Know Before You Go - The Truth...

In getting back to one of the roots of my blog – travel, I have plans to offer you a weekly segment; provided I have enough insight for it to be a weekly thing. If not, it will be bi-monthly, monthly or whenever I feel like it…



“Know Before You Go – What The Travel Guidebooks Won’t Tell You”



This week’s tip is has been brought to you by the Galapagos Islands. Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands? The magic and mystery of rough volcanic islands are home to strange and abundant species that are found nowhere else on earth - the prehistoric marine iguanas, the flightless cormorants, penguins and of course, the giant Galapagos tortoise. Intrigued?



Here’s what you need to know about the tortoises:


While those gigantic tortoises in the Galapagos Islands may appear to be majestic, wise and photogenic, but I wish to set the record straight.

  • They cannot be found in herds, nor do they roam free (at least not where the tourists are allowed to tread).
  • If you are fortunate to get close enough to them at the “zoo” to actually take a photo - you won’t want to because they smell like rotting meat. I suspect the reason for their stench is that they can’t move fast enough to blow the stench off themselves. Regardless of the reason, these creatures are best viewed from a distance.

Comments

Rachel said…
Ya know, I've seen these (or some like this) at our zoo and I've never noticed that they stink before. Hmmm......when I get Boots to take me next time I'll be sure to stiff 'em.
February 4, 2010 at 1:01 PM
CrazyCris said…
hehehe!

the stench remark has me remembering those cute cuddly penguins... never have I smelled anything so foul as an island with 20'000 nesting couples and their chicks! (well, maybe the tapir enclosure in a mexican zoo...)

that and the noise...

but, still cute! ;o)
February 4, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Brian Miller said…
so i guess the snack shack by the exhibit doesn't get a lot of business? smiles.
February 4, 2010 at 2:14 PM
Sylvia said…
Some day, I really must go there. It sounds like such an amazing place. Thank you for the tips. I'm looking forward for more!
February 4, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Sarah said…
Ooooohhh....this could be fun! We haven't traveled that much but it would be nice to know stuff like what you wrote if we planned on going somewhere! This could be very informative! I like the way you think girl! ;)

Thanks for stopping by my blog again today! Always fun to hear from you!
February 4, 2010 at 9:33 PM
Zuri said…
The Galapagos Islands are the most incredible living museum of evolutionary changes, with a huge variety of exotic species (birds, land and sea animals, plants) and landscapes not seen anywhere else.
February 4, 2010 at 11:59 PM
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