Day 59 Ashore in San Christobal
After clearing in we got our first chance to explore the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the main population center on the island. The main road is lined with souvenir shops, restaurants and hostels; however it still has a quaint feel to it. The thing that surprised me the most was how cheap meals were in the restaurants; breakfast with juice and coffee $5, handmade ˝ pound hamburger with fries $5, fresh fish dinner with a couple beers $20 including tip. Spanish is the main language here and communication can be difficult at times, but we usually managed get by.
There are many sea lions basking on the beach and rocks along the main road; they do sometimes come right up to the sidewalk and can give quite a start when you get too close and they bark and charge at you, although it is more of a show than a real threat. Marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are also abundant, though the crabs are much more skittish than the iguanas.
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A sea lion on the water taxi dock

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A colorful Sally Lightfoot crab

A variety of sea birds can be seen including pelicans, frigate birds and others. The sea lions spend most of the day just lying around, they seem to become active during the afternoon when the tide is in; they also smell like wet dogs and have not been housebroken by any means. They warn boats at anchor to protect their swim platforms and keep their dingys out of the water as the sea lions are always looking for an easy place to lie down; some derelict boats have been stationed around the harbor to serve this purpose.
We set up shop in the Patagonia restaurant, a small family run café with Granma overseeing the operation; they have fast wifi and it became our go to place for breakfast, coffee and snacks during the day.
The main area of the town small and you can easily walk around the dozen and a half blocks in 20 minutes or so. It has a very safe feel to it, no one gives you a second glance, there are no panhandlers about and everyone is smiling as they go about their business. There is a small university nearby and many students can be seen out and about at all times of the day and night. Smoking is prohibited in all the bars and restaurants, though not always enforced during the later hours at the pubs frequented by the students.
Hostels range from $15- $60 a night, the more expensive being private rooms with ensuite bathrooms; the yellow shirts were stayng at one right opposite the water taxi dock and were very pleased with the accommodations.
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A Marine Iguana basks on a rock

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A close up of one of these unique creatures

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One swims away

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A sea lion walks the boardwalk at night barking at everyone who passes by


Drink all day at home, your friends worry about you; do it on vacation and they say "what a good time you're having". Save your friends needless worry, travel more!