Meet two 2024 Grosvenor Teacher Fellows and watch how they’re translating their travel experiences into extraordinary learning opportunities back home.
National Geographic Venture anchored early this morning at Puerto Refugio, on the northernmost part of Angel de la Guarda. It is one of the most interesting islands that compose the Midriff of the Gulf of California. Our guests and naturalists explored the coastal plains that lead to the eroded and steep hills made of red and orange volcanic rocks from the Comondu Formation. We discovered the fascinating vegetation of one of the driest parts of the Baja Californian Desert, including gigantic multibranched cardon cactus, lomboy, copalquin, brittle bush, hojasen, desert lavender, teddy bear cholla, and many others. We then boarded Zodiacs for guided tours in the ocean. We encountered curious Baja Californian sea lions, flying pelicans, Heermann’s gulls, Pacific loons, eared grebes, Brandt’s cormorants, and more. Admiring the beautiful landscape completed a long, fruitful day of exploration.
The morning started with frigates nesting on the green bushes of North Seymour Island, with their impressive red gular sacs they inflate for mating easily visible. Blue-footed boobies were also seen on the lava rocks along the shore, and many land iguanas were feeding on flowers and salt bushes. This year has seen a lot of rain, and now there is plenty of food for terrestrial creatures. As soon as we arrived at Rabida Island, our younger explorers had fun jumping from the stern of our ship to cool off and play on our inflatable platform. In the afternoon, we went kayaking and snorkeling from the beautiful and unique red beach. We spotted rays, sharks, sea lions, and many schools of different fish. We ended our day strolling along the beach and the brackish lagoon where flamingoes were preening their iridescent pink feathers. What a day we had, full of enjoyment, adventure, and funny moments.
Guests aboard National Geographic Sea Bird traveling downstream along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, went ashore for a delicious day in the Walla Walla Valley. Most guests chose to spend the morning taking a tour of the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, a mid-19th century Christian mission that helped many who traveled the Oregon Territory. Another bus took guests to The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon to learn about grapevines planted 40 years ago in the unique soil by the founders of Seven Hills Winery. Just before lunch, both buses took guests to downtown Walla Walla for a tour and tasting of Seven Hills wines, and a meal catered by TMACS. Next came a walking tour of downtown led by Nancy Helms-Lovell of Destination, Walla Walla. Stops included the century-old Marcus Whitman Hotel, Bright’s Candies, and tasting rooms for Spring Valley Vineyard, Mercer Wine Estates, and Mark Ryan Winery. Nearly every guest walked back to the bus stop having stopped at the Pine Cone Creamery for a scoop of ice cream. Dinner aboard National Geographic Sea Bird included chef Alan Griffith’s honey-glazed Pacific sablefish, a dish that featured Walla Walla sweet onions.
Isabela Island holds half of the land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. Towering over the rest of the island chain with its massive shield volcanos, it is a diverse environment for numerous species. A morning visit to Urbina Bay shows us the unique and young geological formation of an uplifted area. A couple of square kilometers of intertidal zone was uplifted in the early 1950’s, in certain cases over four meters out of the ocean left high and dry. Vegetation has taken over the area since the uplift, with Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas roaming the area freely. We encountered over nine tortoises using our path for easy transportation. Yellow warblers, Galapagos mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches provided an interesting soundscape. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove, with its historic graffiti written on the cliffs, some dating back to the early 1800’s. In the water or exploring along the coast, we encountered Galapagos penguins fishing among flightless cormorants, with the occasional plunge diving pelican. A heavy rain shower provided a cool, crisp feeling to the atmosphere as the sun painted the late afternoon sky among the clouds. It was another fascinating day exploring these incredible islands.
As we approached Soufrière, the air was thick with the unmistakable scent of sulfur, a tantalizing hint of the thrilling volcanic wonders that awaited us onshore. National Geographic Orion anchored beneath the towering silhouette of Petit Piton, one of St. Lucia's most iconic and dramatic peaks. Our first stop, the mesmerizing sulfur springs where the smell was worth the spectacle. This was followed by a stroll through the lush, vibrant botanic gardens where nature’s vivid hues seemed to dance in the tropical sun. With the afternoon still young, we wandered through the charming streets of the town, soaking in the lively local culture before unwinding on the soft sands of a serene beach—another slice of paradise found on our Caribbean adventure.
