We were driven to the San Cristobal
Interpretation Center. There, we took a break from our back-breaking hike and
sauntered on flat, leveled platforms. Our guide distinguished between two types
of cacti that could be found on the island. Before there were insects on the
island, the birds were the main pollinators and were mostly attracted to the
fruits that grew on the cacti. Due to the importance of birds, the cacti
developed unique spikes that were softer to allow the birds to pollinate them
without being injured. While at the center we learned more about the history of
the Galapagos Islands and the hacienda system.
Afterwards,
we went to visit the beach, careful not to go into the water itself, as we were
specifically advised not to swim. On the beach we spent our time playing
Frisbee and we had another chance to admire the island’s wildlife. Despite
constant reminders to apply sunblock from the chaperones – many of us still got
a tan (or burn, for some people)!
Almost everyone was exhausted when
we started to board the yachts to take us back to Santa Cruz. To counteract our
sea sickness, we were given some Dramamine, which made us all sleepy.
Consequently, a good majority of the people fell right asleep once we got on
the boat. When we arrived at Santa Cruz, we walked to the comforts of our
hotel.
For dinner tonight, we were
received a choice of white rice/spaghetti & chicken or shrimp fried rice
with potato fries. For dessert, we had pound cake with a light and airy
strawberry topping.
After
dinner we explored the streets surrounding the hotel. The hotel was 2 blocks from the river which had a waterfront street full of shops and a skate park. One block in the opposite direction from the hotel was a street of all small shopfronts that were serving traditional Ecuadorian dishes. It smelled so good!!
We were allowed to shop and spent a relaxing evening in the
streets of San Cristobal. After a few hours we returned to the hotel to sleep. And prepare for Day 3 in the Galapagos!
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