Today we spent on Santa Cruz Island. In the morning we were bussed to a higher elevation to look at sink holes, vermilion fly-catchers (a bird) and giant tortoises. We also saw green trees and walked, and crawled through a Thurston Lava Tube! A great morning. In the afternoon we went to visit the Darwin Research Station which wasn't quite as interesting as watching paint dry. I presume the tour boats must get some sort of reward for bringing the tourists. That's the only reason I can think that cruise ships would include the research station on tours. A great place for research, I'm sure, but not a place for visitors to learn anything except how hot it can be. This facility is so unoriented to visitors there's not even an easy opportunity provided to contribue to it's work, if you were so inclined --- but given the lack of visitor focus, I don't suppose many would be inclined! The morning was wonderful though. All pictures in this gallery were taken with the Canon S80.