Last day in Galapagos

This morning we got on a fast boat to take us the two hours to Santa Cruz Island and Puerto Ayora. Even with the Dramamine and sitting in the fresh air, I managed to get a little sick, but I made it. After getting here, we dropped our stuff off and headed to the Charles Darwin Research Station (we get no breaks on this trip!). After seeing lonesome George and our only land iguana, we got some ice cream and walked back to our hotel for a few minutes before our next adventure. Fabricio took Rod, Barbara, my mom and me to a farm up in the highlands where we were able to see tons of tortoises in their natural habitat. It was like seeing cows in a field! They just hang out in these pastures with no fear and not a care in the world. Before we left, we did get a chance to get into a tortoise shell and Fabricio and I even stood up in it. It was so heavy. I can’t imagine having to walk around my whole life with that thing on my back. It certainly made me appreciate the tortoises and understand why they walk so slowly! We had another “free” afternoon, but Fabricio took us to his favorite beach, about a 30 minute walk from our hotel. It was beautiful! I read a little, (I think this is the first I have had time to read!) played some Frisbee, jumped in the waves until I felt the ocean had beat me up enough, and then we too the journey back to our hotel to shower for dinner. Our last night together, we had a great dinner at an outdoor restaurant, and then went out for drinks at a fun local bar.