GALAPAGOS TIDBITS & MORE. . .

Ecuador Limits a 2-Legged Species to Protect Galápagos

rhtgalapagos — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:48:01 +0000

Published: October 4, 2009 Go To Source…nytimes.com

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Migrants from the mainland have put pressure on the wildlife of the Galápagos.

PUERTO AYORA, Galápagos Islands — The mounds of reeking garbage on the edge of this settlement 600 miles off Ecuador’s Pacific coast are proof that one species is thriving on the fragile archipelago whose unique wildlife inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution: man.

The New York Times The booming human population of the archipelago, which doubled to about 30,000 in the last decade, has unnerved environmentalists.

Tiny gray finches, descendants of birds that were crucial to his thesis, flutter around the dump, which serves a growing town of Ecuadoreans who have moved here to work in the islands’ thriving tourism industry.

The burgeoning human population of the Galápagos, which doubled to about 30,000 in the last decade, has unnerved environmentalists. They point to evidence that the growth is already harming the ecosystem that allowed the islands’ more famous inhabitants — among them giant tortoises and boobies with brightly colored webbed feet — to evolve in isolation before mainlanders started colonizing the islands more than a century ago.

The growth has become enough of a threat to the environment that even the government, which still welcomes growth in the tourism industry, has expelled more than 1,000 poor Ecuadoreans in the past year from a province that they feel is rightfully theirs, and it is in the process of expelling many more.

By limiting the population, officials hope to preserve the natural wonders that bolster one of Ecuador’s most profitable sectors: tourism. But the measures are feeding a backlash among unskilled migrants who say they are being punished while the country continues to enjoy the many millions of dollars tourists bring to Ecuador, one of South America’s poorest nations.

“We are being told that a tortoise for a rich foreigner to photograph is worth more than an Ecuadorean citizen,” said María Mariana de Reina Bustos, 54, a migrant from Ambato in Ecuador’s central Andean valley, whose 22-year-old daughter, Olga, was recently rounded up by the police near the slum of La Cascada and put on a plane to the mainland.

The first settlers came to the islands to live off the land, working as fishermen, ranchers and farmers. Now, most of those who make the short flight from Quito, the capital, or sneak on the islands in boats are lured by different sorts of riches: the relatively high wages they can earn as taxi drivers and hotel maids or workers in the islands’ growing bureaucracy.

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times At Luis Mendoza’s home in Puerto Villamil, hangs the carcass of a wild pig he hunted to help feed his family.

For decades, the country’s leaders did little to prevent people from coming here, partly to build the tourism industry and then to ensure the government had a presence among the pioneers. There seemed to be something of a natural limit on growth: the country had put aside 97 percent of the archipelago as a park.

But as tourism and migration grew over the last decade, pressure began building within the archipelago’s scientific and environmental community and abroad for Ecuador to act on curbing the islands’ population. The United Nations put the Galápagos on its list of endangered heritage sites in 2007.

Scientists here said people had already done significant damage, pointing to fuel spills, the poaching of giant tortoises and sharks and the introduction of invasive species — including rats, cattle and fire ants — that threaten animals endemic to the Galápagos.

Even seemingly benign human activities like owning a pet can have outsize consequences here.

“With people come cats, and with cats come threats to other animals found nowhere else in the world,” said Fernando Ortiz, coordinator of the Galápagos program for Conservation International.

Conflict is built into the rules that allowed the Galápagos to be colonized in the first place, despite a lack of fresh water in the archipelago. Technically, residency is granted to a limited number of people, including those born here and their spouses, people who arrived before 1998 and those with temporary work permits. The police, known in local slang as the “migra” for their role in tracking down illegal migrants, set up impromptu checkpoints throughout the islands. But the same government that oversees the expulsions also offers subsidies to people living on the islands.

One subsidy allows gasoline to cost about the same here as on the mainland. Another allows residents to fly between the islands or to Quito for a fraction of what foreigners pay. Loopholes also flourish. For instance, a black market in residency thrives in which migrants marry established residents to obtain coveted identity cards.

The result: Puerto Ayora’s streets beckon with discos, food stands and souvenir shops. On the outskirts, a billboard with the image of Leopoldo Bucheli, the pro-development mayor, celebrates a project called El Mirador that is clearing an area on the edge of town to build 1,000 new homes.

“All we want, like people anywhere on this planet, is a dignified existence,” said Yonny Mantuano, 36, who bought a lot to build a home at El Mirador. He heads the teachers union here, whose 600 members have chafed at one of the government’s new attempts to limit subsidies: a measure this year cutting their cost-of-living bonus.

The government’s somewhat schizophrenic view of life here is echoed by the sentiments of the people. Margarita Masaquiza, 45, an Indian from Ecuador’s highlands who arrived here at the age of 14, abhors the government’s expulsions.

“We built this province with our own hands, so, yes, it pains us to see our countrymen deported like animals,” Ms. Masaquiza said. “After all, we are indigenous Ecuadoreans, how can we be illegal in our own country?”

But when asked how she felt about the impact of new migrants on her four children and four grandchildren, Ms. Masaquiza adopted a different tone.

“We must preserve opportunities for our families,” she said.

Most people in the Galápagos live on San Cristóbal, an island where a penal colony functioned decades ago, and Santa Cruz, where Puerto Ayora is located. Development is spreading to other parts of the archipelago, as well.

Isabela, the largest of the islands, offers a glimpse into the Galápagos frontier.

Despite its streets of sand, Puerto Villamil, Isabela’s main town, looks not unlike a Phoenix subdivision around 2007. Laborers work feverishly on 200 new cinderblock homes on the town’s edge. Only about 2,000 people live in the town, but it has one of the Galápagos’s highest rates of population growth, about 9 percent a year.

“I earn $1,200 a month here, while I could only earn $500 a month on the continent,” said Bolívar Buri, 26, a construction worker born in Puerto Villamil who made a small fortune this year when he sold an empty lot for $8,000 that he bought six years ago for $600.

But even in the archipelago’s less spoiled areas, there is little doubt that man’s intrusion has altered life on the islands that enraptured Darwin.

On the road from Puerto Villamil to the drizzle-shrouded crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, subsistence hunters on horseback scan the forest for wild pigs, a species introduced by mariners over a century ago. White cattle egrets, another introduced species, fly overhead.

One recent day, Manuel López, a cowboy and migrant from the mainland who tends a herd under the volcano’s mist, emerged from a forest thick with guava trees.

He paused under the equatorial sun; his gaze narrowed.

“If it is God’s will, I’m on this island to stay,” said Mr. López, 36.

“We must be in Galápagos for a reason,” he said, prodding a visitor to reply. “Yes or no?”

Posted in Environment Conservation, RED FLAG !!!, Tourism Ecotourism Tagged: Community, Conservation, Environment, galapagos

Galapagos – Kicker Rock & More…

rhtgalapagos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:26:44 +0000

Sunrise on Kicker Rock from the boat, on our last morning on the Galapagos archipelago. We kayaked and snorkeled around the cliffs (saw some sharks, too), and of course, all I could think of was how many great rock climbing routes were waiting to be explored...

A bit messier than fork and knife, but also more efficient...

More Great Pictures…Go To Source…aperturefirst.org

Posted in Inspiring Blogs & News, Photography Tagged: galapagos, Photography

Third Phase of the K9 Project in the Galapagos Completed

rhtgalapagos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:09:53 +0000

The construction of the dog kennel on Isabela Island has been completed and the guides and dogs have been transported to the island. The dogs will commence their inspection on Isabela, which has the highest level of poaching in the Galapagos, in an effort to reduce crime there.

Construction on Isabela on the day it was completed

Construction had been delayed due to lack of funds for months and would still be on hold if it weren’t for the incredible efforts of Sea Shepherd volunteers from Fremantle, Australia.

For months they have been organizing extra fundraising events specifically aimed to raise the money for the construction.

he Fremantle group from left to right: Leith, Craig, Paul, Louis, Shaun, Jasmin plus Brandy the Dog

The Fremantle group from left to right: Brita, Michael, and Jess

Posted in Environment Conservation, Inspiring Blogs & News Tagged: Conservation, galapagos

How to Protect the Galapagos Islands

rhtgalapagos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:42:10 +0000

By Emme West

: The Galapagos Islands are astounding, unique, fascinating and relatively untouched by humans. As a marine reserve and a national park, the Galapagos have many restrictions in place to safeguard the islands – so if you plan a visit, keep in mind the rules and laws of the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are astounding, unique, fascinating and relatively untouched by humans. As a marine reserve and a national park, the Galapagos have many restrictions in place to safeguard the islands – so if you plan a visit, keep in mind the rules and laws of the islands.

Before you Visit

Luggage – Do not plan on bringing a lot of luggage with you to the Galapagos. Most flights do not accept more than 44 pounds (20 kilos) of baggage.

Passports – Galapagos requires that travelers carry their passport to the islands and the passport number must be furnished one month prior to arrival.

Entrance Fee – A $100 per person fee must be paid upon arrival at the Galapagos airport. This rate is can sometimes change.

On the Island

Once on the Galapagos Islands, the serene calmness and beauty of the islands becomes apparent. While the islands’ species are not immune from the effects of humans, the Galapagos give a true glimpse of nature at its purist. Much credit for this can be given to the Ecuadorian Government that passed the first laws to protect the islands animals, plants, and insects over 75 years ago. Today, many laws and rules are in place to preserve the island’s splendor.

Take Pictures, Not Souvenirs – As tempting as it is to bring part of the island home with you, it is best to settle for photos. Island ecology experts stress that you should not buy or take home souvenirs such as turtle shells, sea lion teeth and black coral. While the trade of some objects is not strictly illegal, it can be very disruptive to the islands ecological conditions.

No Touching Animals – Sure they are cute, cuddly and the sea lions seem to call to you, but it is not a good idea to touch the animals. Sea lion pups are sometimes abandoned if they have the scent of a human on them.

Don’t Leave the Trails – This is for your safety as much as it is for the protection of the Islands. Visitors must stay on trails that are marked with black and white posts. Wondering off the trail can, for instance, result in the destruction of marine iguana nests, which are buried beneath the sand.

No Traveling On Your Own – Visitors to the National Park are required to be accompanied by a qualified guide. Traveling on your own is forbidden.

No Littering – All disposals must be removed from the islands as it can harm or kill some species. Plastic bags have been known to suffocate sea turtles.

Following these easy rules will ensure that the Galapagos Islands are preserved and protected.

Posted in RED FLAG !!!, Tourism Ecotourism Tagged: Ecotourism, galapagos, National Park Galapagos

Galapagos Survivor

rhtgalapagos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +0000

By Jim Eagles

A giant tortoise taking a nap. Photo / Jim Eagles

There’s good news and bad news on the subject of Lonesome George, the last surviving giant tortoise from the Galapagos island of Pinta and described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “rarest living creature”.

First the good news. I saw Lonesome George the other day and there’s no reason for him to be lonely any more.

These days he shares his leafy enclosure at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island with two nice lady giant tortoises, with whom he apparently gets on fairly well, despite the fact that they’re a different sub-species found only on Isabela island.

Unfortunately, the day I came calling George seemed to be in a bit of a huff. He was lying on the far side of his spacious quarters, alongside a stone wall, with his back to the viewing area.

His lady friends were out and about, eating leaves and posing for visitors, but George didn’t stir. I tried to pass on greetings from a colleague whose nickname, for reasons obscure to me, is also Lonesome George, but he ignored my efforts.

Read More…Go To Source…nzherald.co.nz

Posted in Environment Conservation, Marinelife Wildlife Fauna Tagged: galapagos, tortoises, Wildlife

Galapagos in danger…(well written and so true…RHT)

rhtgalapagos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:02:54 +0000

By John Herzfeld…Go To Source…

John Herzfeld, a teacher at Louisville Collegiate School, returned in December from studying in the Galpagos

I was snorkeling in 15 feet of cool ocean water, pursuing a parrotfish, when instinct made me turn my head. Three sea lions were torpedoing toward my face.

First, I was afraid; then, I was thrilled. These creatures wanted to play. Two became bored quickly, but one young female darted under me, blowing bubbles. I did the same to her. She swam around me, over me, and under me. I copied her moves, but without the grace. We danced this zero-gravity pas de deux for about 10 minutes.

I’m not alone in my jaw-dropping awe of the Galápagos Islands. Many tourists — about 160,000 in 2008 — visit this remote archipelago 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast. Jaded travelers become wide-eyed children again when they see animals close enough to touch.

A Hood mockingbird perched on one traveler’s shoe. A giant tortoise paused on a path to let hikers through. Indifferent iguanas returned our stares, and waved albatrosses performed their courtship dances unashamed as cameras clicked. Under the equatorial sun, colors are brighter, and nature has a rare richness and intensity. I thought I was in paradise.

I was wrong. Any human presence in the islands creates pressures on the environment. The very traits that make the Galápagos so unique could be the islands’ undoing. Tourists arrive seeking Eden; mainland Ecuadorians arrive to stake a claim in the tourism industry. About 30,000 people live on the islands now.

With the rush of tourists and residents, these small islands are in danger of being loved to death. “Tourism will stop when the islands are destroyed,” said Ángel Gunsha Amaguaya, a science and social studies teacher from Isabela Island.

It is easy to be pessimistic. Not far from the beach where I had my sea lion adventure on San Cristobal Island, raw sewage discharges into the Pacific. San Cristobal and Santa Cruz face the most pressure because they contain most of the islands’ population and tourist centers.

Foreigners believe the Galapagos are unspoiled because nature documentaries focus on the 97 percent of the island that is wildlife reserve, not the 3 percent packed with humanity. In most of the latter areas, beach town culture dominates. Tourists can buy identical t-shirts and garish souvenirs at many shops. Fishing boats bob in the harbors and sea lions doze on the beaches. And in Santa Cruz, tourists and locals dance at night in a bar where two screens depict the mating rituals of the six-plumed bird of paradise.

However, a regulated and informed human presence on the islands could be a benefit. Captive breeding programs have helped several giant tortoise species to endure, as well as an ambitious effort to eliminate feral goats, which compete with the tortoises for food. Because of these efforts, the islands are in better shape than they were 100 years ago according to Felipe Cruz, a conservationist with the Charles Darwin Foundation.

Also, Santa Cruz Island established an effective recycling program with the help of the World Wildlife Fund and several corporate sponsors. This center recycles 30 percent of the island’s waste. Prior to the recycling program, islanders burned trash, dumped it into landfills or tossed it directly into the ocean. Now plastic, glass and cardboard go abroad to be reincarnated.

The center’s director, Ulf Hardtner, said Galápagueños were slow to buy into recycling. Even his workers were a tough sell. When Hardtner discovered that they weren’t collecting much material and traveling only 8 kilometers daily instead of 40 to 80, he installed GPS devices on their trucks. He found that workers were not sticking to the prescribed routes and taking leisurely breaks. With the GPS device, he could confront one pair with the truth that they had stopped for a two-hour coffee break. With that technological magic — and a bit more environmental education — the workers improved their attitudes and commitment.

Persuading adults to change to more sustainable practices is best approached through economic appeals: If the islands aren’t preserved, the residents lose their livelihoods. But the islands’ best hope is youngsters. “With children, you don’t have to use economics,” said Arturo Keller, a professor of environmental science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “You can start with the heart.”

Yet while the Galápagos schools want to teach children about the uniqueness and fragility of the islands, their curricula mirror Ecuador’s, which don’t address environmental education. And while island children often aspire to be ecotourism guides, outsiders take many of the best positions, leaving the majority of the Galápagueños in low-paying service jobs. In fact, most of the money earned through tourism doesn’t stay on the island. The taxes and charges return to Ecuador, and the profits go mostly to foreign cruise and travel companies.

Many children never see the other islands because travel is so expensive. “It’s painful for me to see all these kids growing up in cement rooms. They don’t even know their own island,” said Felipe Cruz of the Charles Darwin Foundation. “We need to give kids the best education about where they are living, or we won’t last long.”

In a school auditorium on Santa Cruz, a large painting of Pinnacle Rock, a landmark on San Bartolomé Island, dominates one wall. Cupping this image as gently as an egg are human hands. The message is clear: The future of the Galápagos Islands is in the hands of its people.

