Sunday, Feb. 21st, started at 4:30 a.m. with a wake up call, from the San Jose Garden Hotel.  The bags we were storing there during our trip to the Galapagos would be picked up at 5!  Once they were stored, we were treated to a great - off to the airport breakfast - cheese, meat, apples, pears, bread, butter, and coffee.  

I became the second fall casualty of the trip, when I was walking and talking and missed a step and went down flat on my face.  For a brief second, was certain my nose was broken....but it wasn't and although my arm was bleeding.....there was no permanent damage -- and it did not spoil my breakfast. 

The driver arrived right on time,  packed up our luggage for the trip and we were off on our 20 minute drive to the airport.   We were on an Avanica, domestic flight, so did not have to worry about customs, for the trip to Baltran Island airport.   We had our most unusual meal on that plane....warm chicken salad sandwiches at 9:30 a.m.!  But we were headed to a small ship, with a fantastic chef that has us all eating more than usual.

Once on Baltran Island, we were met by Hernand, who was to be our guide in the Galapagos.  We boarded a bus for a 5 minute bus ride , then a pontoon (of sorts) for a 5 minute boat ride, then a tour bus for a 45 minute bus ride, then a dingy for a 15 minute boat ride to the ship.  After being assigned our cabins (below deck), we had a fantastic lunch and were off to San Cristobal...our first stop in the Galapagos.

San Cristobal is the only  people populated island,  and one of the two  islands that have fresh water on them.   The Charles Darwin Scientific Research Center is located on the island.   Huge land turtles ( who live to be over 100)  and brightly colored iguana's (because it is the mating season and their colors change after the mating season), and many lizards were seen in abundance there.  Lola, the other member of the guide team, joined us there and we learned about the care of and do's and don'ts of visiting Galapagos.   Simply put....touch nothing and take nothing and STAY ON THE PATH!!!   But - photography is allowed...however, turn off the flash!!!   Stay 2 meters away from the animals, and have a great day! 

Also....this was our first, last, and only chance to shop in the Galapagos and/or use the internet.  We were being cut off from communication with the world.  We did both....found blue footed booby t-shirts for ourselves, sent a few messages saying we would be incommunicado.....and found  a skate ramp, the dock and the dingy that would take us to the Coral I for our first dinner and night on the boat.