Day 11 - Española Island: Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez

We were lucky enough to get a second round of kayaking this morning - they had a second round later in the morning and I guess people wanted to sleep in a bit.  The kayaking was in and around Gardern Bay - we dipped in an out of little coves with the surf surging us gently up and down.   Blue footed boobies were all around the place... their perching areas are quite easy to see - just spot what looks like years of white candle wax dripping over a rocky outcrop and that's where they stood!

The waters were very calm and any surging near the rocks was relaxed and enjoyable, so we just gently surfed in the eddies as we gazed at this animals that seemed to be set up on display just for us.

Back for breakfast! (we eat at least10 tines a day... or that's what it feels like). 

We had options for deep water or beach snorkeling after breakfast.  We opted for deep water (ie  snorkel from the zodiac).  The snorkeling was amazing, but it was also great to learn more from Mark (former shell oil exec from Texas who lived in Oman for many years with his wife Karen (pronounced car-n)) and John, a seventy something grandfather from Boston who was here with his wife Christiane and their granddaughter Mirabel.  Mirabel lived in Switzerland with John's son and wife.  The grandparents had a tradition that when their grandchildren turned 12, they could choose a trip to go anywhere with the two of them.  Amazing.

Back on board and checked in, we had some free time (like 20 minutes!) before we heard the dulcet toned voice of Socrates "ladies and gentlemen, your lunch is ready for you up on the 4th floor stern deck".

Not only has the food been outstanding... I mean five star, it even looks amazing.   There's always a meat option, fish option and a vegetarian option.  The chef will also pretty much make anything else for you if you don't like the options.   

One of the older bartenders named Juan seems to come by every meal  with a different custom shooter that he has created.... with alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.   The 4 or 5 guys in charge of running the tables are incredible - they share personal things about themselves, when asked , and have quickly learned the names of most guests, as well as their proclivities.  For example, Beth told one guy the second day lunch that she was sensitive to raw garlic, and by dinner it had filtered over to a different waiter that already knew that.   

We don't use cabin numbers or sit at designated tables, they've just been trained to share that info, perhaps by picture (they took all of our individual pictures when we boarded the boat, and when I used a credit card at the gift shop I signed and there was a picture of me on the screen to make sure room number and "me" matched).   Still.... whatever system they were using it made us feel "special"   lol

More exploring in the afternoon, this time up the coast of Punta Suarez on Espanola.  Amazing pics.