Reptiles

My family owned a turtle once: we purchased it in San Diego, just before taking off for the South Pacific aboard Rhapsodie.  We named it Speedy.  When we reached Fiji, the customs officials came aboard to check us in, and they they spotted Speedy crawling around.  Uh Oh!  Importing a live creature: Trouble!  

The officials watched Speedy for awhile, then left without a word, only to return a few minutes later with even more officials.  They asked to see Speedy.  We put him on the table, and the officials watched him intently as he crawled about.  Then they all began to smile and laugh: they had never seen a land turtle before! 

Over the next few days, as we tidied up and prepared Rhapsodie for the next leg of our passage, officials would drop by for a look at Speedy.  He was famous.

Before we left Fiji for our next stop, we gave Fiji to one of the staff at the snack bar.  I hope Speedy enjoyed his new home...

Here are the countries where we saw reptiles:

U.S., Africa, Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras , Israel, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadine