Galápagos for me is very personal.

It has been for 40 years when I first visited the islands with my

father. Now I go there frequently with my own children. There are

dozens of compelling reasons for anyone to go and, hopefully,

one day soon you will identify some of them and explore these

enchanted Islands if you haven’t already.

So, what is this little book?

Reflections of love for a place; reflections of time spent with

family and friends and a reminder that

Galápagos is so worthy of our care

and stewardship.

Sven Lindblad

Photographs by Sven Lindblad except page 8 & 9 (Michael Nolan.)

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I’d like you to meet some of my family,

some of whom will appear throughout this

book at various stages of their lives. Top left

is my father with my sister, Cristina, in the

late 60’s. Next to them my older boys Justin

& Jeremy with Isabella in ‘98.

Below is Isabella, my daughter, in ’97 crawl-

ing around like an endemic island creature.

On the right is Eric, my youngest son in ’05,

who became totally besotted by Lucho, one

of our expedition leaders.

I guess it would be an understatement to

say that my entire family has been profoundly

influenced by their time in Galápagos for

three generations now.

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Sea lions are the most playful of

Galápagos creatures and are found on

nearly every island. Graceful beyond

description in the water – those who

snorkel amongst them seem somehow

forever changed. On land they can

be downright comical – huge males

protecting their territory to maintain

dominance over their harems seems

like an extraordinary expenditure of

energy. Babies and juveniles cannot

help but show tremendous curiosity

for anything that moves, including us.

On the next page, that

curiosity gave Eric

a bit of a fright.

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10

1514

When we think of Galápagos, we think foremost

of its creatures. But the land, too, is most interesting and

in so many stages of change. Imagine

this lava cactus (brachycereus

nesioticus) colonizing lava beds.

Quite a feat, which perhaps explains

the armor that repels all who would

eat it. In fact, there are dozens of

volcanoes in Galápagos, some still active. The most

recent eruption was on the island of Fernandina, April 2009.

“Considering the small size of these

islands, we feel the more astonished at

the number of their aboriginal beings,

and at their confined range. Seeing

every height crowned with its crater,

and the boundaries of most of the lava

streams still distinct, we are led to

believe that within a

period, geologically

recent, the unbroken

ocean was here

spread out. Hence,

both in space and

time, we seem to be brought somewhat

near to that great fact – the mystery of

mysteries – the first appearance of new

beings on earth.”

— Charles Darwin

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2322

Birds – you think of them as creatures you look at

through binoculars. Not here. You can walk right up to

them and they couldn’t care less. It’s not that they are

tame – not at all. It’s simply that they have no fear of

man and thus we are blissfully ignored. I believe being

in a place where fear simply does not exist is perhaps

the most compelling aspect of Galápagos.

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2726

2928

Traveling with children is special, espe-

cially so when you are assured that shared

experiences will delight everyone in the fam-

ily. Certainly Galápagos is that kind of place

in spades. But there’s something else that

motivates me powerfully. Kids are under daily

assault, bombarded by media that suggest the

clothes you wear on Monday are obsolete on

Tuesday; that cell phones are essential

at age 8; and, invariably, heroes are stars,

usually rich and spoiled.

In places like Galápagos, I, as a parent, can

provide a platform for the development of

other values and other heroes.

Isabella is emphatic about being a marine

biologist. My son, Jeremy, has become a very

talented photographer and his older brother,

Justin, wants to open restaurants. And Eric,

at age 6, is mad keen on sharks and his

heroes are expedition leaders.

This is why I care so deeply about conserving

these islands. After all, they have given me,

and so many people I care about, so much.

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TM

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