Day 1 & 2: Thursday and Friday,
January 22-23, 2026, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Friday … It was a long 20 hours of
getting from Tampa to Rio (we actually left Tampa on Wednesday
afternoon) .. up to Atlanta, then South to Rio overnight. We met our
personal tour guide/Taxi driver, Marcio, at the airport and spent the
next 5 hours meandering through the streets, sites and sounds of this
500-year-old metropolis of 7 million people in his car. Rio features
26 square miles of park in its center, which includes a variety of
wild animals like armadillos, skunks, sloths, snakes! And some of the
most beautiful beaches in the world. It is surrounded by mountains,
but there are many smaller mountains within the city itself. Rio de
Janeiro is probably most famous for its “Christ the Redeemer”
Statue on top of Mount Corovado, visible from almost everywhere in
the city. Completed in 1931, it is 98 feet tall and has been
designated one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Unfortunately, not
today, however, because of the rain and heavy fog, we were unable to
view it in person … so Internet pictures will have to do!
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| Internet picture of Christ the Redeemer |
Driving from the airport along the edge
of the City the traffic was heavy, the many motorcycles whizzing in
between the rows of vehicles softly blowing their horns while
passing, cars softly tooting to indicate a lane change or when
coming around a VERY sharp corner on VERY narrow streets, a few
street vendors walking between the rows of cars selling their goods!
Green vegetation is everywhere. The art décor, from graffiti to
some very nice mural paintings, is just about everywhere. The area of
the poor, called favelas, consisted of unfinished houses built on top
of one another. Five-mile long Flamingo Park lies between the shore
and some nice tall housing. Interesting is that to build the park in
1960, dirt was reclaimed from the adjacent bay to provide the green
space for this densely populated area. However, it also meant that
those in the housing who used to live on the shore, now live adjacent
to the park and lost their view of the water!
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| Favelas |
A similar thing was done to the
downtown area where the land was reclaimed from the shores, adding
to extend the size of the downtown. When
Eduardo Paes, a doctor, was
elected Mayor, 2009-2012, he undertook the reconstruction of roads in
the downtown areas, widening them to three lanes, which opened up the
City, resulting in going a long ways to eliminating yellow fever and
malaria.
We drove up a narrow, beautiful,
winding road to visit the
Benedictine Sao Bento Monastery, started in
1590, located on
St Benedict Hill. Next to the Abbot is Our Lady of
Mont Serrat Catholic Church. Started in 1635, it took 300 year to
complete as all of the work was done by hand. As you walk inside,
the scene is jaw dropping! Walls, ceiling, alter area, the seven side
chapels dedicated to Catholic lay brothers plus Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception, ALL covered in
gold leaf gilding. Behind the
alter is a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Mont Serrat. Thirty four
monks still live on the premises, with
St. Benedict College and St
Benedict Seminary nearby.
The Brazilian Carnivals date back to
1723 and have evolved into the world's largest and most famous
festival symbolizing Brazilian culture with its diversity and
vibrancy. Twelve samba organizations involving more than 4,000 people
complete each pre-Lenten season with parades of elaborate floats and
costumes at the Sambadrome … a huge stadium built just for that
purpose. However, it does double as a sports area for the high
school located adjacent to the site.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint
Sebastian, constructed between 1964 and 1979, is located near the
center of the city. The outside architectural style is based on that
of the
Mayan pyramids … a bit out of character for a Catholic
Cathedral, I thought; though it does fit with the character of the
area. Inside are four rectilinear stained glass windows soaring 210
feet from the floor to the ceiling. Down in front of the alter is
also a nice statue of
Saint Sebastian, patron saint of Rio de
Janeiro, with a basket available to add your prayer intentions. It was humbling to be able to add my petitions for those I have been
praying.
We traveled around some of the narrow,
winding streets in the most beautiful bohemian neighborhood of Saint
Teresa located on a hill with views of Rio and the bay. Dating back
to the 18th century when a Carmelite community built a
convent there, what was once a wealthy neighborhood is now home for
many artists, bars and restaurants and more middle-class residents.
