Anything and everything to do with exploring the world around us.
Arriving in the Galápagos Islands
We visited the Galapagos Islands after a business trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador in 2011 and I have yet to see a more splendorous locale out of all the places in the world I’ve visited. I’m always loath to revisit anywhere because there are so many places in the world to see, but I fully intend to make it back there soon.
The Galapagos is the only place on earth with marine iguanas, which are the only lizards who spend time in the ocean.
We frolicked with sea lions and swam with sharks!
Blue-Footed Boobies. There’s nothing more amazing than mother nature.
The red crabs were ubiquitous and the Galapagos penguin is the only species of penguin found north of the equator and one of the smallest.
It was not an easy trek out to this spot, but it was well worth it. The “trail” is not long and it is flat, but it’s also INCREDIBLY ROCKY. You’re basically balancing on rocks that are not quite as large as your feet with rough edges.
It was incredible, how the locals dove from atop the crevasse walls. The water is a mixture of fresh and salt so there’s not much aquatic life to speak of, but it’s definitely one of the coolest swimming holes I’ve ever seen.
We were lucky enough to be able to see Lonesome George before he died in 2012. He was the last Pinta Island tortoise and was known as the rarest creature in the world in his later years. He’s now an important symbol for conservation around the world.
The people at this restaurant, the Angermeyer, were so incredibly warm & welcoming. We were only a party of 4 but they gave us a table on the water even though they were closed for a private party. Phenomenal food & stunning views!
These twin craters were not caused by impact, but rather they’re sinkholes created when the volcanic roof of empty magma chambers collapsed from tectonic shifts and erosion over time. Still pretty cool.
I have hundreds of pictures from our trip to the Galapagos but what I remember most is the incredible warmth of the people and their collective environmental consciousness. It’s a unique place and if you only take one trip in your life, it should be there.
We went snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas in September of 2021.
We took the ferry from Key West (the Yankee Freedom) out to Fort Jefferson and it was a comfortable ride with a friendly and professional staff. We only took a day trip (I don’t mind sweating during the day, but I want my creature comforts at night) and it was definitely worth it, although it terms of underwater sea life, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida offers a better experience.
Construction of the fort began after the War of 1812 in order to defend the US southern coastline and more specifically, one of the most strategic deep-water anchorages in North America, which afforded the US an advance post for ships patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida.
The lighthouse @ Fort Jefferson was added in 1825 to provide warning to sailors about the dangers of reefs and shoals surrounding the Dry Tortugas.
I’m a bit of a history buff and the site provides informative placards in the different areas, like the gun emplacements and soldier’s barracks. It was interesting to be able to climb through the remnants and have context to the history. You can also download a self-guided tour, which I loved because I’m not really into groups or tours. Overall, worth the trip at least once if you’re interested in US history. If you’re only interested in snorkeling, there’re lots of better locations in South Florida, including right off the beach in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West, where you can also get a dose of US Civil War history.
South Pointe Park is one of the best green spaces in the Miami area, in my opinion.
It has stunning panoramic views of the shoreline, port, and downtown skyline, as well as Fisher Island, where the economic elite live and frolic. There’s a water playground for kids, walking trails, picnic and barbecue areas, benches, a café and an off-leash dog park. There’s also a steakhouse, Smith & Wollensky, which I actually don’t recommend. It’s been steadily declining in quality and service for years, but it is conveniently situated with unparalleled views. You can always have drinks and appetizers at the bar and enjoy a sunny day, but for food I’d trek over to Joe’s Take Away a few blocks away.
I was born and raised in Miami, but only discovered the snorkeling off South Pointe Pier in 2021. The pics below are from my outing in September of that year. We set up camp right on the beach and walked into the ocean, snorkeling along the rocks that delineate the pier. The pics are from my iPhone so they’re not great but you’ll get the idea.
This next creature was pretty cool to follow:
It was a bit overcast on Sunday June 11th, but it was still a very relaxing few hours at Hobie. The beaches in South Florida tend to be unbearably overrun with people in the summer, so sometimes it’s nice to be able to get to the shore without too much hassle.
Hobie doesn’t have the sand, but you can pluck yourself down right by the water with your chair and umbrella and just chill. It’s just a narrow strip of land on the southside of the Rickenbacker Causeway leading to Key Biscayne on Biscayne Bay. It’s popular with windsurfers but if you don’t mind the seaweed carpet on the ocean floor, you can swim and snorkel right off the shore.
There’s also a concession stand and hot dog vendor and well maintained public bathrooms.
This is a scenic park on Biscayne Bay in South Florida.
I visited in April and the weather was perfect for my walk. Unfortunately most of the park is under construction and the walking paths are muddy and barely visible most days. They’re also not very long, so don’t provide much of a workout. But it’s still very scenic and a great place for a picnic.
Musings of a Dragon 