Monday, August 31, 2015
Blue-footed boobies. Marine iguanas. Sea Lions. Giant tortoises. Most visitors to the Galapagos Islands have the emblematic species of the archipelago top of mind. And they are rewarded ten-fold, from not only seeing these ‘bucket list’ creatures but in most cases, observing them at shocking close range. However, there is also a very human experience in the Galapagos that awaits every visitor to Floreana Island, and an opportunity to participate in a tradition that is hundreds of years old.
Post Office Bay is a modest touchstone for travelers dating back to 1793, when whalers far from home placed a wooden barrel on this flat island and called it a ‘post office.’ Mariners would leave addressed letters in the barrel and hope that the next seamen to make the stop might be headed in the same direction of their letters’ addressees and would make a hand delivery. Miraculously many of these posts were successfully delivered. The tradition continues to this day; visitors leave their own postcards --without postage-- in hopes that it will be hand delivered by another traveler. And in the spirit of ‘Paying It Forward’ we recommend you sift through the current pile awaiting a delivery, and if possible, participate in the tradition of delighting a fellow traveler’s postcard recipient once you’ve returned home.
Note: there’s nothing wrong with leaving a post card addressed to you! Then you’ll be sure to meet a fellow Galapagos enthusiast with whom you can trade stories of all your Blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises sightings…
For more information about traveling to the Galapagos with Terra Incognita Ecotours, click here.