It is still served by the oldest electric railway in Latin America,
trams that started in 1872.
We passed by the Selaron Steps, an
iconic flight of steps created by
Jorge Selaron. He started
collecting tiles from the streets of Rio, painted them and put them
on his home steps. Eventually the project grew as he received
donated tiles from all around the world, and the steps were enlarged
to go up to the next street. It was a very busy tourist day, so the
steps were totally full of people; therefore, foregoing any chance of
getting a picture of them. So the Internet picture will have to do!
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| Today on the steps! |
Lunch at
Mineiro's was simply
delicious. We shared the national dish of Feijoada. First Marcio
showed the proper way to place everything on your plate … rice,
followed by the bean stew, kale, a few bits generated from guava,
fresh pork rind, orange slices. And voila-lunch in Brazil After a
few more sites of the statues of some of the City's famous,
government buildings, parks, etc., we were dropped off at the harbor
to board our ship, the
Oceania Marina. The rest of the afternoon was
spent getting settled in. After eating an exceptional dinner at
Jacques specialty French restaurant, it was early to bed. Because I'm
not one to sleep at all on planes, it had been 40 hours without sleep
… we were exhausted! It's good to be on board again!
Friday … We slept in … late! The
ship is anchored off shore of Ilha Grande, an island that is largely
undeveloped. For almost a century it was closed by the Brazilian
government due to it first housing a leper colony and then a top
security prison. By the time the prison closed in 1994 the island's
pristine beaches and Atlantic tropical rain forest had remained
untouched. About 1900 people inhabited the sleepy fishing village
until the mid-1900s when the prison was destroyed and tourism began.
Restaurants and bars have popped up, but the island still remains
pristine and Brazil has protected the rain forest by making it a
park. Only 3 cars are allowed on the island … a garbage truck, the
fire engine and the police vehicle … so the only transportation
here is by foot or by boat. It's a foggy, somewhat rainy day, so we
opted to stay on ship to just chill out … enjoying the warmth and
scenery off our balcony, tea time in the afternoon, dinner in the
Grand Dining Room (another delicious meal), ending with champagne on
our deck compliments of Oceania with the moon peaking through
whenever the clouds part. God is good. We can never thank Him
enough!
Days 3 - 5: Saturday, Sunday &
Monday, January 24-26, 2026, Sao Paulo and Balneario Camboriu, Brazil
plus a sea day
Saturday: Today's stop is at Sao Paulo,
Brazil, the commercial heart of the country. Home to 17 million
people in over 3,000 square miles, it also boasts as the largest
coffee exporters in the world. Because it was one of the first
cities to encourage immigration, it has become a melting pot of
cultures. We are docked at a busy shipping terminal, but beyond that
one views the high rises of the city with the mountains as the
background. We were going to go into the city to shop but were
“warned” by others on board who had gone before us that there
really is nothing at the mall but people and the transportation to
and from is a bit complicated. So … another relaxing day aboard
ship. And the relaxation on the balcony isn't bad either! Tea time,
the Captain's Cocktail Celebration with free drinks, and “Brazil”
presented by the Marina Culinary Team for dinner tonight … all so
good! Finally, after a week of rushing across 2 continents, from MN to
Brazil, we get day off.
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| Only a portion of theBalneario Camboriu skyline |
Sunday: Today we're docked off shore
of the coastal city of Balneario Camboriu, Brazil. The backdrop
consists of steep hills/mountains, then comes the long line of very
tall, mostly white, skyscrapers, the “Atlantic Avenue” in front
of them and then the beautiful, three-mile sandy beach welcoming the
Atlantic Ocean. It's a beautiful sight! The Twin Yacht Towers are
the highest right now at 965 feet, but more are being built that plan
to be even taller! Because of the skyscrapers and many affluent
tourists, the city is often called the “Dubai of Brazil”.
