If you like animals, you would enjoy visiting the Galapagos Islands, located 600 miles west off the coast of Ecuador. My wife and I recently returned from a five-day tour there. Specifically, we stayed at pleasant, modern hotels on the islands of San Cristobal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz. What makes the islands unique are the fact that the land, sea, and winged creatures have evolved no fear of approaching humans and you can get very close to them -- unlike an African safari, where one must avoid the predators by staying secure in one's safari vehicle, with loaded weapons at the ready, just in case! We went snorkeling in three different areas, and saw sea turtles, marine iguanas, seals, sea lions, sharks, and multitudes of colorful tropical fish. On land hikes, we witnessed giant tortoises, land iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and penguins. The people of the Galapagos are very friendly and welcoming. The "eco-tourism" that the national park guides provide protects the amazing flora and fauna environment of the islands. The weather here is basically good year-round, being near the equator. The meals we had were delicious, healthy, and fresh -- with fish, rice, beans, corn, potatoes, and plentiful fruits offered as basic staples. There are many guide and picture books on the Galapagos available at our library and through our larger Solano Library system. Feel free to stop in and ask me any further questions. I also have many photos to share, and some short videos on my YouTube channel.
Happy Travels! Jack Karolewski Dixon Public Library