Wahoo Wednesday!

The day began with Tortoises!!  Well technically the day began with breakfast, a water taxi, and then a walk to the Charles Darwin research center.  We got to observe the largest living species of tortoise (800 lbs! 5ft long!) Munching happily on green vegetation.  We also observed that their diet "sounds" high in fiber.  They spend about nine hours a day eating, two hours sunbathing, and can move about 0.2 MPH.  That seems slow and when you see them move it looks slow but glance away for a moment and those suckers make progress.    The center breeds tortoises in captivity and we learned that little munchkins weigh 1.8 oz at birth and measure 2.4 inches.  We saw one poor fella in the nursery stuck on his back - it was torture to helplessly watch his little legs running in mid air, his head flailing to find purchase and his little friends walking past unable to help.  Surely someone working behind the scenes will give him a nudge.

In the touristy shops there are shirts, etc touting a "lonesome George" and we finally figured out what that is all about.  On Pinta Island a sole tortoise was discovered.  He is the last of his dynasty and sadly all attempts to help him breed have been unsuccessful.  George ignored the two females in his pen for the first 10 years together and then when he did finally take notice he spent so much energy chasing them that he fell asleep when it came time for the all important step two.  I can't make this stuff up!  Will suggests the researchers tie rocks to the females to slow them down for George.  He is so thoughtful.

After our "slow" morning we decided to find that fresh market.  Luckily we found a few!  The produce might not look all perfect and walmartesque but it tastes so much better.  I feel like I've never had a banana until now!  Interestingly, most everything we purchase tastes like a combination of fruits.  One banana had strong flavors of lemon, while another banana tasted closer to an apple.  The limes are quite orangey and I can wait to try the avocados.  We bought 6 bags of a variety of fruits and veggies for only $17 and our just off the boat Wahoo was only $2 per lb.  Lunch was a feast. 

Now we siesta and then beach!

Pictures below include sea lions, pelicans, grouper, and wahoo at the fish market.  I also included some pics of tortoises and a sea lion skeleton from the research center.