MARIANAO, THE JONES & THE BEANS REACH THEIR GOALS

The Grandma is waiting her families

Today, The Jones have met The Beans. They had a common objective: a Cambridge University Exam. 

The families have been working very hard for some months and today they have done a fantastic work. The Grandma is very proud of all of them. 

It's not an easy goal but they have trusted in their work and effort and they have demosntrated themselves how much English they have learnt in these intensive months.

More information: Cambridge University

Thanks Jones. Thanks Beans. Thanks for trusting in this project and work with all your effort and illusion and thanks for sharing these wonderful and unforgettable days with The Grandma, a person who loves words and names and music and old stories and who takes profit of them to try to create connections between things, people and places. 

The Grandma in Marianao, Cuba

Places and names like Marianao, the beautiful place where two  families have met each other, and a special place for The Grandma, who has an unforgettable and special story which connects her with Sant Boi, a city very important in her life, a city that she loves eternally.

Marianao, which means the ship of Maria, it’s a place in Cuba where a Catalan family, The Samà, created a big fortune. They were Indians.

An Indian, often cited with the popular names of Indian or American, is how the adventurers and traders in Catalonia knew each other who, having emigrated to the Spanish colonies in America, returned to the metropolis after having done fortune. This is the origin of the expression made the Americas.

More information: The Catalan Indians-Evokating the American Past

Their dress was of great elegance and they gave them a gentle breath that distinguished them from the rest of the population. Typically American clothing: clear trousers, vest with gold-plated rings, a large silk scarf in the neck and the jipi, a hat from Panama.

Old pictures of Palau Marianao, Sant Boi

Some, when returning, built large mansions, houses of Indians, who, despite being daughters of ostentation of what had prospered, nowadays are an excellent example of the best architecture of the second half of the nineteenth century and first third of the twentieth century.

In fairness, it must be said that they were often generous with their people, and they became promoters of actions and works that could benefit the impoverished contemporary society of the overseas empire. Thus, lighting, railroad or schools were built in many places thanks to their patronage and will. The municipalities expressed their gratitude towards their benefactors by naming their favorite children and christening the building with the name of the Indian, or by dedicating a street to them in order to perpetuate their memory.

More information: Cuban people of Catalan descendent

The phenomenon was very important in Catalonia, which after the lifting of the monopoly of trade in the exclusive Indians of Castile could obtain some compensation for the military defeat of 1714 and the brutal subsequent cultural repression.

Palau Marianao, an Indian building in Sant Boi

Catalan community in Cuba grew very fast thanks to their habilities in commerce. They were great sellers and made great fortunes with the exportation of sugar, cacao, rom, tobacco and anise. 

They inverted in their hometowns and Catalan cities like Badalona, Arenys de Mar, Torredembarra, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Sitges, Begur, or Cambrils became Indian cities thanks to new factories dedicated to manufacture and export rom and anise. Indians expanded from Cambrils to Begur across all the coast and their presence is easy to discover nowadays because they are an important piece of our recent history.

More information: Office of the Historian

During the War of Independence of Cuba, the Catalan community helped the Cuban one against the Castilian power. Repression and prosecutions against Catalan people increased in Spain and Catalan were forced to fight against Cuban but they denied and were accuses of disloyalty and dishonour and prosecuted, even with death penalty. Castilian government wanted to take possession of these factories and enterprises and Catalan enterpreneurs decided to not return and stay in Cuba forever, mainly by two reasons: help Cuban people, who were their workers, in their reclaims and protect their businesses in the Caribbean island.

Marianao Gardens and its palm trees, Sant Boi

Marianao is the result of an Indian, Salvador de Samà i Torrents, Marquis of Samà, Marianao and Vilanova i la Geltrú. The name of the land evocate a Cuban one. The characteristics of Palau Marianao are Cuban ones. Marianao gardens are full of plants which have a Caribbean origin in the same way that Palau Novella, in Sitges, or Parc Samà in Cambrils.

