Under the Sea

 
Snorkeling

Such fun memories!  These pictures were from our first day of snorkeling.
I used my little underwater camera for the first time.  The selfie was
just for fun...I think is is hilarious.  The water was very cold, and my
eyes are huge!  The sea turtle swam right by me...wow.  The little penguins
swam with us, bobbing up and down in the water and the waves.  And the
iguana was busy eating some algae on the bottom.
The page in my book I was able to do there on the beach.
I sketched with my black pen, and then actually painted it later
that night on the boat.

fun, fun

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Hold Your Breath

 
Marine Iguanas

As I look at some of these photos, I can imagine that some people
would have nightmares about these creatures!  These are the famous marine
iguanas of the Galapagos islands.  I took lots of photos of them because there
were lots of them!  They lie out in the sun overnight to warm up, usually all
piled up on top of each other.  And there were all sizes...great big old ones,
and even little baby ones.  They were the same color as the lava, so you really
had to watch your step.  They were very still...never really moving except
to kinda sneeze, to get the salt water out of their nose.

I did get to see one underwater, feeding on the algae growing on a rock.
It was kind of creepy to see him, knowing that he was holding his
breath! Our guide told us that Darwin tied a string to one, and
threw him overboard.  He pulled him
up an hour later, and he was just fine.
He couldn't believe he could stay under that long.  They were
definitely interesting, and I had not
seen anything like them before.  I drew them in the sketchbook,
and will probably do even more.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Whatever Floats your Boat

Here are a few shots from the islands.  We were on the cruise ship "Legend".
It had four decks, about the size of the one we traveled down the Yangtze river
on.  It held 100 passengers and 50 crew members.
We were tendered to the islands on the Zodiac boats.
The large black birds are frigates...they followed our boat whenever we
were under way...hoping for a handout I think.
And that is a Galapagos penguin swimming with us as we
snorkeled.  This was the first time I used the new little underwater camera.
It took a little getting used to...especially as I was floating among the waves
in a wet suit, and trying to hold it still!!

I am home now, and able to reflect on the wonderful experience.  As I
was describing it to my husband last night, he said, "It sounds like Eden", and
I said "Yes, that's it!!"  It is like a paradise...beautiful scenery, and
amazing wildlife, willing to pose for your photo.  It was certainly
different from anywhere I have ever been.  I am so lucky and blessed to have
been able to see it for myself.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I love Boobies

Nazca Boobie

Blue Footed Boobie

My last post was from Quito, and the next day we left for the ship.  There is
no internet access aboard, so I was way off the grid!  But now,
we are back in Quito.

What an amazing place!!  We have had so much fun.  The islands are
teeming with birds, animals, and reptiles.  Since the islands are
protected and uninhabited, they are not afraid.  You can get
within feet or inches of most of the creatures.

These birds are the famous boobies that live there.  There are two species:
the Nazca, and the Blue Footed.  Here are pics of both.  They are
fisherman...they dive bomb into the water from far above as soon as
they spot a fish, and then tuck their wings and plummet.
We saw them everywhere...resting on the rocks, and leaving behind
their "boobie graffiti" as our guide called it.  Beautiful birds...even
comical.  So glad I got to see them.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Passing Gently

This is the opening page in my sketchbook journal for the upcoming
trip to the Galapagos islands.  I wanted to set the wildlife theme right
from the start!  This is watercolor and ink...just a little sketch.

I try to do a digital copy of my journals when I get back home, and offer them to 
the other travelers.  I didn't have time to do a real printed postcard this time, so 
I thought I would use this sketch and make my own postcards.  I added the text using 
Photoshop, and now I am printing them on 4 x 6 photo paper stock.  I can 
hand them out to interested patrons, with all my contact info on there.  
Maybe there will be some takers!

I found a beautiful quote today.  It was in a weekly art email
that I receive from Robert Genn.


"We can ask no greater joy than to pass gently through
this place that has been given to us,
and make something out of it.  Not necessarily to fully understand it, for that might be an
impossible task, but to honor it in our own way."

That really captures how I feel about this wonderful world that God 
has blessed us with. And the chance to go and see these marvelous 
islands, inhabited with birds and animals that live only there, is 
a blessing I am grateful for.  It should be a real adventure, and I 
am ready!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Packed and Ready

I hope to be seeing more of these in their native country...really soon!
We start our first leg today, driving to New Orleans to catch the plane
tomorrow morning.  Everyone in my group seems to be ready and excited.
I hope it will be a great trip.

I have already booked next summer's trip to the Galapagos Islands, leaving
July 14th for 10 days.  This is a fascinating place, loaded with lots of
unique and amazing animals and birds.  We will fly into Quito, Ecuador,
and tour there, and then board a small cruise ship to the islands.
We will sail several days around each island, going ashore to see
the great tortoises, blue-footed boobies (a rare bird), and lots of
other sea life and aquatic animals.  We are scheduled to snorkel with
the sea turtles, and possibly swim with some dolphins.  It
sounds really great...any of you that think you might like to go,
please let me know.  The sooner you get signed up, the better.  You can
begin paying monthly on your trip, and that always makes it easier.
Don't miss this chance to go somewhere really special.  I would love to
have you along.

sheltongail@hotmail.com