First sight of the Galapagos was Daphne Minor. Landed at Baltra island and, after all the administration, soon boarded the boat via a Panga (a RIB - something we would become expert at doing!). On board the Isabella II for our first afternoon, after reviewing safety rules etc. and a run-down on the boat by the Purser (and lunch of course) ... then we visited North Seymour Island - a dry landing from the panga and saw magnificent frigate birds (they were magnificent but Fregata magnificens is their name ... also known as Man O'War birds), blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii), swallow tailed gulls (Creagrus furcatus), sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki). Note: the Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) we came across later; marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). That evening, before dinner, Socrates, the expedition leader and naturalist, gave an introductory talk on the Islands, and spoke of tomorrow's (21st April) visits to Espanola (Hood) island. Then we had dinner with Nina & John and Beryl & Roger. We had met, by then, the rest of our companions along for the expedition - Angela & Reg from Yorkshire, Marian & Willem from Eindhoven, two Japanese Honeymooners from Tokyo and a couple - Linda & David from San Francisco and Portland,+ Mark, a Canadian out of Toronto, travelling on his own.
This is the itinerary (Tuesday to Tuesday):
Tuesday: Baltra & North Seymour
Wednesday: Hood Island - Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez
Thursday: Floreana - Punta Cormoran & Post Office Bay
Friday: Santa Cruz - Darwin Station & Highlands
Saturday: Tower - Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps
Sunday: Isabela - Tagus Cove & Fernandina - Punta Espinosa
Monday: James & Bartolome
Tuesday: Baltra
... and the boat
M/V Isabella II
* Construction: 1979
* Reconstruction: Pensacola, Florida, 1988
* Refurbishment: Panama, March 2000
* Category: Deluxe
* Gross Tonnage: 1.025 tons.
* Type of Vessel: Motor Yacht
* Capacity: 40 guests
* Length: 53.72 meters (166 feet)
* Beam: 11.58 meters (38 feet)
* Speed: 10 knots
* Electricity: 110 Volts 60 Hz.
* Engines: 2 GM Detroit Diesel 900 BHP each
* Navigation Equipment: Gyro-compass, Automatic Pilot, radar, and GPS
* Safety Certificates: SOLAS 74 - ISM
* Fire Detector: Automatic with control from the bridge.
* Life Jackets: In each cabin
* Lifeboats: 2 units semi enclosed
* Landing Craft: 3 Zodiacs + glass bottom boat
* Owner: ETICA / Metropolitan Touring
* Decks: 3 (Sun deck, Cabin deck, Main deck)
* Crew: 24
* Naturalists: 3
* Medical Officer: Permanently on board
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