The origin of Catalan Havaneres is also in Cuba. Havaneres comes from Havana, the name of the Cuban city, and the lyrics of these songs always talks about homesickness. This homesickness was the main cause of the architecture of Indian houses. Indian wanted to evocate the life in the island and they built houses similar to Cuban ones with gardens full of Caribbean plants, the most important of them, the tree palm.

More information: Palau Marianao-From Cuba to Sant Boi

There are some famous havaneres in Catalan like El meu avi, which talks about the Cuban Independence Wars, La barca xica or La Gavina and in Castilian, Yo te diré, which talks about the Philipines Independence Wars, La bella Lola or La paloma, a popular song created by Basque Sebastián Iradier Salaverri which was versionated in English by Elvis Presley. 

These havaneres are love metaphors because although it seems they are dedicated to a woman's love, this woman is really Cuba, and the singers are crying its absence, its memories and its lifestyle.

More information: Visit Palafrugell

Darling, I love you so, and my heart forever,
will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before.
Please, come back to my arms; we belong together.
Come to me; let's be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.

Elvis Presley

GOODBYE THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, WELCOME SANT BOI

The Jones are coming back by plane

Last evening, The Jones left the Galápagos Islands and they are flying to Sant Boi de Llobregat where they're going to meet The Beans. 

Both families have an important appointment tomorrow with Cambrigde University.

The Jones have watched some films during the flight. The Grandma has preferred black and white cinema because she loves Charles Chaplin but every member of the family has been able to choose her/his favourite films.

Eli Jones watches an amazing Playmobil Film about Egypt and its history while the rest of the family is sleeping. It's a long flight and tomorrow they must be relaxed and ready to enjoy a new experience.

Watch Curse of the Pharaons, The Movie by Eli Jones

Good luck Jones! Good luck Beans!

In the end, everything is a gag.

Charles Chaplin

CLIMBING CERRO AZUL VOLCANO ON ISABELA ISLAND

The Jones are visiting Isabela Island

Today, The Jones have spent a free day visiting Isabela Island and enjoying its views and its animals. 

They have talked about some memories of their childhood and beautiful experiences that they remember with emotion.

The Grandma has remembered her favourite TV Programs and Peke, her old friend which lives in Masquefa, near Barcelona. Both of them are beautiful past memories.

The family has read the last chapter of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Cerro Azul is a shield volcano on the south western part of Isabela Island in the Galápagos Islands. At a height of 1,689 m it is the second highest peak in the Galápagos and due to its topographic prominence of over 1,500 m it is categorised as an ultra. The volcano is one of the most active in the Galápagos, with the last eruption between May and June 2008.

More information: Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are believed to be formed from a mantle plume which creates a hotspot of volcanic activity away from plate boundaries where islands then form above it, similar to process that has created the Hawaiian islands. Cerro Azul is at the edge of the upwelling with steep drop offs in the ocean to the West, while the sea is shallower to the east of Isabela Island.

The Galápagos Islands from the air

Cerro Azul is one of six coalescing volcanoes on Isabela Island: Ecuador, Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, and Sierra Negra.  

Cerro Azul is shaped like a large upturned soup bowl and like the other volcanoes on Isabela Island has a large caldera its one at 4x5 km across is one of the smallest. The caldera shows evidence of collapse following eruptive episodes and reaches a depth of 450 m to 650 m below the rim of the caldera, only Wolf Volcano in the Galápagos is as deep. The volcano is 34 by 22 km at maximum and has a volume of 172 km3. It has steep upper slopes of between 12 and 30 degrees. The shape of the volcano is affected by the sharp ocean drop off to the west where this flank of the volcano slopes steeply to the ocean.

