Isabela Island - Puerto Villamil
Hike Volcano Sierra Negra and Wall of Tears
Happy Hour :)
we had a long overnight sail, 10hrs i think ... south and west to Isabela Island .... where i had just spent 18 wonderful days ....
map for today's activities, interactive again:
it always feels good to return to a place you are familiar with :) .... we got into a taxi and drove to the start of the hike to climb Sierra Negra Volcano ...
Isabela Island is the largest in the Galapagos, (1,800sqmiles), and for some perspective, still less than half the size of the Island of Hawaii. there are 6 active volcanos on Isabela Island.
Volcan Sierra Negra rising to 4,900ft, is the largest and most active, with the latest eruption in 2005; (1979 prior eruption)
it was about an 1hr hike in the sun ..... but well worth the effort ... luckily we had good weather ... the path can be a muddy and slippery climb if it rains .....
the 2005 eruption spilled over and filled the inside of the caldera .... however, Washington told us that it could collapse at any time given that it is not solid because it cooled so fast ... the eruption came from the area behind me ....
the caldera is the largest in all of the Galapagos .... and it is oval, (usually they are circular), ... 5.75 x 4.5 miles ...
and it is also the shallowest: only 350 ft deep ...
here is a short panaorama video ....
hiked back out, and got our dingy to the boat ... lunch, hung out until around 3pm when we went back to Puerto Villamil for Part 2 of our Land Tour .... the Wall of Tears ...
since i knew the 'town', .... i suggested that we meet at 5pm for Happy Hour at Casa Rosada Iguana (red iguana) across from Hotel Volcano, .... they had 2 for $6 drinks ...
we got in an 'open-air' bus/truck .... and headed up the road past my last 'home' Hotel Volcano ... to visit the Wall of Tears .... actually, quite ... unimpressive ....
this location was one of the WWII US radar stations to protect the Panama Canal .... in 1946, 300 prisoners and 30 police came here to create a penal colony, far from the mainland, (no kidding!). .... construction of a 'wall' to keep prisoners in and to keep them busy was begun, with prisoners being harshly punished. many died due to exhaustion, accidents, and punishments .... hence the "Wall of Tears" ..."here the strong cry and the weak die" ...
no mortar was used, it was unstable, which resulted in deaths during the construction ....
it was never finished ... top view ...
we also climbed the stairs of Cerro Ochillo ... for a view of Puerto Villamil and the beautiful beach ...
we met a 'wild' Tortoise on the road ... that was exciting for those who hadn't seen one yet ...
i passed on the Tortoise Breeding Center tour since i'd already visited it, .... as well as the one on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. i never was able to post the video i took here of 2 Tortoises mating, ......... so you get to see it now :) ...
i went back to Hotel Volcano, Stephanie wasn't there, but i used the WiFi to check my banking which i didn't do before i left :( ... but all was ok ...
the group met around 5:30pm ... and that was a great idea ..... it's was so much more fun being there with a group, than being there alone :( ...
we all had fun .... many drinks were quickly consumed ...
if we hadn't 'bonded' yet as a group, we did that evening :) ...
my favorite bartender :) ...
the sun set ... a familiar scene for me ....
and although there was 'talk' about not returning to the boat for dinner, and just staying and continuing drinking ....
we eventually met Washington around 6:30 in the village ...
and after some silliness ....
we headed back to the dock, where the full moon was just rising ....
back to the boat for dinner ... and the drinking continued ... it felt like 2am when Claire and i turned in for the night .... but it was only 10:30 !!!
this was the least 'exciting' day for me .... except for the Happy Hour ...
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