Floreana Island is home to Post Office Bay. Here, in the early 18th century, in an attempt to stay in touch with their loved ones back home, sailors developed a "non-fee" mailing system at one of the popular landing beaches in Floreana. The key element of the system was a makeshift postbox constructed from a wooden barrel. The idea was that any whaler or sailor visiting the area would leave letters in the postbox (barrel) and before vessels left the Galapagos Islands to head home, they would stop by this bay to restock supplies and sort through the mail in the barrel. Any mail addressed to anyplace close to the sailor's hometown was taken with them to deliver upon their return.
Some intriguing characters settled on Floreana in the 1930's. Many were Germans, escaping from the turmoil in their country. One group, a woman who claimed to be a Baroness and her two boyfriends, were at the center of a lot of controversy, along with a Dr. Ritter. The good doctor and his girlfriend left their respective mates in Germany and ran off together to Floreana. It's an interesting story and wound up as an unsolved murder mystery: The Baroness and one of her boyfriends mysteriously disappeared. Other settlers thought boyfriend number two murdered them with the help of Dr. Ritter, but the case has never been solved.
We took some time off in the morning and hung out at the boat, rather than go ashore to snorkel and see the mailbox. This was a busy day for the crew. We anchored three times, each time loading and unloading the people, the Zodiaks, and the kayaks.
A short trip around to the other side of the island and we went ashore for a nature walk at Punta Cormorant. This is the home of the Galapagos Pink Flamingos, which had decided to feed on the other side of the bay rather than come over to greet us. We do have some pictures, but they look like pink dots on the shoreline! We did see plenty of other wildlife, though.
A wet landing (that is, drop off the Zodiak and wade ashore) caused people to change shoes under Sea Lion supervision, before hiking. Our apologies to Mrs. Cohen, who happened to be at the right place at the right time:
Along the shore, near the turtle breeding grounds:
Driftwood along the bay:
And a baby Nazca Boobie:
We left late, at almost midnight, headed for Isla San Cristobal.