Initially the meaning of the name of
the town was unknown, but now it is believed to mean “River filled
with Snook (Robalo)”, which is a very common type of fish in the
region. However, because “Camboniu” in Portuguese means a curve,
some have suggested it means a curve in the river/beaches. The
population is about 150,000 residents, though it swells to over a
million during the summer tourist season. Unique to the city is a
beach-to-beach cable car which leads from the main beach to the beach
of Laranjeiras. Very authentic 17-century pirate ships will take you
around the nooks and crannies of the coastline. And the city also
boasts of their own Christ statue ..
Christo Luz (Christ Light), only
15 feet shorter than Rio's Christ the Redeemer. This time Jesus is
holding what looks like a hat representing the sun. Within it are
bright colorful lights shining down on the city at night.
It's a gorgeous summer, 80-degree day
today. We tendered to the terminal, got a taxi to Igreja de Santa
Ines (Church of Saint Agnes) for 10 o'clock Mass. It is a round
building with the altar in the middle and seating for, I'm guessing
800-900, all around; the roof structured like a Mayan pyramid. We
arrived when the 8:30 Mass was about done … so full that people
were standing outside the building. The 10 o'clock Mass was no
different … seven masses said in the weekend. I thought our church
was upbeat … this one wins hands down! Children seemed to be a
priority as there were 20+ servers, plus many of the younger ones
were participating on the dais in front of the altar. The music and
congregation singing was exuberant! The taxi driver returned to pick
us up after Mass, dropped us back at the terminal where we did a
little shopping and then tendered back to the ship.
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| Saint Agness |
A malt for lunch and a bit of time
resting by the pool was followed by afternoon tea where we were
entertained by a string quartet. Dinner was so very scrumptious at
the on-board Steak house specialty restaurant called Polo … crab
cake, clam chowder, filet mignon and lobster tail, crème brulee,
fois gras and French onion soup… way too much to eat, but what do
you leave out????#&*@!!
Monday: We are at sea all day, sailing
south about 10 miles out from the SA coast … sunshine and a
perfect (maybe a little warm) temperature. We slept in a bit this
AM, then learned about the sea life we can expect to see the
remainder of the trip. Fascinating ... mostly whales and penguins …
with high expectations! This afternoon I'm busy being pampered with
a facial, then drooling over a presentation of beautiful gem jewelry
… way out of my price range, but they certainly are beautiful!
There was another presentation on sea birds that we missed and will
have to watch on TV. Tea time featured lovely music by a violinist
and pianist. Dinner, of course, was delicious as usual. Tomorrow we
set foot in another country … love this cruising!
Day 6: Tuesday, January 27, 20026,
Montevideo, Uruguay
It's another beautiful summer day in
Montevideo Uruguay, not Minnesota. After breakfast we headed to our
excursion bus to tour the highlights of Montevideo and learn about
this small country.
Montevideo is the capital city
housing over half of the country's population of 3.5 million people.
It has miles of ocean front beaches, parks and walkways. It seems
that every single street is enveloped with tall trees on either side
… very lush and beautiful. The Legislative Palace is impressive,
as is the Centenario Stadium of which citizens are very proud of and
is where soccer is played. Of course, our tour guide, Ricardo,
threw out the challenge that Uruguay will win the World Cup!!
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| Legislative Building, Montevideo, Uruguay |
After a revolution against Spain,
In 1830 the Constitution of Uruguay was formally adopted, making it
an independent country.
Their government is structured
similar to the US with a president elected every 5 years, the
candidate usually coming from the Senate. The house represents the
people. The percentage of voters is in the 90 percentile, probably
because they're penalized $20 tax if they do not vote! About 15% of
their income goes to socialized medical care, where there are no
cost facilities or private medical facilities, if one can afford
them. On top of that, overall taxes averages 20 percent.
The education system in Uruguay is
socialized elementary through college, though some private schools
do exist for those who can afford it. The school year runs from the
first of March to two days before Christmas. Their summer is our
winter.
Unemployment currently averages 8
percent, though unemployment among the young ranges upwards of 25
percent, mostly because of their use of drugs and being homeless.
