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Day 1
Our journey started off late Saturday evening at Holy Family Parish where
we were all excited to start our biology experience. Before we left,
Father Keith made sure to bless our travels to include returning with
tans. Finally the bus started rolling at 12:00AM to Calgary airport. Half
way there we decided to take a Tim’s run but much to our dismay, it was
closed. We then took off to the nearest gas station and Jarred bought the
store. Full and satisfied we continued to travel to Calgary airport. Once
there we checked in our baggage and went through security. With everyone
half asleep we got lost finding our gate. After finding the right turn we
all crashed on the seats waiting to board our plane. After all that we
finally got on the smallest plane at the airport.
The plane took off, barely, and minutes later we were finally at our
cruising altitude. There were no T.V.’s, one bathroom, and felt like a
sauna. For lack of entertainment Mitchell and Shaun performed the McDonald’s
Drive Through rap. 30 seconds later everyone applauded but was once again
bored. Everyone was tired so we all fell asleep. An hour later we started
our decent into Seattle airport. We landed safely but the pilot decided to
slam on the brakes and everyone lurched forward.
Barth made the Seattle airport sound like heaven but it was more like 3
hours of pure hell. Note to everyone, never eat at Dish D’Lish. The food
is expensive, the service was terrible, and the food tasted like
cardboard. Kailey put her phone in her Hot Tamalies candy box and forgot
about it. An hour later she couldn’t find her phone so she called it and
got hold of Louis who had stolen her phone. Much to her stupidity she
finally realized her phone was in the Hot Tamalies candy box. A gazillion
hours later we finally boarded the second smallest plane in the airport.
The plane took off but once again it had no T.V.’s so we had to find our
own entertainment. Mr. Barth sang us a lullaby to make us fall asleep. The
people who were able to withstand his soothing melodious voice secretly
took pictures of the people who fell under their own thoughts. The last
decent took place in Cabo, Mexico and everyone jumped with excitement
because of the amazing heat wave. Everything was great until we entered
the immigration area where everyone started freaking out.
After a long wait we finally made it through to pick up our bags where
everything went surprisingly quick. This tiny wave of good luck came to an
end very quickly where everyone was freaked out about the “red
light/green light” random bag search. We all made it through without any
problems.
Our last leg of the journey for La Paz started. A long 2 hour bus ride on
windy roads. Great ride. The most interesting thing we saw was a cattle
going across the road. An hour and a half into it we stopped at San
Bartolo which had the best candy/pastry items EVER. Then we continued on
our travels and finally reached La Paz.
Once we got to the docks everyone quickly grabbed their luggage and ran
for the boat. We had dinner underway with the sun setting in the
background. We cruised in the night where the stars were our guide. The
first marine life animal showed up was a pelican. After seeing that we
went to bed.
Written by Mitchell and Megan
Day 2
Monday morning began bright and early for Miguel at 6:00 am, as for
everyone else, breakfast was served at 9:00. The boat was anchored at
Pichilingue, a small bay out of La Paz. After a long day of traveling and
listening to Jarred’s overtired laugh, a ham omelet, tortillas and
refried beans was the beginning of many great meals to come!
The boat had departed before we had woken up to arrive an hour and a half
later at Lela’s Beach. At 10:30 we headed over to the beach in the
Pangas, eager to snorkel for the FIRST time!! Stasia gave us some lessons
and we were free to go! While submerged in the salty waves, we feasted our
eyes in an array of exotic marine life. Bumping into Sergeant Major was by
far the best part!! Near the end of the excursion, a frightened puffer
fish had blown up at the sight of Barth in his snorkel equipment.
We returned to the boat around 12:00 pm. The participants of the beach
extravaganza were famished and drained from the sun. Lunch was devoured in
approximately 4.7 minutes. This consisted of tomato bowtie soup as a
starter, with chicken and rice to seal the deal. As always, Jarred
aggravated the cooks until he received more tortillas.
After lunch, we took the pangas to Los Isolotes to capture the true
essence and beauty of the sea lions. The sea lions were lounging in their
element, high in the rocks or playfully swimming and chasing one another.
As we approached, the colossal alpha male began to get antsy. He began to
bark and stir up the females and adolescent sea lions. Meanwhile, back at
the pangas, Mrs. English attention was captured by by a young pup who was
blowing bubbles at her. One of the males chased the females off the rocks
and they came poking around the pangas curiously, swimming and slashing
and playing.
Back on the Narval, we began our search for the baby humpback whale that
Lela was talkinging about all day long!! Instead, we spotted a pod of
dolphins! There were 300+ and they were playfully riding the bow, jumping
and splashing beneath our feet. Following the dolphins, manta rays were
flailing their winged bodies into the air shimmering in the sunlight.
Suddenly, off in the distance, an eruption of mist into the air!! A sure
tell sign a whale was in our midst!!!!!!! The boat roared with excitement
as we changed direction in high hopes of catching a closer glimpse. A
little while later, a humpback emerged from the water about 247 m away
from the boat. After spending a few moments and snapping a few pictures,
the moment was over, and captured in our memories until the end of time.
Finally, it was time to wind down for the evening. Served for dinner was a
delicious shell tomato pasta and beef! Around 7:00pm, we anchored the boat
at Lobster Lagoon for the night. We put on the night-light and saw some
pelicans attempting to catch and eat the stealthy flying fish dodging the
massive birds. Exhausted from an amazing first day on the water, it was
time for bed. If only Barth would stop snoring…
Written by Emily, Miguel and Jade
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