Sunday, October 30th ~ Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Santa Cruz II as seen from Floreana Island
Day 5 ~ This was our last full day on the ship. Although I enjoyed Floreana, it was my least favorite of the islands we visited on our itinerary. Still a few fun memories, but not the WOW factor we experienced earlier.
This was the last island we would visit before returning to Baltra
POST OFFICE BAY
Floreana Island, Post Office Bay
The day did start out with a brief panga ride to scan the shoreline and then a wet landing to visit Post Office Bay on Floreana Island.
Panga ride to explore the shoreline
Post cards had been provided for any who wanted one so that they could write a note and then deposit it at the local “post office”. No stamps are required!
Post Office!
The tradition is that you place your post card in the barrel, and then each passing ship, stops and the passengers read the addresses and decide if they live close enough to personally hand-deliver the post card to the intended recipient.
Barrel is where one leaves a postcard to be mailed
Having a strong voice, I agreed to be one of the “readers” and hollered out the city/state/country where each of the waiting postcards (from previous ships) was headed. We had a diverse group, and soon many of the passengers volunteered to take one or more cards off to far-flung destinations around the world including Australia, Germany, Canada, Norway and the USA.
Calling out the addresses, hoping to find a volunteer to deliver each post card
Tim and I now have three to bring home with addresses in Laguna Hills, Sherman Oaks, and North Hollywood, California. I’ll let you know if any of the delivery events turn out to be remarkable…
Fred, Rica, Joanne & Tim with postcards to deliver stateside
Time for a walk on the beach or some snorkeling before returning to the ship for lunch.
CHAMPION ISLET
Following lunch and a short siesta, we again had a choice to explore the underwater wonders around Champion Islet, an extinct shield volcano, regarded as one of the best snorkeling spots in the entire archipelago (or) take to the pangas and glass-bottom boat. As tempting as it was, with the water much clearer here, it was just too rough for me, and we once again opted for the glass bottom boat.
Those who braved the brisk, choppy water did enjoy it.
We also took the opportunity to visit the bridge in the afternoon.
Bridge of the Santa Cruz II
PUNTA CORMORANT
Next up, it’s a wet landing on the olivine crystal beach at Cormorant Point. An easy walk brought us to a brackish water lagoon where we spotted another on the list of the Big 15, the greater flamingos. Granted they were quite some distance from us, so the picture is anything but extraordinary, but we did get to see them in the wild.
Flamingos in the far distance
A bit further up the trail we had a lovely lookout to further take in the lake and surrounds.
Rica and Fred overlooking the lagoon
Walking on across the island, an easy path brings us to a beach where sea turtles seasonally emerge from the sea at night to nest. It was clearly marked where we could or could not walk so as to not disturb where the eggs were buried.
Do not go past the stakes to protect the sea turtle eggs
Enjoying our last few moments at the beach, trying to soak up the memories.
Basking in last sun rays and appreciating the beauty
Our farewell dinner was casual, but warm and full of chatter. Rica charmed our wait staff into combining tables so that ten of our “Albatross” group could enjoy a final meal together. Common denominator was that the trip was a HUGE success, the animals and birds were spectacular to view in their natural environment, and a hope that the islands will be preserved for many generations to enjoy.
We also ALL agreed that we had been fortunate to have landed the BEST naturalist guide of the group – Roberto!
Jubilation for being able to realize a life time dream of seeing the Galapagos Islands!
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful for having this extraordinary opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands. There are several factors that can rule this trip out for the masses, including distance, high cost, fear of the unknown, health issues, and only a limited number of visitors are allowed each year. But, and I know this is a BIG BUT, if you have the means, time and ability to get here, I sincerely hope that you have a trip of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful that we could experience all of this together.
A huge thank-you to all of you who have followed our journey through the Galapagos Islands. I know that these posts were long and jam-packed with probably far too many pictures. I hope that we have motivated some of you to add this remarkable, remote and magical place to your bucket list!
