Day 18 in Santa Cruz

 Hey guys! Today was another day spent surveying the communities and tourists of Santa Cruz. As we spend more time on the islands, it becomes increasingly clear the dynamic culture that runs deep within these peoples. Most of our excursion days are spent with a naturalist from the national park here on the islands and their storytelling, along with the experiences of the people who have lived on these lands for generations. 

One of the most interesting things I found was learning about Galapagos' history pre-Spanish invasion. This is mentioned in almost every tour we go on. The islands have a meaningful relationship with Pachamama, or Mother Earth, which is evident in their practical, spiritual, and holistic approaches to utilizing their natural resources. For example, the palo santo tree excretes a resin when wounded that smells like incense. This tree was historically used in churches when burying the dead, not only to cover up the smell of decay but also to return the dead back to the earth, so that they could rejoin Pachamama. It continues to be burned in churches today without the same practical application. Learning about these practices makes me wonder why they have fallen out of use and how they could relate to modern environmental degradation and lack of care for our environment. 

Tomorrow, we are exploring a sugar cane farm to learn more about how these communities survived with so few outside resources. I'm looking forward to it and learning more about the amazing biodiversity these islands have to offer! 

Vickie