More information: Galápagos

Historical eruptions date back to 1932, but the volcano has had a number of active periods since then in 1940, 1943,1949, 1951, 1959, 1968, 1979, 1998 and most recently in 2008. It is estimated that the surface of the volcano is young, less than 5000 years old and it is estimated that the volcano is about 350,000 years old. The age of Cerro Azul is similar to Sierra Negra and Alcedo and their positioning is not believed to be related to plate movement over the magma plume but instead an interaction between the plume and the lithosphere.

Geochelone Nigra Vicina

The 2008 eruption began in May and included a fissure eruption on the south east flank of the volcano; the eruption in 1998 had also included fissure eruptions on this part of the volcano. The fissure eruptions resulted in lava flowing 10 km from the fissure. There was also an eruption within the caldera. A second fissure opened lower down the slope in early June.

Analysis of the lavas on Cerro Azul show a range of tholeiitic to alkalic basalts and are unlike the neighbouring Sierra Negra or Alcedo volcanoes.

A study published in 2006 showed that there was continuous expansion of the volcano prior to and after the eruption in 1998. This expansion would have been due to the emplacement of magma into the magma chamber.

More information: The Atlantic

The subspecies of giant tortoise on the island is Geochelone nigra vicina, this subspecies is dome shelled and has an overlapping range with the subspecies on the neighbouring Sierra Negra Volcano, Geochelone nigra guntheri, which is a saddleback tortoise. They Cerro Azul tortoises were not affected by the 2008 eruption although the 1998 eruption did force the National Park authorities to move tortoises by land and helicopter. Other tortoises were killed in that eruption, either from lava or associated fires.

More information: Drink Tea Travel

All civilization has from time to time become 

a thin crust over a volcano of revolution. 

Havelock Ellis

GALÁPAGOS TORTOISE, 152 YEARS OLD LIVING SLOWLY

The Galápagos Tortoise

Today, May 23, is World Turtle Day, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue. The purpose is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

World Turtle Day is celebrated around the globe in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles or wearing green summer dresses, to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities. Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects encourage teaching about turtles in classrooms.

The Jones continue their trip in the Galápagos Islands. The family has visited the tortoises today, one of the most typical animals of these islands to celebrate this important day. They have rested on the grass and have revised the Reported Speech.

More info: Reported Speech & Download Reported Speech

 

Later, they have read a new chapter of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

The Galápagos tortoise complex or Galápagos giant tortoise complex, Chelonoidis nigra and related species, are the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galápagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg. Today, giant tortoises exist only on two remote archipelagos: the Galápagos Islands 1000 km due west of mainland Ecuador, and Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania.

Galápagos Tortoises and some Jones

The Galápagos tortoises are native to seven of the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago about 1,000 km west of the Ecuadorian mainland. With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. 

A captive individual lived at least 170 years. Spanish explorers, who discovered the islands in the 16th century, named them after the Spanish galápago, meaning tortoise. Shell size and shape vary between populations. On islands with humid highlands, the tortoises are larger, with domed shells and short necks; on islands with dry lowlands, the tortoises are smaller, with saddleback shells and long necks. 

More information: Galápagos

Charles Darwin's observations of these differences on the second voyage of the Beagle in 1835, contributed to the development of his theory of evolution.

Tortoise numbers declined from over 250,000 in the 16th century to a low of around 3,000 in the 1970s. This decline was caused by overexploitation of the species for meat and oil, habitat clearance for agriculture, and introduction of non-native animals to the islands, such as rats, goats, and pigs.  

Galápagos Tortoise and Claudia Jones

The extinction of most giant tortoise lineages is thought to have also been caused by predation by humans or human ancestors, as the tortoises themselves have no natural predators. 

Tortoise populations on at least three islands have become extinct in historical times due to human activities. Specimens of these extinct taxa exist in several museums and also are being subjected to DNA analysis. Ten species of the original 15 survive in the wild; an 11th species, Chelonoidis abingdonii, had only a single known living individual, kept in captivity and nicknamed Lonesome George until his death in June 2012. 

