Day VIII- January 9th, 2oo7
We finally got a day to sleep in! (the bus didn't leave until 8:45!) We headed into town to the bus and to the guide of "the twins" (Los Gemelos) which are two giant sink holes found on the island. The drive there was very interesting to see the change of scenery from dry desert to tropical jungle. Everything was so green and exotic looking in contrast to the lower altitude area.
We hiked around the twins for awhile observing the vegetation (cocoa plants, coffee plants, the only species of tree fern) and beautiful birds- we even spotted a very rare vermillion fly catcher!

Gemelo I


Gemelo II



Coffee plant- this species is very rare, but you don't want to drink this kind anyway!



Pretty flowers along the way



The Vermillion Fly Catcher- this one makes the life list!

We headed back to the bus and a few minutes later we arrived at a tortoise farm. Tortoises were free to roam the farm, feed and defend themselves- unlike the research center.
We watched them bathe themselves in a mud pool where they sit for about 24-48 hours to maintain body temperature. It's so strange looking in ponds all over the islands because I'm expecting to see frogs or little turtles or something- but because the islands are so isolated, their species and populations are restricted as well.

Me an' Jose


Yellow Warbler

This guy was hiding


Chillin' in the pool...it was actually horribly gross to be honest with you.

After we took plenty of pictures, we relaxed for a bit and had some watermelon before we headed to our next destination: the lava tubes.
The lave tubes were pretty much huge caverns in the ground where magma once came out of the earth. The outside parts cooled and solidified first, forming "tubes" about 15' high. We walked through them as a group. At one point in the tube, there was a passage only about 2' high and we each had to crawl through to the other side. I of course tried to crawl on my hands and knees instead of slithering through like everyone else and got my butt stuck! I made it through though and we headed back to the bus again.

The entrance to the Lava Tubes


Inside the tubes



It was a jungle out there!

Once back in town, we stopped for lunch at a place called "Free Soul Cafe" and had sandwiches and platanos. Four of us ate for $9! Then we quickly got back to the hotel for our meeting time to go ocean kayaking.

Myself, back at the port, waiting for a water taxi

Ocean kayaking is infinitely more difficult than any other type of kayaking I've ever done before- we were going to go with the second group, but I was exhausted from the first round! We first landed at a beach where we found an Italian woman who Matt and I talked to for awhile in Spanish. She was very sweet and talked a lot- she says we should learn Italian next. Our purpose for getting out was to spot sharks and considering there were no sightings, we decided to get back in and continue our tour.

Ashley and Tiffany sea kayaking


In the cavern (possibly the beginning of Las Grietas)


mmmmm....look at all that guano

We went through caverns and mangroves and even searched for the passage through las Grietas - no luck! We found a half sunken ship, a manta ray, sea lions and lots of other birds. As soon as we got back to shore, we decided to pack up, get some snorkeling equipment and hike back up to las Grietas. Some other guys on our trip came with us. We had hyped it up so much and when we arrived, there was a group of about 10 or 15 people lounging on the rocks and snorkeling. The water wasn't still and blue as we had found it the day before. Once we had started snorkeling, most of the fish had been frightened away and aside from the 3o' (we think) cavern below us, there wasn't much to see. I personaly thought it was absolutely beautiful, but I think the other guys were expecting a little more.
On the hike there, we ran into our little Italian lady friend again. She had hiked through from the ocean to las Grietas in the opposite direction. Once we started swimming, we decided to try and swim through.
Armed with flippers, tevas and masks, we (Matt, Darian and myself) began our quest. The other guys stayed behind, intrigued by the locals who were jumping from 30' cliffs and ledges into the 10' wide cavern- seemed a little risky to me! Plus, the guys who were doing it were doing either belly flops or landing in terribly awkward positions. After we swam through the first section we happed up on the rocks and into the second section. There we found three guys hanging out in the water, swimming through a tunnel in the rocks. They tried to convince me to swim through it, but I was too nervous. We crossed the rocks into the thirds section where the water was very deep. We swam around a tall rock into the last section where los tiberones (sharks!!!) were supposed to be (according the the guys we met). Hesitantly, I swam forward, expecting at any moment for an ominous shadow to pass under me. We all ran into another wall- a dead end. The wall was at least 4o' above us- nearly impossible to cross. Supposedly there was a tunnel under the water where we could pass through to the next section, but we couldn't seem to find it.

Crazy local jumping into the cavern

We were all tired and adequately pleased with our quest- as well as cold from the deep, sunless water. We made our way back, pool by pool. By the last pool, I was exhausted and cold and didn't want to jump in again. I stood on the rocks for about 1o or 15 minutes, staring at fish, watching them swimming in and out. Matt and Darian were already on the other side and out of the water. I decided to finally face it and jump in. I made it back to the hotel in a daze.
We jumped in the pool as soon as we got there. I was sandy and salty and hot. After swimming around for awhile, I was going to take a shower when we found Mary and Lyndsay getting in the jaquzzi. We decided to join them. We got some blue footed boobies and relaxed in the tub for a bit. The hot tub was located in an elevated deck/veranda with a trelace over it, a hammock and beautiful exotic flowers growing all around. Aside from the fact that the hot tub never really heated up, it was very relaxing and fun.

Aah, Marist Jaquzzi Party

We all got showered and ready and made a covert operation to town in attempt to avoid the big crowd. We found a cute little restraunt on the outskirts of town, but by the time the waiter came to take our order, Matt felt really sick and I didn't want him to walk home alone- especially feeling the way he did. We called it another early night.