the last week in the Galapagos on Santa Cruz Island and San Cristobal

Back on the main island after an eight day tour, it was time to sample some of the seafood that the Galapagos has to offer. For the last two or three months of the year, lobster is in season.  The big difference between this lobster and Maine lobster is that there are no big claws and the shell has small spikes on the main part of the body... but it still tastes great! The price for something like a two-pounder was between $18 and $25.  The first time I tried it, I had it "encocada", meaning a coconut-based sauce.  Really good!  But the most popular method is "thermidor", on the grill.  I liked it this way, too, but all the chefs insist on cutting the lobster in half, then putting it on the grill.  Also during this process, he would drain out the juices that come out. As a result, the lobster, while still good, was a bit dry. 

Sea lions just hang out wherever they want...

  

poor guy got a little close to something and now has a tattoo

midnight snack on my birthday- flattened chicken thigh, grilled with some hot sauce

On San Cristobal...

this guy thought no one was watching him as he waves his bird to the world

This chef was my favorite of all the Galapagos! He knew how to prepare seafood to make sure it wasn´t too dry or undercooked. The portions were huge!  I got a whole fish for $10, more for one person to eat, but it was soooooo good, that I did.

fish cheek!

I attempted a bike ride on San Cristobal, but rented an inferior bike that had low low gears and low high gears, so I didn´t really go to far. Plus it was very foggy and misty, so I wasn´t missing too much in the highlands.  A few standouts...

purple veins and flowers

a leaf within a leaf. The bottom side of these leaves were entirely green, though the topside was partially red

these finches seemed to learn that they can hang out wherever gringos are and get a  free meal

The beach on Santa Cruz Island has really white sand and goes on for more than a kilometer.

These are the last animals I saw on the Galapagos...

one more blue footed booby

I had some extra time, so I went back to the Darwin Center and sactuary

sunset on San Cristobal Island