Floreana and Post Office Bay--June 11

Cormorant Point

Black Mangrove

Good morning!!!! I never sleep past 6 AM because I can hardly wait to see what's next!!! How can it be better than yesterday?!?!? We are on Floreana this morning.

We started the day with a hike on Cormorant Point. I was excited to see the Green Sand Beach. Apparently, there are only 4 in the world (green because of the mineral olivine, one of the first crystals of lava flow). I have been to Papakolea on the Big Island in Hawaii . . .this was to be #2. We landed on a brown sand beach and there were sea lions . . .again. After an inquiry into the green sand, I was told later that it was there . . .just several layers under the brown sand we landed on. Years of brown sediment has covered the green. I wish I had dug, but I suppose that means there are really only 3 green sand beaches remaining. Guess I have to travel to Guam and Norway to see the other two.

Apparently the sand is green under a few layers

We crossed to the other side passing flamingos and found ourselves on a white sand beach with lots of rays in the water. 

Yellow Warbler

Galapagos Daisy

Not indigenous

Fire in the sky

Then we went for a snorkel at Champion Islet. I thought about not snorkeling today.
It was very rough and I was getting tired. Besides, how could it surpass the playful sea lions from yesterday? I got in anyway because I didn't want to miss anything. I did take a tumble in the surf and was literally pouring seawater from my sinuses for 2 days. It was the best sinus rinse I've ever had.

IT WAS AMAZING!!!!! I will start out with the variety of very pretty fish.

                     

BUT, THE SEA LIONS WERE INSANE!!!! There were tons of them. At one point, we had to leave one area because the alpha bull decided to patrol the water and he is something to be feared. But the youngsters were incredibly curious. More than cameras, they seem enamored with GoPro and wanted to take a sample. Food maybe? They came so close, it was amazing staring into their eyes. They seemed as curious about us as we were about them.  If I died right then, I would have felt complete and would have died happy.

Well, "hi there"

Let me look a little closer

 . . .just a little bit closer

Doesn't smell like fish

Doesn't taste like fish either
BTW . . .whiskers and teeth tickle

Did I do that?

The snorkel ended too soon and we set sail for Post Office Bay. This is how passing seamen used to send messages. We dropped off a few postcards to us . . .and to some friends and family . . .who knows when they will arrive. We picked up a postcard for Houston, which we will deliver sometime in the next few months (excuse for a weekend getaway). And we  picked up a postcard from Honolulu which we will deliver in a few weeks. How incredibly cool. We'll knock on a stranger's door, but have similar stories to share. I hope we make new friends.

Then, we had a chance for a relaxing kayak before more snorkeling where we saw more cool fish, but had the amazing opportunity to swim with Giant Green Sea Turtles. They weren't curious, but not afraid. I swear we had a moment staring into each other's eyes. They are so incredibly peaceful and gentle.  I think I was as close to looking at the soul of heaven as anyone can get  to on earth. This day was absolutely perfect!!!!