John Herzfeld, a teacher at Louisville Collegiate School, returned in December from studying in the Galpagos Islands through the Toyota International Teacher Program.

Posted in Environment Conservation, Inspiring Blogs & News Tagged: Community, Ecotourism, Environment, galapagos

Guardaparques rescatan pasajeros de embarcación siniestrada en Galápagos

rhtgalapagos — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:57:39 +0000

La nave se accidentó la madrugada de hoy, con 22 personas a bordo, las cuales fueron rescatadas por la lancha patrullera Guadalupe River.

Imagen del yate siniestrado. Foto:Cortesía Parque Nacional Galápagos

La embarcación turística Cormorant II, de tipo catamarán, con matrícula TN-01-00-226, sufrió una avería en sus máquinas, mientras navegaba cerca a Punta Flores, en el norte de isla Isabela, con 14 pasajeros y 8 tripulantes. Así lo informaron los tripulantes.

La lancha patrullera Guadalupe River, dotación del Parque Nacional Galápagos, que realizaba relevo del personal de control en la base de Canal Bolívar, en Isabela, recibió una llamada de auxilio por parte de la nave siniestrada, aproximadamente a las 02:30 de hoy.

Los guardaparques acudieron inmediatamente hasta el sitio y rescataron con éxito a todos los pasajeros y tripulantes, pero el fuerte oleaje que azota el archipiélago en los últimos días, destruyó totalmente al catamarán y con ello se perdieron todos los enseres, documentos y equipaje que la nave tenía en su interior.

En la Guadalupe River, los guardaparques brindaron los primeros auxilios a varios pasajeros que presentaron traumatismos leves. Todo el personal rescatado está siendo trasladado hasta el Canal de Itabaca, en Santa Cruz, donde serán recibidos por el operador turístico de la embarcación siniestrada.

Una dotación de la Parque Nacional Galápagos realizará una evaluación de los posibles daños ambientales, puesto que al momento del accidente, el catamarán contaba con 1 000 galones de combustible en sus tanques de almacenamiento, para que el operador de la nave siniestrada, Ángel Gustavo Villacís, para ejecutar las garantías correspondientes y realicen las medidas de mitigación.

Go To Source…Elcomercio.com

Posted in Cruising, GALAPAGOS TRAVEL ADVISOR, RED FLAG !!!, Tourism Ecotourism Tagged: Cruising, Environment, galapagos, National Park Galapagos

First Darwin, now global warming reaches Galapagos

rhtgalapagos — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:41:43 +0000

By Eduardo Garcia

GALAPAGOS, Ecuador (Reuters) – Climate change could endanger the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, and scientists are trying to figure out how to protect vulnerable species such as blue-footed boobies and Galapagos Penguins.

Some 175 years after the wildlife of the Galapagos helped inspire Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, scientists are measuring the impact of global warming on the rich but fragile biodiversity of the islands.

The volcanic archipelago, about 600 miles west of the Ecuadorean coast, is home to scores of endemic species that closely depend on one another for survival.

Scientists say abrupt and frequent changes in sea temperatures and the death of coral reefs near the islands show that global warming is taking its toll on local sea life.

“The coral reefs create a habitat; they are like a forest, like the Amazon. They are home to scores of species. … If the corals die we lose thousands of species that are associated to the coral,” said German marine biologist Judith Denkinger.

The Galapagos-based scientist said the harm that pollution and climate change are causing marine life could trigger a domino effect and hurt on-shore species as well.

“Everything is intertwined. You can’t say this is land, this is sea, they are both one,” Denkinger said, sitting on a rock by the sea and surrounded by growling sea lions.

According to the United Nations, global warming is to blame for the melting of ice caps, rising sea levels and wacky weather worldwide, including storms, droughts and floods.

The United Nations says that between 20 percent and 30 percent of plant and animal species worldwide are likely to face an increased risk of extinction due to warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change, experts say.

Gabriel Lopez, executive director of the Galapagos-based Charles Darwin Foundation, said the islands have a very fragile ecosystem. Lopez expressed concern that global warming “will have very strong impacts on sea lions — due to the lack of food available to them — on penguins, and on marine iguanas.”