More information: National Geographic

Conservation efforts, beginning in the 20th century, have resulted in thousands of captive-bred juveniles being released onto their ancestral home islands, and the total number of the species is estimated to have exceeded 19,000 at the start of the 21st century. Despite this rebound, the species as a whole is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The Galápagos Islands were discovered in 1535, but first appeared on the maps, of Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius, around 1570. The islands were named Insulae de los Galopegos, Islands of the Tortoises in reference to the giant tortoises found there.

Galápagos Tortoises and some Jones

Initially, the giant tortoises of the Indian Ocean and those from the Galápagos were considered to be the same species. Naturalists thought that sailors had transported the tortoises there. In 1676, the pre-Linnaean authority Claude Perrault referred to both species as Tortue des Indes. 

In 1783, Johann Gottlob Schneider classified all giant tortoises as Testudo indica, Indian tortoise. In 1812, August Friedrich Schweigger named them Testudo gigantea, gigantic tortoise. In 1834, André Marie Constant Duméril and Gabriel Bibron classified the Galápagos tortoises as a separate species, which they named Testudo nigrita, black tortoise.

All species of Galápagos tortoises evolved from common ancestors that arrived from mainland South America by overwater dispersal. Genetic studies have shown that the Chaco tortoise of Argentina and Paraguay is their closest living relative. The minimal founding population was a pregnant female or a breeding pair. 

More information: Darwin Foundation

Survival on the 1000-km oceanic journey is accounted for because the tortoises are buoyant, can breathe by extending their necks above the water, and are able to survive months without food or fresh water. As they are poor swimmers, the journey was probably a passive one facilitated by the Humboldt Current, which diverts westwards towards the Galápagos Islands from the mainland. The ancestors of the genus Chelonoidis are believed to have similarly dispersed from Africa to South America during the Oligocene.

Claudia Jones and some Galápagos Tortoise

The closest living relative, though not a direct ancestor, of the Galápagos giant tortoise is the Chaco tortoise, Chelonoidis chilensis, a much smaller species from South America. 

The divergence between Chelodonis chilensis and Chelodonis nigra probably occurred 6–12 million years ago, an evolutionary event preceding the volcanic formation of the oldest modern Galápagos Islands 5 million years ago. 

More information: New Scientist

Mitochondrial DNA analysis indicates that the oldest existing islands, Española and San Cristóbal, were colonised first, and that these populations seeded the younger islands via dispersal in a stepping stone fashion via local currents. Restricted gene flow between isolated islands then resulted in the independent evolution of the populations into the divergent forms observed in the modern species. The evolutionary relationships between the species thus echo the volcanic history of the islands.

More information: Live Science

We called him Tortoise because he taught us. 

Lewis Carroll

THE MARINE IGUANA OF THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

The Jones with some iguanas

This morning, The Jones have decided to visit the beautiful beaches of Santa Cruz Island. After their meeting with some scientists who explained them the last researching in the islands, the family has decided to go to the beach to relax, to study some English and to discover the wonderful world of the marine iguana.

The family has revised The Passive in Present and Past Simple and have read another new chapter of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Finally, the family has been talking about the difficulties of working in some environments, the bureaucratic rules that difficult our work and the obsession of a great part of the society of getting as money as they without any kind of ethics or responsibility. 

More information: The Passive-Present Simple & The Passive-Past Simple

The Grandma has offered her opinion about her lifestyle where money is something necessary to survive in a capitalist system but it mustn't be the centre of our lives, a place destined for real important things like family, friends and health. She has been also talking about the importance of reading the documents from the beginning to the end and has remembered her old times studying phonetics with some spectrograms, an incredible tool to identified voices, sound and messages.

Download The Passive

This afternoon, the family is enjoying the Ecuadorian beaches and they are listening incredible and amazing stories told by Claudia Jones who is an expert in The Galápagos Islands and who has invited the family to taste some of the best Ecuadorian chocolates. Thanks a lot, Claudia!

