Mikey's Journal : Day 4

Day 4

We woke up very early around 5:15, which was even earlier than normal days, to try to see the sea turtles on the beach after laying their eggs.  We marched for like 10 minutes into the island to get to another beach, where we could possibly see the sea turtles.  We weren’t lucky enough to see the turtles, but we saw a turtle or two on the surface close to the beach.  Also, the morning view was magnificent!  After the beach, we walked back towards the beach we landed, and saw a lone flamingo in the lagoon.  The beach we landed on happened to be green beach, where lava crystals are creating the color green.  Washington showed us multiple types of sea urchins that were gathered on a boulder, and also told us to taste the dew on the mangrove.  Because the mangrove grows in the coast where lacks fresh water, it uses salt water and lets out salt through its leaves.  So the dew was very salty.  We went snorkeling after, to a site called Corona del Diablo, meaning crown of the devil.  First site we dived, I saw the first shark of the trip.  The white tipped reef sharks weren’t aggressive, and just chilled under the cave.  Also sea lions were swimming around us at one point, which were the best feeling in the world.  The second site was actually very exciting; because of the strong current and how close we were floating on top of the corals.  We were mainly going to see the hammerhead sharks, but we didn’t see them the first two tries.  So Washington took us to another spot, where after long search we spotted two hammerheads!  As much as they were cool enough to make me want to approach them, I just wasn’t sure if they were aggressive or not.  We came back to the boat, had lunch, then went to the island to play soccer with the crew, where –of course- I got mad blisters due to playing soccer without shoes on hot sand.  Then, we sent our post card to the famous post box.  I wanted to take some post cards and deliver them, but all the California post cards I found were to the city that I had no clue where.  So, I just didn’t pick any.  After, we went into a lava cave, where towards the end salt water was filled enough for us to swim.  That water was VERY cold, but it helped me forget the pain of massive blisters I just got.  This place was so dark that when we turned off our flashlights, we couldn't even see our hands right in front of the face.  After we came back to the boat, sailed to Puerto Ayora.  The first night on land after we came to the Galapagos began.