Galápagos
for me is very personal.
It has been for 40 years when I first visited the islands with my father. Now I go there frequently with my own children. There are dozens of compelling reasons for anyone to go and, hopefully, one day soon you will identify some of them and explore these enchanted Islands if you haven’t already. So, what is this little book? Reflections of love for a place; reflections of time spent with family and friends and a reminder that Galápagos is so worthy of our care and stewardship. Sven Lindblad Photographs by Sven Lindblad except page 8 & 9 (Michael Nolan.) * Offer of 1st child free, 2nd child 50% off is valid when sharing accommodations with two full-fare paying adults on select departures. For the purposes of this promotion, a child is 17 and under. 3
I’d like you to meet some of my family, some of whom will appear throughout this book at various stages of their lives. Top left is my father with my sister, Cristina, in the late 60’s. Next to them my older boys Justin & Jeremy with Isabella in ‘98. Below is Isabella, my daughter, in ’97 crawling around like an endemic island creature. On the right is Eric, my youngest son in ’05, who became totally besotted by Lucho, one of our expedition leaders. I guess it would be an understatement to say that my entire family has been profoundly influenced by their time in Galápagos for three generations now.
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Sea lions are the most playful of Galápagos creatures and are found on nearly every island. Graceful beyond description in the water – those who snorkel amongst them seem somehow forever changed. On land they can be downright comical – huge males protecting their territory to maintain dominance over their harems seems like an extraordinary expenditure of energy. Babies and juveniles cannot help but show tremendous curiosity for anything that moves, including us. On the next page, that curiosity gave Eric a bit of a fright.
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When we think of Galรกpagos, we think foremost of its creatures. But the land, too, is most interesting and in so many stages of change. Imagine this lava cactus (brachycereus nesioticus) colonizing lava beds. Quite a feat, which perhaps explains the armor that repels all who would eat it. In fact, there are dozens of volcanoes in Galรกpagos, some still active. The most recent eruption was on the island of Fernandina, April 2009.
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“Considering the small size of these islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range. Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period, geologically recent, the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact – the mystery of mysteries – the first appearance of new beings on earth.” — Charles Darwin
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Birds – you think of them as creatures you look at through binoculars. Not here. You can walk right up to them and they couldn’t care less. It’s not that they are tame – not at all. It’s simply that they have no fear of man and thus we are blissfully ignored. I believe being in a place where fear simply does not exist is perhaps the most compelling aspect of Galápagos.
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Traveling with children is special, especially so when you are assured that shared experiences will delight everyone in the family. Certainly Galåpagos is that kind of place in spades. But there’s something else that motivates me powerfully. Kids are under daily assault, bombarded by media that suggest the clothes you wear on Monday are obsolete on Tuesday; that cell phones are essential at age 8; and, invariably, heroes are stars, usually rich and spoiled. In places like Galåpagos, I, as a parent, can provide a platform for the development of other values and other heroes. Isabella is emphatic about being a marine biologist. My son, Jeremy, has become a very talented photographer and his older brother, Justin, wants to open restaurants. And Eric, at age 6, is mad keen on sharks and his heroes are expedition leaders. This is why I care so deeply about conserving these islands. After all, they have given me, and so many people I care about, so much. 33
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See your travel agent or call 1.800.EXPEDITION www.expeditions.com TM