a glimpse of a grey tern or warbler or some rare hummingbird does little for me.

Some rare bird

In fairness, we did see some pelicans diving for food, and that's a superb sight as they plunge headfirst from high into shallow water. They only fish in shallow water and need to be v careful as if they plunge and smack a rock, they risk breaking their bill. If that happens, they can't fish and starve to death. Another hard thing for pelicans is that they're quite stupid. Every time they dive for fish, there's a horde of frigate birds waiting for them to surface. Frigate birds are parasites, they don't fish themselves, but wait for other birds to catch something and whip it off them. Poor old pelicans have had this going on all their lives and still haven't really worked out how to get away.

To go off on a tangent here, I'm undecided about frigate birds. Hate to see a parasite getting the bounty after another bird does all the work. But then again, all birds (and animals) are equipped with different skills and resources. Pelicans have massive bills and expert fishing skills. Frigates have cunning and teamwork. Plus frigates do look amazing when they blow up the big ball under their chins to impress the females. And parasites/hunters do a great job maintaining the balance in the Galapagos, so overall, they're worth keeping I reckon. They are irritating when hovering over the boat looking for scraps though, with the constant threat of being shat on! Perfect example in this video, trying to relax but it's hard when they're above you!

Frigate bird trying to impress a female

Anyway to go back to this morning, we did see plenty of fish. But from the boat, which isn't as good as snorkelling with them - though I can't really do that too well anyway I suppose! Having said that, we did see rays and sharks from the boat. In fact, I got a superb video of a big shark in crystal clear water about two feet from the boat. It was class and he was there for about 10 seconds. Then I realised I hadn't pressed record. Ah crap.

I did get a video of a massive ray near the boat:



Made our way back to the Flamingo, and it was time to say goodbye to the seven leaving us.

I was v disappointed in Gerald and Rebecca. I've been on tours before with older people and they've always been mighty craic as they accept that they're on a budget tour and muck in with the younger people. These two though were hard work, they kept on referring to their wealth and where they go when they fly all over the world on holidays. What got me as well was they way they went on about their tax practice and their accountancy and tax qualifications etc etc. Kryste like, that's the very last thing in the world I want to talk about on my holiday! I go on holidays to get away from that stuff! And when I chatted to them about it as it was one of the few things we had in common, it turned out neither of them had ever finished their accountancy exams and their tax qualifications consisted of passing a two week course in how to fill out an annual return! Talk about being full of shite. 

Me, Gerald, Rebecca. Some craic

Everyone else was dead on though. The German couple were v nice - friendly, sorted me out with sea sickness tablets and as they are flying home on Sunday, Gerrit sorted me out with his spare memory card. Nice one. The 2Mb card that's not working now, but I won't blame him!

Danielle, Me, Stefan

And now to the nation I'm not talking to since the Thierry Henry unpleasantness. All three French were legends. The craic with Arsene was brilliant despite the fact that our only method of communication was through pointing and laughing and the odd recourse to my awful Leaving Cert French! Philippe insisted on helping me through the snorkelling and was a really nice guy. Wasn't sure what to make of Pierre when i saw the dreadlocks down to his arse, but he was a really genuine lad too. I'll miss all three of them. Still not ready to forgive that prick Henry though!

Pierre (from France) and Rene (the German with the French name)

Philippe, me, Arsene - great lads

The two German lads Rene and Gerrit were staying with me for the week trip and I was pretty pleased about that. They're a mighty pair of lads. They're both a bit shy even though they do get involved in the banter. Plus they love the beer, the craic and both are very funny.

The captain of the ship (bottom right) cheers with delight as the 7 leave. Bit harsh.

This morning - after the other 7 had left - they taught me a new German word "Fruh-shopping", literally it means "early shopping", known at home as "The Cure" or "Hair of the Dog" or in some quarters "Settlers". But that's usually to combat a hangover, the lads weren't hungover, they were just drinking early! No fault!



As the lads enjoyed those beers, we spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in the perfect sunshine, lying in a perfectly still bay under a glorious sun, talking sport and indulging in fruh-shopping!