The marine iguana or Amblyrhynchus cristatus, also known as the Galápagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. 

This iguana feeds almost exclusively on algae and large males dive to find this food source, while females and smaller males feed during low tide in the intertidal zone. They mainly live in colonies on rocky shores where they warm after visiting the relatively cold water or intertidal zone, but can also be seen in marshes, mangrove and beaches.

More information: Galápagos Conservation

Marine iguanas vary in appearance between the different islands and several subspecies are recognized. Although relatively large numbers remain and it is locally common, this protected species is considered threatened.

Joaquín Jones is diving in the Galápagos Sea

Its generic name, Amblyrhynchus, is a combination of two Greek words, Ambly- from Amblus (ἀμβλυ) meaning blunt and rhynchus (ρυγχος) meaning snout. Its specific name is the Latin word cristatus meaning crested, and refers to the low crest of spines along the animal's back.

Researchers theorize that land iguanas, genus Conolophus, and marine iguanas evolved from a common ancestor since arriving on the islands from Central or South America, presumably by rafting. The land and marine iguanas of the Galápagos form a clade, and the nearest relative of this Galápagos clade are the Ctenosaura iguanas of Mexico and Central America. The marine iguana diverged from the land iguanas some 8–10 million years ago, which is older than any of the extant Galápagos islands. 

It is therefore thought that the ancestral species inhabited parts of the volcanic archipelago that are now submerged. The two species remain mutually fertile in spite of being assigned to distinct genera, and they occasionally hybridize where their ranges overlap, resulting in the so-called hybrid iguana of South Plaza Island.

More information: World Wild Life

My favorite animal on the Galapagos is the Galapagos Marine Iguana. The first rule of iguana-dom is that iguanas hate the water, 

yet somehow, these poor iguanas landed there and had to figure it out. 

Michael Bastian

VÍCTOR JONES: MAGIC MENTAL POLISH ILLUSIONISM

Víctor Jones with Eros in Kraków, Poland

Víctor Jones. Spy. Poland.

I'm Víctor Jones. I was born in Kraków, Poland. I confess. I'm a spy, a person who knows lots of important information and works undercover. My family doesn't know anything about me. Some of them think I'm a stripper, because I'm always putting clothes on and off. Some of them think I'm a magician because I appear and disappear with facility. The real explanation is I'm a spy and with a good make up and clothes I can be whoever I want. My master has been a woman. Her secret name is Irene.

I had a lot of work and prestige during the Cold War but after the fall of the Berlin's Wall the world changed forever and I recycled myself being a computer analyst, another way to obtain important information. I like reading and cinema, especially Harry Potter's saga.

-Good morning, Víctor Jones, and thanks to attend us.

-Good morning. It's a pleasure.

-I've never interviewed a spy.

-Well, never say never again.

-Is a normal interview or this never had happened.

-This interview is for your eyes only.

-When we talk about spies we think in American, English or Russian agents but you're Polish...

-This idea was true during the cold war but nowadays every country has its important secret services. I'm Polish but when I started to work Russia was the URSS and the European map was another completely different from now. In fact, I can say that I came from Russia with love, because Poland was an active member of the Warsaw Pact, in fact this pact was signed in the capital of my country.

-What can you explain about Poland?

-When we talk about Europe, it seems that we're talking only about Germany, France and the UK. It's a terrible mistake because we're 28 countries in the EU, now 27 with the UK saying goodbye, and 50 in the entire European continent. Poland is a big and historical country. We existed since 1025 when the Kingdom of Poland was founded. We formed a great Duchy with Lithuania, later we were part of Prussia, Russia and Austria and we were determined in the beginning of the WWII when in September 1939 Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany. We were a Soviet satellite state and after 1989 we are a Democratic Republic, again. When you live in a place with these historical events, it's normal that you want to be a spy. We lived in a crossroad between two worlds and you realize that the world is not enough.

-Are you scared with your work?

