On July 22, 2000, I flew to Ecuador, met my friend Sabrina, then flew to the Galapagos Islands on July 24. The Galapagos Islands lie on the equator, 600 miles west of Ecuador and the South American coastline. They were formed as a result of intense volcanic activity and are still among the most volcanic islands in the world. The isolation of the islands has permitted certain species of animals to evolve in isolation. These animals are found nowhere else in the world.