Visiting Isla Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Archipelago

Charles Darwin Research Station (continued)

Here'a another giant prickly pear cactus, plus a close-up of the flaky, waxy bark. Higher up on the trunk the cactus can have needles coming out of the pores in the bark.

More cactus pictures.

The big cactus on the left is a candelabra cactus.

I believe these flowers are from a Yellow Cordia.

We had begun our Darwin Center tour in the morning but by mid-day it was so hot I decided to leave. Along the road I saw a sign for a beach and walked over to take a look. I would have thought a beach at the Darwin Center would have some research purpose, but instead there were people in swimsuits sunning and swimming.

It was funny walking around the Center, you could spot the American tourists easily due to their uniform: shirt and shorts, sneakers, big hat, camera around their neck, mostly overweight, and sweating profusely (like me).

We had split up earlier and I made my way back to the boat by myself. David and Marcie weren't back yet, and I discovered that I didn't know the combination for the lock on the companionway hatch. Even though I had been standing next to it when it was locked, I didn't think to ask. I was out of drinking water, but luckily David and Marcie returned shortly. They told me the combination, which I won't repeat here except to say that it's Marcie's birthday.

As an extra-special dinner treat after our day's adventure, David made two pizzas, from scratch no less. He actually made his own dough, let it rise, kneaded it, then made the crust, tossing it spinning into the air. After adding sauce and toppings (ground beef, cheese, olives, etc.) he baked the pizzas in the oven. Dinner was absolutely delicious and David demonstrated yet another talent.