Galapagos: Puerto Ayora

Woke up around 8 to try out the free breakfast at our hotel. Made to order omelette. Good enough for me and Matt has a croissant with jame and butter and fresh coffee.

We then started the 50 minute hike to Tortuga Bay. The entrance to the hike was 10 minutes from the hotel and then it was a well laid cobblestone trek the entire way to the beach, took about 25 minutes with periods of rain. Which actually felt nice considering how humid it is here.

We went to the right when we reached the ocean and watched as the sandpipers and other birds challenged the tide trying to get food. Made it to an area of black lava rock and a protected harbor with a seal and iguana swimming. Or sunbathing on the rocks. They are everywhere here, their camouflage is spectacular. Matt didn't even see one that was right infront of him. We went around the corner to a calm sea inlet. Many locals were swimming and snorkeling. We then captured a few more pictures of iguana and then started the 30 minute trek back. Saw a giant tortoise having lunch on the side of the walkway. Then we were out and back to the hotel. Stopped for a snack before heading out for pizza lunch. Pizza place didn't have anyone working it so we went further down towards the Charles Darwin research center to another place that had a pizza sign. Except they didn't have pizza. Ordered a panini and Matt had a burger. They were decent. Served with stale potatoes chips with ketchup and mayo.

Continued on the way to the Charles Darwin center, where they help rear tortoises and reintroduce them to the wild there were tiny baby toirtoises all the way up to giant tortoises. Then we made the walk back in time to lay by the pool for a couple hours before going out to dinner on the harbor for our anniversary. The pool was freezing cold but a welcoming refresher for the hot humid air. It's like Puerto Rico in November.

Got dressed and walked to the Hotel Solymar for harbor side dining. Their restaurant is in the side of a cliff. Matt ordered a green crusted fish and I ordered a mushroom fettuccine. It was delicious. Only problem was service took so long we finished it after they were supposed to close. Whoops. As we were finishing our last bites we had a seal come up to our table. And then he went and hung out by the iguana that was sun bathing on the rail.

After dinner we went back to the hotel to pack. Cruise departs tomorrow!