For many reasons of course. When I think of these wonderful islands, my dream was, and is, that animals can live together without fear, and that they tolerate us humans – they are not afraid of us, but rather curious instead…
I made friends with many animals – but we were not allowed to go closer than 2 metres from any animal. Except from trying to pass them on the paths of course…The wonderful thing is that they approached us instead – and that, is true magic.
This mockingbird was really communicative – jumping up and down on the tree trunk, hiding, but still keeping an inquisitive eye on me. I know I lost a bit of my heart there…
The birds here are yellow warbler and mockingbird, then iguanas and sealions.
Nature is fantastic. Everything to me. This time I was really living my dream.
Leya 
Pingback: Landscapes of the Galápagos Islands | Leya
Your photos and story tell me this was a dream come true adventure. I am so happy for you.
You are so kind – and it is true. This is my most wonderful adventure. Surely the dreams you have as a child are the best ones come true. They have been with you for many, many years. I am so grateful.
Great stuff!! x
😮 Oh, this looks incredible! How lovely that such places still exist. Makes me all hopeful. So happy for you!
Thank you, Manja! I believe you would have loved it!
Det måste vara en väldig blandning av känslor att få uppleva detta och den första bilden är ju så himla rolig. Även om man inte ska lägga mänskliga beteenden på djuren så är det svårt att inte tänka i banor av kurragömma när jag tittar på den bilden. Jag blir alldeles tagen av dina bilder härifrån och tänker – hur ska då inte du känna som upplevde detta på riktigt?
Det var den finaste av alla fina resor jag kunde göra. Så mycket jag lärde mig på dessa veckor har jag inte lärt mig på många år. Snorkla lärde jag mig också. En helt ny värld öppnade sig och sjölejonen virvlade runt mig, under och över – ända upp i ansiktet och såg mig nyfiket i ögonen! Fula, klumpiga varelse – lek med mig nu då!
Åh, snorkla måste vara toppen..tänk att få simma omkring så *drömmer mig bort*
Lena, du får testa här hemma också! Våtdräkter finns ju!
Jo det är sant!
omg, amazing photos… especially that all the animals and birds approach close to humans, don’t seem to fear, so beautiful to be so close to nature ♥
Lovely photos, Leyla! Having only watched documentaries on the islands, I’ve always been fascinated. I’m sure that this is an experience you won’t forget 🙂
No, this was an unforgettable experience😍 I would gladly return any day.
How wonderful! That first image is my favorite!
Liza, these weeks were the most interesting in my life. I learned so much from our excellent guides as well. If I could I would travel there again. Ecuador and its people and biodiversity is so rich. And so are you, my friend.
i am so glad that you had an enriching exerience, and now you probably understand why i love this country so much. it must be hard to be in brutal cold of winter after experiencing live at basically latitude zero!
Such stunning captures of animals wandering in their own habitat, Leya. And you managed to get up close as you can. What an experience and so glad to hear you lived your dream. I like how the last shot is low, and that you captured the iguanas looking up at their parting visitors 🙂 I too wish animals and humans can live side by side and don’t jump out at each other. Keep your distance, observe, and that is how friendship and trust always starts 🙂
Thank you, dear Mabel – I agree. Have a great weekend – I will pop over😁
stunning pictures
Stunning creatures and much gratefulness!
How incredible to be so close to wildlife; to be in harmony. As for Antarctica, I may have mentioned that my brother did this course which included a trip to Antarctica. http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/gcas/ He loved the course and the Antarctica visit. Would it be something which you would want to do?
Thank you for posting – had I been 20 years younger…yes! Today my fingers cannot stand the cold, so living there would be impossible. But if we go to New Zealand once more – we might pop over for a short visit. We know nothing of how the world will be or look like in a couple of years. So worried about the Trump years to come. It is impossible to shut it out – it is all over media…and I cannot stand even the look of him.
Yes, the next few years hardly bear thinking about. Every day I think Trump can’t possibly say, or do, or tweet, anything worse than he did the day before, but he does!
He does. And the impact on people? Our young? Nature. Everything. Every day I wake up to this bad dream, hoping the good Americans could find a way to remove him as fast as possible.
I think it may take a miracle. 😦
The days of miracles are not over yet😊
Wow! Love those iguanas…. Thanks for sharing these, A-C. I shall never get to the Galapagos, but every now and again I get a virtual tour!
Virtual tours are good as well😊And there will most certainly be more iguanas from me – I just Love them, their thousands- of – years look and knowledge. Their slow movements and their eyes…just watching…you.
I am taken by your agility in avoiding all those tails!!
No problem…but others in the group had some incidents.
No injuries, I hope….to man or beast…
Just some knee scrubs..
Oh, OK!
It’s like a paradise! Thank you for sharing your beautiful travel photos, Ann-Christine!
Thank you for visiting, Pike!
Antarctica was like this. The animals were unafraid and very curious. Now I want to go to the Galapagos.
…and I will have to go to Antarctica!