The foundation conducts scientific research aimed at preserving the Galapagos Islands, home to such creatures as giant tortoises, penguins, the blue-footed booby seabird, iguanas, albatrosses, finches and sea lions.

A LIFE-SIZED LABORATORY

Scientists based in the Galapagos say the archipelago could become “a life-sized laboratory” in which researchers could gauge the threat of global warming, and develop strategies to mitigate its effects on wildlife.

“The Galapagos can be a barometer for the global community … because in such fragile ecosystem the changes could be immediate,” Lopez said.

The location of the islands also could help experts understand how a possible change in the strength or temperature of ocean currents could hurt sea life.

“The Galapagos are amid a unique, dynamic crossroad of currents. Here we can do controlled experiments to see how global warning could affect marine ecosystems in the long run,” Denkinger said.

Among the currents that funnel their way between the islands is the oxygen-and-nutrient rich Cromwell current, on which sharks, sea lions and whales depend for food.

The Charles Darwin Foundation is concerned that it may soon need to help animals such as penguins better cope with higher temperatures or food shortages.

Lopez said Galapagos Penguins — there are around 900 of them in the islands — may need to live in man-made “condos” if the worst-case scenarios regarding global warming materialize.

“We are going to do all we can not to resort to such extreme measures, but … if the (worst) climate-change models are accurate, I think that it’s going to be a real challenge to save the penguins,” he said.

OVERFISHING, TOURISM

Overfishing and a booming tourism industry also are hurting the archipelago’s ecosystem.

Lured by exceptional wildlife and pristine beaches, some 173,000 tourists last year visited the islands, which belong to Ecuador. That was about double the number in 2003.

More tourists means more hotels, restaurants, shops and bars in the Galapagos, and more people from the mainland coming to the islands looking for jobs.

Environmentalists say that despite the Galapagos National Park’s good job at caring for the islands, the tourism industry has some impact on the ecosystem.

“I was here in the early 1990s and especially here in Puerto Ayora (in the island of Santa Cruz) the changes have been quite dramatic. More vehicles, more construction, more population, the tourist influx … it worries me,” Lopez said.

Overfishing is also a concern. Park rangers often intercept ships fishing illegally and carrying slaughtered sharks and banned equipment, such as long-lines and shark nets.

A drop in the shark population could upset the delicate balance of life in the islands, according to experts.

“I love snorkeling, and the truth is that life under water has changed significantly. Before, it was easy to see enormous schools of fish, and sharks by the hundreds. I’m not exaggerating,” said Jorge Fernandez, a yacht captain.

“If you see a shark now you should consider yourself lucky,” said the seafarer, who has been working in cruise ships in the islands for 20 years.

(Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Will Dunham)

Posted in Charles Darwin, Environment Conservation, RED FLAG !!! Tagged: Charles Darwin, Conservation, Environment, galapagos, National Park Galapagos

Galapagos – Erupting Volcanoes on Earth as Seen From Space

rhtgalapagos — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:19:17 +0000

This image of the Sierra Negra volcano in the Galapagos Islands was taken by NASA’s Terra satellite in 2006. Sierra Negra is a shield volcano, which are made mostly of previous lava flows and tend to be broad and gently sloping. The Galapagos are part of an island chain formed by a hot spot where a plume of hot mantle rises up and melts the base of the ocean crust. As the Pacific plate moves over the relatively stationary hot spot, volcanoes are formed. The Hawaiian Islands were formed — and continue forming — the same way.

For More Amazing Photos….Go To Source… Uniquescoop.com

Posted in Inspiring Blogs & News, Photography, Volcanoes Tagged: galapagos, Photography, Volcanoes

Galapagos – At home or afar, art is learning

rhtgalapagos — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:53:23 +0000

by Elysia Conner
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 5:03 PM MDT

For Mathisen, who loves to depict animals, it was a great opportunity. Colorful birds and reptiles were a joy for her to see during the journey and inspired many paintings.

With a focus on interesting shapes and darks and lights, the retired dentist sees the world in new ways since having more time to spend painting.

“Painting teaches you to be a keener observer and you really do start paying attention to things you missed before,” she said.

Posted in Art, Inspiring Blogs & News Tagged: Art, galapagos, Painting