-No, I'm not. Risk exists everywhere and my work is only a work. It's true that you have license to kill but nowadays the spies are intelligent computers and you must control and analyse the information that they offer.

-How's life living in a border?

-It's interesting because you receive lots of influences and diversity is something that offers you the possibility of having different points of view and this is something very important in our global world.

-You were born in Kraków, a city with a terrible past. How does the global world affect in the population nowadays? 

-Kraków is nowadays a modern city which is considered as Europe's Silicon Valley. The city is the headquarters for important multinational companies and cultural diversity is something that you can see in our streets. It's true that Kraków has a terrible story. Everybody remembers how the members of our Jewish community were forced into a walled zone known as the Kraków Ghetto, from which they were sent to German extermination camps such as the nearby Auschwitz and Plaszów. Auschwitz was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979 and the most important about this declaration was the idea of keeping this horrible event of our recent history in our minds because it represents the human horror and the result of totalitarianism. Auschwitz was a view to a kill and now must be a view to peace, tolerance and respect.

-How is the life of a spy?

-A normal life. You must be cautious, you mustn't speak a lot and it's important that nobody remembers you. You must be like a spectre.

-And the personal life? It must be difficult...

-Well, only a person who works in this can really understand you but you must choose between having a personal or professional life. The spy who loved me had to choose it. It's not an easy election.

-Which is your favourite spy?

-She is Mata Hari, of course. She was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad in France. She is a legend in my profession that demonstrated that diamonds are forever.

-And your worst enemy?

-Lots of enemies: Dr.No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, Octopussy, The man with the Golden Gun, GoldenEye... but if I had to choose one, Jaws. Without any kind of doubt. I was working in a mission named Moonraker. I knew Jaws a terrible highly skilled killed with an incredible strength. His name was in tribute to sharks. It seems that he liked shark, the animal which lives in oceans and eat fish, seals, crabs and seabirds. They find their prey with their sense of smell and they are in danger of extinction. Jaws had all these characteristics. He was very dangerous and caught him required an enormous effort.

-Have you got any secret gadget?

-Well, it's not a secret. I gave a little box of matches to The Grandma for her birthday. She knows the box is a code and the matches are keys that open Swiss banks where I have some secrets hidden. I also have a special skill: I can control human minds and create illusions and fakes in them.

-How do you feel being a member of The Jones family?

-Very well. The Jones is a very funny family. They respect my job and they don't ask me anything. I like them because they live and let die. For us, the family is the most important. It's the jewel of our crown and our majesty.

-How is a normal day with The Jones?

-We haven't got a normal day because we haven't got a planning. We have an idea about our obligations but we can change all things in a second. All depends of us and this is something very interesting because offers you the possibility of being creative and non-static. You cannot control tomorrow, and then you realize that tomorrow never dies.

-How long have you been studying English?

-I come from a family of spies. I was born in Kraków but I grew up in Monte-Carlo, near Casino Royale, where I learnt French and in London where I learnt English. A spy must know languages.

-Then, you speak Polish, English and French.

-Poland is a multilanguage country. Languages are the living daylights for us. Polish is the official language but other languages like German, Russian, Ukrainian, Slovak, Lithuanian, Czech, Belarusian, Romani and Yiddish are spoken in my country, too. I also speak German and, of course, Russian.

-What can you explain about your life with The Jones?

-When you have this kind of work, you need people who understand you and give you the opportunity of having your personal moments. They know that I can't explain as things as I know and they respect this, and this fact is very important because I feel comfortable with them.

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-We have lots of memories but I remember one day that I have to offer quick and efficient solutions to different problems that I didn't control. It was very interesting because offered to me the possibility of thinking in spontaneous solutions and this is not easy to do, although, I'm a spy and I'm a person who must be decisive.

-You like reading, don't you? Recommend me a book...

