Almost 100 Years Later The Galapagos Affair Still Remains One Of Our Greatest Puzzles

Everyone fantasized about escaping to a tropical island, where the warm breeze can soothe all the problems of modern life. But you might find that living off the grid has a way of warping your mind that isn't always for the better. The inhabitants of the tropical island Floreana thought they were escaping to an ocean-view paradise. But somewhere along the way, members of the group stopped playing nice. What they found was less of a paradise and more of a nightmare...

Surviving the Galapagos

Off the shore of Ecuador sits a stunning archipelago of islands — the Galapagos. These days, it's a hub for tourists looking to explore coral reefs and take pictures of giant tortoises. However, surviving in the Galapagos used to be a much more daunting challenge.

A Famous Namesake

The Galapagos were made famous by Charles Darwin, who used it as a research study to base his theory of evolution. Darwin achieved household name status, receiving an island named in his honor. Still, he only spent 5 weeks on the islands, not enough time for the remoteness to change his personality.

100 Years Later...

Nearly 100 years later, though, German doctor Friedrich Ritter chose to abandon everything about his normal life. including his practice, his wife, and all access to modern conveniences. He relocated to the Galapagos Island of Floreana with his patient-turned-lover, Dore Strauch. 

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Island living didn't involve sipping from coconuts and bronzing in the sun. They put in the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to cultivate the wild landscape. Still, Dore later claimed the worst part was living under the domineering Dr. Ritter.