A Note From Abroad 
Wow. Loved it! The pictures are great too!
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Thank you so much.
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❤️
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Thank you for sharing in detail. It brings back such wonderful memories.
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Hope we gave you a smile.
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NEVER too many pictures!! What an amazing adventure.
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😃😃😃😃
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Joanne,
I found your website when I was researching a trip to South Africa and discovered that you had taken the very Gate 1 trip I was interested in. I’ve been following your posts ever since and just wanted to let you now I appreciate hearing about your travels. I know sometimes it must seem like you’re posting into the “void”! Thanks for your efforts, Patti
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Oh, Patti, thank you so much for letting us know. Feedback is very much appreciated! Did you take the South Africa trip?
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We will book the trip as soon as Gate 1 opens up their November/December schedule for 2017. I check their website obsessively but so far they’re only scheduling through October 2017. Since we try to fly with miles, I tend to have to plan all trips a year in advance. South Africa is so expensive, I was hesitant when I saw how reasonable Gate 1 offered their tours, but your blog recount of your trip convinced me that it was a quality tour. Thanks again, Patii
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Pingback: Galapagos Islands ~ Post Office Bay, Champion Islet, Cormorant Point (Floreana Island) — A Note From Abroad | The Love Chronicles
Thank you for taking so many of with you. 🌹
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We love having all the company 😃
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I’m loving your Galapagos posts. How wonderful to be able to visit such an extraordinary place. I love the idea of the postcards!
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I’m looking forward to hand delivering them. Might be fun to meet fellow travelers and share the highlights from our trip to the islands.
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Thank you Joanne and Tim, wonderful to share your adventure. We take the slightly easier road now.
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Thanks Gaye!
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that was enjoyable to follow. Thankyou for sharing your bucket list trip it makes me want to go see it now.
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Good! May your trip be as fabulous as ours!
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Thanks Tim and Joanne for sharing another one of your fantastic trips. Now I have a good idea what Galapagos Islands are like and will put them on my bucket list.
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Barbara, it makes us so excited when we are able to bring a place to life enough that others want to experience it for themselves.
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There’s really nothing to compare to the Galapagos is there?! Sounds like you had a fabulous time.
Alison
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Alison, that is so true. There really is no place on earth quite like the Galápagos Islands.
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Loved the Galapagos! I got my postcards about a month after I went home to NYC. The Post Barrel totally works! Great pictures too.
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Oh, I am so happy to hear from someone who received their post cards. Hope you had a good time reminiscing about the trip with them.
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You 2 look like you are having the time of your life.
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Terry, we had an amazing experience!
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NEVER too many photos!!! Loved it!
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Thank you Trish. Appreciate your encouragement.
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Beautiful photos!
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Thank you Kim.
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Thanks for sharing your journey with us. It’s a trip I’d like to make someday too.
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I can highly recommend it 😃
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Your trip gave me interest in the tour company you used. Thank you.
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We booked this trip through Gate 1 travel. It was the 15 day Ecuador with 5 day Galápagos Islands. You can see the details here: https://www.gate1travel.com/latin-america/ecuador-galapagos/2017/escorted/ecuador-tours-15dec5dwgpsc17.aspx
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I just nominated your blog for the Mystery Blogger Award❣️
https://ontheroadcooking.com/2016/11/08/mystery-blogger-award-nomination/
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Thank you so much. We always feel honored to be recognized by fellow bloggers.
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I’ve really enjoyed your posts on this trip. The Galapagos is somewhere we hope to visit one day.
It looks like the weather was good for you – how warm/cold was id during your trip?
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Weather was perfect. In the 70’s or low 80’s with a slight breeze. Could not have been any better.
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What a cool postcard tradition! I hope you post about your deliveries.
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Will do!
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I love the postcard scheme. 🙂
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I would love to know what percentage of them get delivered. Pretty clever actually.
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