Galapagos I

We had a great time in the Galapagos! It was great to adventure out, relax, enjoy the company of friends, and get really close to some amazing wildlife. In this top photo, we are overlooking one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Galapagos. We are at the top of an active volcano with a view of some amazing beaches and mountains.

This is us with JR and Lindsay Young. They are some of our best friends and have been in South America working in medical clinics and learning Spanish. They planned the trip to the Galapagos and it was great to be able spend some time with them. Oh yeah, there is a 100 year old giant tortoise behind us (only found in the Galapagos).

Sea Turtle. We took this picture with our underwater camera...and yes, we really were this close. We swam with sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, tropical fish, sting rays, and sharks (not carnivorous).

Shark vs. Fish. Actually they are just passing by and have very little interest in each other since they both mostly eat plant life...but it made for a cool picture.

Galapagos II

Penguin. We were snorkeling just a few feet from these guys. Then they jumped in with us. They are only about 1.5 feet high and are able to live at the equator because of the cold water currents from the south.

Blue-Footed Booby. These birds descend 20 feet down into the water to catch fish in a display that we referred to as "dive-bombing". It is by eating a certain fish that their feet become this bright blue color.

Frigate Bird. Very high flying bird that is known to steal other bird's food. In this photo, the male has inflated his neck sack to attract the female frigates...works every time!

Marine Iguana. This reptile gets its food by diving to the ocean floor and eating algae off of rocks. It then drinks salt water and expels the salt by way of unique desalination glands in its nose. In this photo, the iguana is catching some afternoon rays.

Chuck and Sea Lion. This young sea lion has the daily job of eating, sleeping, and playing. We had the opportunity to swim with the sea lions after Chuck finished his conversation with this one.

Med School Graduation

We graduated from UNC med school on May 13th! The weekend was a lot of fun with our families in town and many activities planned by the med school. We had awards, dinners, galas, and picnics before the actual ceremony. We left for the Galapagos Islands a few days after graduation. Plenty of pictures from our vacation are coming soon.