Another Little Corner of the World...

Today's post is not about my little corner of the world...

...but instead, a little corner of the world I was honored to visit last year.

If you've heard of the Galapagos Islands, then it just may be that you've heard of 

Lonesome George...

Lonesome George became a symbol of the Galapagos and "the urgent 

need to conserve nature"...

all kinds of souvenir paraphernalia throughout the islands featured some kind of 

rendering of Lonesome George...

Lonesome George died Sunday, at the age of approximately 100 years young.

That's only middle aged for a Pinta island giant tortoise.

What makes this an especially sad time is that Lonesome George was believed to be the 

last of his species.  Many attempts were made to "help" Lonesome George to 

mate and bring forth offspring, but apparently it never took.

While we were in the Galapagos, we were at the Charles Darwin Research Center

and visited Lonesome George.  

He may have been the last of his species, but he was a popular guy...

To view more little corners of the world, click here!

Pretty in Pink...

"Slow buds the pink dawn like a rose

From out night's gray and cloudy sheath;

Softly and still it grows and grows,

Petal by petal, leaf by leaf."

Susan Coolidge

(Ok...I admit it...this is from the Galapagos last November...)

Hop on over to Lisa's Chaos for more of Macro Monday...

Does a Bridge Need to be Stationary???

Bridging the way from the Zodiac to our Celebrity Xpedition...

Please visit the other participants of Sunday Bridges...

click here!!!

A Dance of Light and Dark...

"Nature is so powerful, so strong. 

Capturing it's essence is not easy-

your work becomes a dance with light and the weather.

It takes you to a place within yourself."

Annie Liebovitz

For more participants in the Weekend in Black and White, click here...

Skywatch Friday in the Galapagos...

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, 

my soul expands in the worship of the creator."

Mohandas Gandhi

For more participants in Skywatch Friday, click here!

Can't Leave the Galapagos Without Paying Tribute to....

The Iguana!!!

Marine Iguana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

"Isn't he a handsome dude???

Land Iguana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Land Iguana has a different coloring and isn't quite as prolific...

A whole heap of Marine Iguanas!!!

Group Hug!!!

A Very Vanguard Vestibule...

A gate in San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

One of the most intriguing "vestibules" I've seen in a long time!!!

For more participants in ABC Wednesday, click here!!!

The Galapagos Coup de Gras!!!

Giant Tortoise, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The coup de gras....the Galapagos Tortoise!!!

Isn't he a handsome devil (I think he's a he...)

These tortoise are the largest living species of tortoise...

some of the ones we saw were as big as 600 lbs!!! 

and can be even bigger!!!

This gives you an idea of it's size!!!

They're also one of the longest living vertebrates...

generally 100-150 years.

Records show that in the 16th Century there were upwards of 250,000 Giant Tortoises...

in 1970 records revealed the numbers had decreased to approximately 3000...

Because of substantial conservation efforts in the 20th Century,

the numbers have risen to over 19,000...

but they are still considered to be a vulnerable species...

Unfortunately, five of the original 15 subspecies of these tortoises

no longer exist...

Much of the conservation efforts takes place or originates from 

the Charles Darwin Scientific Center...

Puppy Love in the Galapagos...Sea Lion Style!!!

Sea Lions, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Sea Lions were almost as prevalent on the Galapagos Islands as the 

Iguanas!!!

And so many babies!!!  

For more participants in Macro Monday...click here...

Bright Reflections...

JW Mariott, Quito, Ecuador

"A reflection of an exact image is the closest thing to you-so that you can see it-

but it's far enough away so that you really understand it.

There is real life in this movie, but it hovers just an inch above reality."

Wes Bentley

A Photographic History...

The clouds were the perfect backdrop to this fascinating exhibit of

early Ecuadorian photography...

For more participants in Skywatch Friday...click here...

How About a BABY Blue Footed Booby???

Ahhhhhh!!!  

Sharon may be right...this is obviously a pre-pubescent Baby Booby!!!

Those feet haven't turned blue yet!!!

The Ubiquitous Blue Footed Booby...

Blue Footed Booby, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Yep...he's for real!!!

Undoubtedly one of the most Utterly Unique birds ever...

For more participants in ABC Wednesday...click here!!!

Iguanas...or Sea Lions???

I opted for Sea Lions!!!

Papa Sea Lion was holding school for the young 'uns!!!

When travelling through the Galapagos you are assured to find

two species...without a doubt....

Iguanas and Sea Lions!!!

When we were there we saw Sea Lions everywhere...

everywhere we didn't see Iguanas!!!  

The Sea Lions were abundant...and many had babies...some as 

young as two weeks old...

These young 'uns were a bit older...

perhaps early Sea Lion Teenagers???

The Land that Time Forgot...

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

I wasn't expecting the Galapagos Islands to be so reminiscent of 

a prehistoric setting...

After all, they're located at or near the equator...

I was expecting more of a tropical 

"If every one were cast in the same mould, 

there would be no such thing as beauty."

Charles Darwin

For more participants in The Weekend in Black and White...click here!!!

Guarding the Presidential Palace...

Presidential Palace Guards, Quito, Ecuador

They may not be the Swiss Guards at Buckingham Palace...

but they were quite impressive!!!

Fabio...Ecuadorian Style!!!

This gentleman was selling his handmade jewelry on the bluff across from 

one of Quito's largest cathedrals...

Ramona was quite taken with him and called him "magnificent"...

TheChief called him the Ecuadorian Fabio and figured he 

gave the guys permission to oggle the beautiful women we saw...

No...I didn't buy any jewelry...but I thought about it!!!

Take Time for the Music...

ABC Wednesday

Street Musician, Quito, Ecuador

"I think music in itself is healing.  It's an explosive expression of humanity.

It's something we are all touched by.  

No matter what culture we are from, everyone loves music."

Billy Joel

Take Time to listen to the music...

While I'm Taking Time to meet our brand new Granddaughter!!!

For more participants in ABC Wednesday, click here...

Thank you for joining me in my most recent vacation pics...

the Galapagos Islands and Quito, Ecuador

A Rose is a Rose.....

Is an Ecuadorian rose...

"What's in a name?  That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

William Shakespeare

Did you know that one of Ecuador's main exports are roses???

A Portal to a Another World...

These magnificent doors were not a church or a special building in Quito...

They seemed to be doors leading to somewhere special,

set in a regular cement building in the downtown...

For more participants in Portes de Lundi (Monday Doorways), click here!!!