Sterling’s Blog

Sterling’s Galapagos Cruise

This luxury boat has pools, ping pong, miniature golf, gyms, ice cream stands, and more.

On our kayak trips, we will be paddling along beautiful beaches, seeing boobies, sea lions and other magnificent creatures.

While snorkeling you will see many tropical fish and playful sea lions.  Sea lions will whirl and twirl all around you.  And the many tropical fish will swim all over and give you excellent pictures.

You are money-back guaranteed to see the many Marine Iguanas, tortoises, Blue-footed Boobies, and sea lions which may come up and sniff you because they are not afraid of people.

You will see many funny acts by animals.  This sea lion has rolled over and gotten sand on half his body right after swimming.

We will go hiking and see huge cacti and other amazing desert plants.

On Sterling’s Galapagos Cruise, we also go to a city on the mainland where there are many native Ecuadorians who wear beautiful woven skirts.

If you would like to come aboard Sterling’s Galapagos Cruise, call 002-364-0369.

Activities:  Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Bird Watching, Zodiac Rides, Hiking, Swim with the Sea Lions and Turtles, Whale Watching, Gym and Exercise Classes, Spa, Pool, Kayaking, Lectures, and More . . .

Total Cost for One Week (Includes Everything)

Children:  $1,000

Adults:  $1,500

Pet Hotel:  $150

Cacti are in the succulent family.  Cacti are native to North and South America and also the West Indies.  All species of cacti live in North and South America and the West Indies, but only one species lives other places.

The tallest cactus was a Pachycereus cactus which was 19.2 meters tall!  The smallest fully-grown cactus was a Blossfeldig one which was only one cm in diameter!  A cactus that is 12 cm high could have roots two meters in diameter.

Cacti have a short growing period.  If a cactus seed is in rain for just two hours, it will already have a root system by the time the rain stops.  When it rains a cactus will store water.  They absorb water through thorns and they can also absorb fog.  The stem of a cactus will store the water.  They have a waxy coat like a rain jacket to keep water from evaporating.

Some species of cacti make it so only certain animals can pollinate them.  An example is one species has a long tube leading to the blossom, therefor only moths can pollinate.  Others bloom at night to attract moths and bats.  Cacti get pollinated by bats, moths, insects, bees, and even hummingbirds.

Cacti like hot dry places and we have been to many and seen cacti in South America.  I hope to see the penguin cactus in Antarctica . 

We were in the Amazon and as part of our school work I interviewed our guide.  His name is Jose.  He has been a guide here for three years, but has guided nine years.  His friend told him about guiding here.

His favorite animal has been the Silky Anteater.  They are really small and really rare.  The biggest animal he ever caught is a huge five meter Ananconda.  He has been bitten by snakes and bullet ants while guiding here.

The biggest group he ever got was a group of eleven South Africans that were obsessed with diamonds.  Every year he says he gets about 15 kids.  Once he was guiding a group of kids obsessed with video games and all they wanted to see was big stuff, so he caught a huge anaconda.

We have been on a big ship that holds eighty people.  I decided it would be interesting to interview the assistant captain.  This is what I learned from him.

The assistant captain of our ship always drives this boat from 12-4 a.m. and p.m.  He has been training on this boat for six years but still needs five more years!!  From his six years of being on this boat his favorite animal has been an orca whale.  He has also liked the dolphins which swim and play all around the boat.

The assistant captain is allowed to go on any hikes or swims he wants.  He likes all the islands and has been on ten of about 130 islands.  Thankfully he has not yet crashed or been lost while navigating the Galapagos so I think he is an excellent captain.