Internet speeds are better this week. I have about a 95% upload-at-first-attempt rate. I still only upload 150 KB images – I don’t want to tempt fate. Is this only because we have 20% less passengers than last week?

However, I now don’t have access to YouTube. At All. I uploaded a few short videos just a few days ago. This seems like something was shut down at the satellite station internet routers. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to control access to streaming services while on a ship. I just think if there is such a change it should be announced.

It seems that Royal Caribbean is testing a new internet system using Starlink. Royal Caribbean owns Silversea, so we’ll see if that drives changes in the future.

The Captain announced our passenger manifest:

• 55 – USA
• 7 – Mexico
• 4 – United Kingdom
• 3 – Canada
• 2 – Australia
• 2 – Austria
• 2 – Italy
• 2 – Luxembourg

There are more children, but less teens this week. There is another wheelchair using passenger who can get around with two arm braces. Obviously, they focus on the Zodiac tours.

During the first week there were many families that did not get their luggage for several days due to airline issues. While in Quito, Silversea took them to stores so they can get some outfits. Seems there are no luggage issues this week. However, one family completely missed the cruise due to plane connection issues. Maybe Silversea should buy an airline?

Due to the elevation changes many of the island volcanoes (active or extinct) are shrouded with a mist. In Spanish the term is “garua“, pronounced ga-ruh-a. Early sailors claimed the Galapagos was haunted because how the islands seemed to fade from view. I may name my next rock band Garua.

Giant tortoises cannot swim. So how the heck did they get to the Galapagos? Seems they can float. There is modern evidence of a tortoise floating for hundreds of miles. Remember that they can live for a year without food or water. The current theory is some tortoises from western South America were washed into the ocean during a storm and eventually stumbled onto the Galapagos. There would have needed to be at least two. Or maybe a pregnant female?

The only places in the Galapagos you must wear face masks are on buses. The entire crew of the Silver Origin wear them, but few locals on the islands do.

In the Galapagos taxis are white double-cab pickup trucks.