Sorry its Been So Long!

I think it has been a week since my last update...I'll do my best to fill you in!

Our trip to Kicker Rock was great! (It is called Kicker Rock because it is shaped like a foot. It is also known as Sleeping Lion for the same reason--the toe of the shoe is the back end of the lion.) I was in a small group that was able to sit on the front of the boat as we headed to the island. I could totally start every morning like that--so refreshing. Our professor was our guide for the day. We snorkeled all the way around this rock. It is thought to have been a volcano millions of years ago and to have suffered some major erosion since then. The volcanic rock is frail that it not expected to be here in the next thousands of years. It was covered in birds of all sorts--blue footed boobies (in the picture!), masked boobies, pelicans, etc. The water was pretty murky so we weren't able to see much, but...I saw a Galapagos shark! We actually saw close to a dozen of them and one was probably 8 feet away. They're not very big sharks...still really cool. This is a picture I took with a digital underwater camera I borrowed from my new Norwegian friend named Tina! We also caught a glimpse of these giant, spotted sting rays. Everyone was hoping to see hammer head sharks, but we didn't. I guess they are really common around there and most people see them. Either the water was too cold while we were there or they were too far down for us to see!! Afterwards we were able to go check out some mangroves on a nearby beach before we headed to Islalobo. Here the water was super shallow and clear. The baby sea lions were playing and we were able to swim around them. Very cool.

I have spent a majority of the week reading for class and working on my research paper. (This is our University!) We had our final yesterday and I just email my paper to my professor. It is so hard to sit and study when the Galapagos is right outside! I went snorkeling in the cove a couple of times. One day three of us rented bikes and rode out to another beach that is out past the airport here. It was a very secluded, beautiful beach. The water was pretty rough making it hard to see much. Though there was a giant school of these little silver fish. I think they could have filled a swimming pool! We tried to dive down and swim with them, haha. I also mistook a blue footed boobie for one of my friends! I snorkeled up to it and realized it was a bird. I was able to swim a couple feet in front of it...when I popped my head out of the water it flew away!

We leave tomorrow at 9 am for another island. We will be staying on Santa Cruz every night and taking tours of surrounding islands by day. The only place I remember from our itinerary off the top of my head is Flamingo Lagoon. It's going to be so neat! Everyone in the group also hopes to see the Galapagos penguins! This next week will be great--we are all done with classes!! We will finally be able to enjoy our time here without stressing about homework. I'm guessing that I will have internet access in Santa Cruz, so I will try to update soon! Bye!

p.s. Shout out to Grace, Henry, and Eve---HI!