Saturday, November 22, 2008
We ended up going to Iguana Rock last night for the "Miss Iguana Rock 2008" contest. It was insane how packed the place was, especially since all the locals seemed to take the contest very seriously while we all took it as a joke. It was supposed to be who could dance the best, but was clearly a "beauty pagent"; a girl from Isla Isabela ended up winning but Annie was by far the best dancer there. She didn't care that she didn't win because she was only participating in order to pay off part of her tab which she successfully did.
This morning I had to get up at 6:30 to get ready for the day, had breakfast at 7am, and was at the pier by 7:30 for our field trip. We began the day with people flipping out because of some drama that went down between Gunter, Susana (the politics professor), and the politics class (which consists of Shawna, Shawna, Stephy, and Rachel). We finally got going around 8 am and headed to Punta Pitt first. Punta Pitt is the eastnermost locality on Isla San Cristobal, and therefore gets the brunt of the waves that come in from the Southern Equatorial Current and Southeastern trade winds. Big waves means lots of rocking means sea sickness. We motored around for a little bit to observe red and blue footed boobies, as well as nazca boobies. Punta Pitt is one of the only places in which all three species can be found nesting.
We jumped in the water, but Sam didn't get in because the water was cold and she didn't have a wet suit, and there weren't enough fins for everyone. I started out using just my right leg to kick, but the current was so strong and the waves were so big that I soon fell far behind everyone and got a cramp in my leg. I just couldn't continue so I went back to the boat with Caroline and Shawna M because they were both feeling sick. The 4 of us sat on the boat - Caroline and Shawna trying to feel better, and Sam and I taking pictures. The red-footed boobies (scientific name Sula sula) were swarming our boat, landing on the front and flying around us. One even pooped on poor Caroline!
Finally, we drove over to where we were going to pick up the snorkelers. Sonia made a bee-line for the boat as soon as we were near it, and when she got on board she told us why. Apparently, she, Steph O, and Lindsey were up front with one of our guides and he saw a shark. He told them to come closer to get a look at it, and while they were swimming toward him the shark came swimming up from the bottom faster than any of them have seen an animal move and went right for our guide's leg. He moved his leg at the last second so it bit his fins instead, then gave what turned out to be a 2+ meter Galapagos Shark a swift kick in the face, causing it to swim off. Lindsey asked if anything like this has ever happened before, and he told her nothing remotely close to this had ever happened to him. He maintained a calm manner until everyone was out of the water, then looked at Jonathan (our other guide and friend) and said, "Man, I could have been eaten!" It was pretty freaky.
Once everyone was back on board we headed back along the Northern Coast of San Cristobal to Leon Dormido, also known as Kicker Rock. The ride sucked for me because I was feeling really sick by now. When we arrived, most people got back in to snorkel but my ankle was just not up for it and the current was too strong to take on without fins so I had to sit it out again. Sam, Katie, and Rachel also passed on snorkeling because they didn't want to get in the cold water, so the four of us layed on the front of the boat and sun-tanned. It was during this time that we realized how lucky we are and what an amazing semester we are having. I mean, we have talked about it before, but sometimes it just hits you like that and you realize how lucky you are to be experiencing all these things. Not everyone gets to have class at the Charles Darwin Research Station, or on a boat in the pacific ocean, or on a beach, or on the highest mountain in Ecuador, or in the Amazon Rainforest. This study abroad has taught us so much stuff about the world in general, as well as the culture and people of Ecuador.
The only bad part of not getting in the water at Leon Dormido was that everyone saw Hammerhead sharks (which I have been dying to see), as well as a bunch of spotted eagle rays. Once everyone was back on the boat, we then headed to Puerto Grande, a white coral beach where we would be having lunch. Lunch was rice and meat and plantains, which we ate on the boat. We then were given about 45 minutes to do whatever we want. Some people chose to lay on the beach, some people chose to snorkel, some chose to hike around, and Rachel, Katie, Sam, and I stayed on the boat and napped. Eventually we packed up and headed to Isla Lobos to do our last bit of snorkeling. I was able to get in the water here because there isn't really a current so I could keep up with the group. We saw some cool fish - most of which I have seen before by now but they were amazing none-the-less. The coolest parts of snorkeling were seeing marine iguanas swimming and feeding underwater (insane!) and playing with the sea lions. They are always really playful and friendly at Isla Lobos.
Finally it was time to head back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. We arrived back in port around 4pm, at which time I headed to the school to check my mail and take a nap. I ended up not taking a nap because first Carlos came up to talk with me, then Jonathan, then Jairo, then Daniel, then Gabriel, then Caroline and Matthew. At dinner time - which was about 6:30 tonight - Shawna S, Sam, Rachel, and I went to Miconia's to get pizza. It was delicious, and Katie joined us partway through our meal. We wanted crepes after dinner, but Calypso was out of ice cream and they are too rich with nutella to eat without the ice cream, so we got hot chocolate instead. Unfortunatly, half and hour later we still had no hot chocolate because they forgot. Finally we got it though and it was worth the wait because it was pretty much a melted chocolate bar in hot milk. Absolutely delicious; it pretty much put me in a chocolate coma.
I went home to shower after dinner since I was still in my bathing suit from the day and was covered in salt and sweat and my hair was a rats nest. The hot shower felt amazing because it was surprisingly cold out. I really wanted to go to sleep, but I made myself go out because I told Rachel and Shawna and Sam I would. I stayed for a just a little while, just chilling on the couches with Jose and Christina and Gabby at Iguana Rock to say that I had "gone out". When I just couldn't last any longer I walked home with Rachel and Sam. I think I was alseep the second I touched my bed, and I slept like a rock all night.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment