On the northeast side of the island Santiago, Galápagos, is Sullivan Bay. The lava walk here showed us a lava phenomenon called Pahoehoe – a ropy lava flow, coming from from the latest eruption in 1902.

The day started rather misty and the only thing we could see on shore was the dark lava flow, interspersed with red streaks and topped with lava mounds and volcanoes.

The Galápagos Islands are in a highly volcanic area, and the volcanoes seldom rest. On Isabela, the largest island, there are several of them alive. In the end, all these 19 islands will disappear in the Pacific Ocean. Some of them are already dying.

We anchored between Santiago and the small island of Bartolome. Already there was a blue sailing ship waiting to unload its group of Americans.

You had to watch your step – crevices and very uneven ground. This lavafield is indeed the largest I have ever walked. Iceland’s Krafla area we could not walk properly as we visited when the eruption was just over. The ground was too hot and too dangerous.

Many beautiful and interesting patterns were found on the walk, and each one of us had his or her own interpretation…What is yours?

Here the flow suddenly came to a stop

Walking back to our beautiful ship, the sun lashed its late evening colours on our steps.

Bartolome consists of an extinct volcano, and its landmark is called Pinnacle Rock.

The evening offered a bright moon, and in the velvety air, we all went soft and still on deck. This was our last day but one in Paradise.

Thursday Thoughts – The Importance of Festivities

26 januari, 201726 januari, 2017 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

Travelling means learning new things every day. I guess that is one of the best parts of life – learning new things. In this 2 million people capital, Quito, Ecuador, I enjoyed every second. Almost 3000 metres up in the Andes – you had to take it a bit easy the first day.

Do you, for instance, know which mountain is the world´s highest? I learned from the Ecuadorian businessman sitting next to me in the plane between Guayaquil and Baltra, that it is…..Chimborazo, a big volcano in Ecuador. It is higher than Mount Everest – if you count from the middle of our planet Earth.

Colourful Old Town Quito, together with Krakow, Poland, 1978 became the first UNESCO World Heritage sites. And they keep it colourful, clean and tidy.

There were grand festivities this week – December 6 was celebrated everywhere. So, what did they celebrate? Their freedom? No, they celebrated the Spaniards conquering them in the 16th century…I asked them how this could be something to celebrate – and they all answered that they had put all this behind them – this day was just a good day for festivities and having fun. That sounded just great to me!

Ecuador Ama la Vida

Music and Dancing in the street

Miss Quito and Gentleman

Lovely festive ladies

These musicians were absolutely professional – we did not leave even if we had finished our meal…

Beautiful city and beautiful people – and wonderful food! We enjoyed Quito despite some rain. Old and young, everybody in a good mood.

A young man came up to me with a rose. You know, the thing they do everywhere down in Europe, expecting you to give some money…This young guy was in a group of students, and he was the only one to have a single rose in his hand. I shook my head and told him I had no money, but his eyes were shining when he smiled, saying that he did not want any money…just to give me the rose.

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Construction

26 januari, 20171 februari, 2017 / Leya / 4 kommentarer

Moroccan construction often looks like this. Is it a start or are we waiting for a finish?

For more of construcktion – click here.

Wordless Wednesday

25 januari, 201725 januari, 2017 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

CFFC: Good and Bad

24 januari, 2017 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Good and Bad

This is a game played by men and bulls in Terceira, Azores. The bad thing is that it seems to be man versus beast – but the good thing is, that the bull is running through the streets on a rope, pulled to a stop when he gets to wild. Mostly young men try to run as close as possible, but never hurt the bull. They let loose about five bulls – one at a time – and take them in to rest when they are tired. Nobody gets hurt. It is a matter of showing courage, impressing ladies and other young guys – bull and man trying to outsmart each other.

No politics…but I could have used the white hat and the black hat in this challenge as well – reversed though. A matter of opinion.

Camouflage – Survival or Not

23 januari, 201723 januari, 2017 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

In the header, a beautiful Land Iguana – maybe my favourite animal on the Galápagos Islands. And below is my special companion – the Mockingbird.

”Blending in experts” are the birds – and other animals – on the Galápagos Islands. To me this is a magnificent treat to the eye.

Many of these animals are endemic, only to be found here. And many only on their own specific island. Darwin´s 13 species of finch are hard to tell apart, but they all have different bills related to where they live and what and how they eat.

Lava Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-heron

Blue-footed Booby

Galápagos Dove

Medium Ground Finch

Almost every island has its own Lava Lizard. Often difficult to find if you do not know what you are looking for… This is the pretty Galápagos Lava Lizard.