Who:
Lynne Simpson
National Outings Leader
Where:
Santa Cruz, CA
Ah, this Saturday...a special day spent with 15 enthusiastic participants on a Sierra Club International Outing to the Galapagos Islands!
Our first hike, up 348 wooden stairs, led us to a panoramic view and the opportunity to take our group photo (I'm the one in the front right). Then we enjoyed a snorkeling expedition featuring penguins, green sea turtles, and a white-tip shark who cared little for our close proximity. Sea lions dove and careened about, inviting us to imitate their actions.
Later, our guide, Chaly Malo, talked about Galapagos National Park and the preservation programs in effect. "We've realized", he said, "that if we do not protect and preserve our incredible heritage here we will lose a world treasure as well as our livelihood. We work to properly instruct visitors on how to visit our islands (take only photos, walk on the footpaths) and we share with them our love and our stories."
How fortunate we were to share both this beauty and this understanding.
