March 5 Santa Cruz

 Port of call at Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the archipelago and headquarters of both the
Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. Tour the giant tortoise
breeding corrals, a pioneering successful effort to return wild populations to a natural state
supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. Spend some time in town
before continuing to the highlands. Explore the cultural and natural attractions of the highlands
of Santa Cruz in the afternoon, where much of our produce is grown on local farms. We stop for
lunch at a local ranch, dedicated to conservation. This is our best opportunity to see tortoises
roaming in the wild.
        We're starting to feel exhausted from our vacation. I guess that's better than being bored.
      Our zodiac ride had a dry landing at the dock of the largest city in the Galapagos with 20k people. Puerta  Ayora. We dropped our books for the school at the office. Had a short bus ride to the Darwin center and walked around to see the various tortoises.

and lonesome Diego the last of his species.
It is very hot and humid. After we went to the gift shops got our key chains for souvenirs and ended up at Darwin's Lounge. Visited a chocolate shop and bought a box. It won't last long.
    We feel asleep on the short drive to the hydroponic farm. He gave us tiny bananas for snacks. He starts the seeds in trays 
At about 10 days they look like
Them he can transfer them to the growing area

he harvests in 35 days.
We got to plant a seedling.
He grows coffee too.
 we got samples of coffee and tea and some cakes
 then we were on our way to lunch and to go see more tortoises in the wild. Down a long bumpy dirt road



We had a really nice lunch then changed into knee-high socks and rubber boots to go looking for tortoises. We found a lot of them.

 we fell asleep on the bus ride back to the port. Where are chocolates? We're waiting for us.
there was a sea lion dozing on the dock blocking the ramp to the zodiac we had to carefully step around him.
They have brought some local artisans onto the ship to show off their wares
Today's cocktails 
Again I like the the moktail, not the cocktail
     Tonight's lecture was about giant tortoise migration.

Dinner
Banana dessert 
Band tonight 

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