So Ugly They're Cute

So, here we are in Chicago, a world away from the Galapagos. Did you know that a reporter coined the term "the Windy City" to describe Chicago because Chicagoans brag so much about their city? However, the weather can get pretty windy as well! But right now, it's just hot, hot and more hot. It feels so strange to be in a big city when just a few weeks ago we were in the remote Galapagos surrounded by some of the weirdest looking creatures on earth. Now, the only weird creatures we've seen are of the human variety! This blog entry is about 2 creatures that are not typically considered cute--the iguana and the giant tortoise. These creatures have been on the Galapagos for a very long time and each island has a different variety of tortoise. On some islands, the iguanas swim (marine iguanas, the darker coloured ones) and on others the land iguanas (yellow in colour) just lay all around all day baking in the sunshine.

We met this group of marine iguanas on our first day on the islands. They were hissing and spitting at us so we were slightly concerned. Kevin and I thought we had angered them by entering their territory, but we later found out that they need to emit the salt in order to balance their bodies...so no, they weren't mad at us.



I thought this was a cheeky little fellow. His tongue looks quite human, no?



These two iguanas seem to be very good mates.



Home sweet home for the land iguana.



As you will recall, I mentioned my deep devotion for Lonesome George, the last tortoise of his kind. Well, when we visited George for the second time we learned from our guide Juan why George never became interested in the two "girlfriends" the park rangers had put in his pen. By the way, here is our guide Juan in a tortoise shell.



George, unfortunately, loves food more than he loves women...to the point that when his two girlfriends come close to his food, he chases them away! Here's a picture of all three of them. Obviously, George is the one chomping away. He's no Hugh Heffner...that's for sure!



But then there is Diego, a tortoise from the San Diego zoo who was brought to the Galapagos in order to impregnate a few female tortoises who were the last of their species. The Galapagos National Park is going to retire George soon and Diego is going to be their next champion. Why are they so proud of him? Because Diego has managed to father numerous babies! He's such a stud that while at the park we caught him with this fine lady...if you look carefully you will see that Diego is on top of a female tortoise and her head is barely peeking out.



And here are their faces up close. Turtles, slow moving creatures that they are, take several hours to have sex. This was very true from what we saw...they could teach Sting and his wife a thing or two about tantric sex. :)



I think, by the end of our time at the turtle reserve, Kevin had also fallen in love with the turtles as you can see by this picture.