Baltra viewed from the air (sz)
Our journey began two days ago with a flight from Rochester to Miami. The next day, we flew to Guayaquil, on the west coast of Ecuador,
where we were met at midgnight by representatives of
Linblad/National Geographic, our hosts for this journey.
We arrived in Baltra (South Seymour) after a short flight. What greeted us that first day as we began to experience our new environment, were temperatures in the 80s with a pleasant sea breeze, beautiful blue skies, and all around us the landscape of the islands we would soon come to know: rocky beaches, volcanic mountains, unusual rock formations, unusual vegetation.
Sea Lions lounging on the dock (sz)
By midmorning we were walking across a dock full of fat, sassy sea lions ready to help us clamber aboard the zodiac boats
that would take us out to our ship, the National Geographic M.S. Islander.
Ramp from the dock to the zodiac (sz)
The staff who met us was friendly and helpful. Within a few minutes we were coming out of the zodiacs and going aboard our ship, a small catamaran yacht which holds 48 passengers and about 20 crew. The decor and the environment of the ship was absolutely beautiful, in the best of taste.
National Geographic Islander (sz)
The ship's lounge, where we spent a lot of time (ps)
Ship's Library & Internet Station (ps)
A sampling of the daily food buffet, Our waiters: Erwin and Xavier (ps)