-I'm reading about computer development. I like it and it's a necessary skill if you want to be a professional spy. You must know about computers because nowadays technology is more powerful than standard weapons. Technology is a weapon in it. You can control whatever you want if you're able to hacker the system. A mobile phone is more powerful than a gun. Believe me or not but it's true.

-You're a spy. Can you write a slogan for The Jones?

-Die another day because you only live twice.

-One last question... is Víctor Jones your real name?

-I'm a Jones. I'm Víctor Jones. My name is Víctor because I'm a winner who always fights for victory and my surname is Jones because I'm a member of this wonderful family which is descendent of two famous people: Junior Jones, aka Indiana, the most popular archaeologist and Bridget Jones, a journalist who is able to get news using non-conventional methods.

-Thank you very much, Víctor Jones.

-You're welcome. And one more thing... I was born in Scotland not in Poland.

-What's the hell...?

This interview is going to be destroyed in 5,4,3,2,1... seconds!

A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. 

He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it. 

John le Carré

THE JONES VISIT THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION

Some Jones at Charles Darwin Research Station

Today, The Jones are visiting Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island, one of The Galápagos Islands. They are in the island to visit The Charles Darwin Foundation and meet the scientists who are working here.

Santa Cruz Island is one of the Galápagos Islands with an area of 986 km2 and a maximum altitude of 864 metres. Situated in the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated urban centre in the islands. 

On Santa Cruz there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. This island is a large dormant volcano. It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago. There is a gigantic lava tunnel that is over 2000 meters long on the island that many tourists visit and walk through. 

More information: Ecuador Volunteer

As a testimony to its volcanic history there are two big holes formed by the collapse of a magma chamber: Los Gemelos, or The Twins. Named after the Holy Cross, its English name, Indefatigable, was given after a British vessel HMS Indefatigable. Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora, with a total of 12,000 residents on the island. 

Claudia Jones in Tortuga Bay

Tortuga Bay is located on the Santa Cruz Island, a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic galápagos tortoise.

The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959, under the auspices of UNESCO and the World Conservation Union. The Charles Darwin Research Station serves as headquarters for The Foundation, and is used to conduct scientific research and promote environmental education.

Lonesome George at the Charles Darwin Research Station, estimated to be over 100 years old at his death in 2012.

More information: Trip Advisor

The Charles Darwin Foundation is based in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos.

Charles Darwin

The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. It is located on the shore of Academy Bay in the village of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Islands, with satellite offices on Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.

In Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Ecuadorian and foreign scientists work on research and projects for conservation of the Galápagos terrestrial and marine ecosystems. 

The Research Station, established in 1959 and dedicated in 1964, has a natural history interpretation center and also carries out educational projects in support of conservation of the Galápagos Islands, and in support of external researchers visiting the islands to conduct field work.

More information: Charles Darwin Foundation

The objectives of the CDRS is to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students, and support staff from all over the world.Scientific research and monitoring projects are conducted at the CDRS in conjunction and cooperation with its chief partner, the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS), which functions as the principal government authority in charge of conservation and natural resource issues in the Galápagos.

The work of the CDRS has as its main objectives:

-To promote, facilitate, design, and implement the scientific investigation necessary for the understanding of biological principles, better understanding of ecosystems, and adequate management of the islands’ natural resources.

Some Jones at Charles Darwin Research Station

-To advise the Ecuadorian authorities on the subject of conservation and management of natural resources in the Galápagos Islands.

-To collaborate with Ecuadorian institutions on the implementation of programs involved in scientific investigation and education.

-To contribute to the development of scientific and technical personnel from Ecuador who are specialized in natural sciences and natural resource management.

-To contribute and collaborate on educational programs related to the conservation of the islands.

-To compile the results of the scientific investigations and the other activities of the organization and to disseminate this information regionally, nationally, and internationally.

More information: Galápagos Conservation

 I have called this principle, 

y which each slight variation, 

if useful, is preserved, 

by the term of Natural Selection. 

Charles Darwin