Black Beach, Floreana, Galapagos Islands

Dakare, on May 16, 2007, said:

Black Beach in Floreana, Galapagos where we met the last sole survivor Margaret Whittaker, who was in her late 80's. She settled in Floreana before WW II . At that time, there was only 1 other couple living on the island. They died and Margaret spent the rest of her life accused but never convicted of murdering the couple after her husband had died. Recent conjecture indicates that the couple may have died of Salamenela poisoning. The were vegitarians and normally did not eat meat. There vegitables crops had failed because of a drought and were forced to eat ferrel chicken, which it is believed was improperly prepared. Margaret died about 2 years after our visit. We found it inspiring to meet a true pioneer. Now her daughter and husband and an Ecuadorian government officer live on the island. Living there is harsh by any standard.

waltermera182, on February 12, 2008, said:

OH MY COOL,

Dr. Stefan Frank, on April 17, 2008, said:

The name is correctly Margaret Wittmer, not Whittaker. Her daughter is alive and runs the hostel. The picture shows the little village Puerto Velasco Ibarra, where the Hostel Wittmer is situated.

KDakare, on April 18, 2008, said:

Thanks for the correction on thelast name. I thought that I had caught that correction earlier, so for whatever reason, you got it and I did not.

In any case, We considered it to be a real privilege to meet Margaret. It is not often these days that you can meet a real explorer!