Inflation is about 4%
Vehicles used in the country are
imported mostly from Brazil, though recently China supplied electric
cars and numbers are gaining. Uruguay has no oil of its own, so it
imports most of it from Africa; and gas at the pumps averages $8 a
gallon. Electric cars are making some inroads. About half of the
people in Montevideo use the bus system. The goal is to have all
electric buses in five years.
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A tribute to the Gouchos of Uruguay
La Carreta - The Ox Cart
by Jose Belloni |
Uruguay is mostly ranches. About
70 percent of their “meat” diet is beef, with their national
dish being beef BBQ. They grow a large variety of fruits and
vegetables. Major exports of the country are, of course beef, then
wood, oil seed, cereals, dairy, eggs and honey.
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Meat counter at the Farmers' Market
Montevideo |
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| Fruits and Vegetables counter |
We had an opportunity to do a little
shopping at the farmers' market and view their meat, vegetables and
bread shops. And finally we went to Matute Brewery which brews the
brand name Mist craft beer. We were given samples of four varieties
of beer plus a plate of delicious bruschetta with beef braised for 10
hours in Mist beer, Angus beef skewer, spiced peanuts (very
different, very tasty and some type of ice cream with red fruits,
passion fruit and mint! What a great finale to the tour.
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| Cheers! |
This evening's dinner on board was at
the Red Ginger Japanese Specialty Restaurant … always enjoyable;
always delicious! Have I ever mentioned that cruising is heavenly?!
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Spicy Duck and
Watermelon Salad |
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| Scallops as an appetizer |
Day 7: Wednesday, January 28, 2026,
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Early to rise to catch an 8:15 a.m.
excursion! The bus traveled through several Buenos Aires
neighborhoods on its way up to the city of Tigre. Tigre, meaning
tiger, though there are no tigers anywhere in South America! The
background of the name is the early European settlers saw many South
American panthers, which look a lot like a tiger and which are now
endangered; so they named the river, the town and everything else
around Tigre. After many years, it was realized the mistaken
identity of the panther, but it was too late and too complicated to
change the name of everything … hence Tigre remains the beloved
name! It is also home to the country's rowing sport. After soccer,
the Argentinians are also passionate about rowing and rugby
Tigre was once, and still is, a magnet
for the more well-to-do. This area is the delta of the Tigre River
which flows from Brazil; and this delta area serves many, many
tributaries and islands built up from the sediment flowing down the
River. The interesting tidbit was about the lifestyle of the 6,000
people who live on the various islands within the delta. The only
access to the homes is via boat, either their own or public boat
taxi; a medical boat, grocery boat, garbage boat circles the various
tributaries to provide services. There are no roads or cars on the
islands. Houses can range in value from $50,000 to $100,000, though
given the circumstances, the cost of living is higher than living on
the mainland. We embarked on a riverboat cruise which traversed 5
different tributaries of the Tigre River, through canals, many
forested islands, plus a huge variety of houses, a small church,
several elementary schools. It's a very leisurely lifestyle, though
not every resident is full time, as some are rental units and others
are only used as a get-away for the owners. Because the river is very
brown with sediment, other islands are still being “built”, so in
time there will be more islands on which to set up one's abode.
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| Our tour boat |
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| Typical house on an island |
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The grocery boat -- There's no potable water
on the islands; all drinking and cooking water
must be brought in by boat |
Argentina is said to have been the
richest country in the world from the 1890s through the 1930s. Since
Covid, the economy has been slowly improving. Medical care is
provided, unless one pays for insurance for private health care;
education elementary through college is provided, through private
schools are also available; Catholic is the predominate religion. The
southern portion of the country consists of vast areas of flat grass
land or
Pampas that is basically natural where the cattle and sheep
outnumber the gauchos. They also love their grass-fed beef served
with
Malbec wine; and because of the large immigration influx of
Italians, Italian cuisine adapted to the Argentine palate is also
very popular. Because of the large number of immigrants which came
in from all of the word in the 19
th and 20
th
centuries, the mixed, colorful cultures led many to refer to Buenos
Aires as the Paris of South America. Once again, every single
street, everywhere we went, were lined with mature trees, bringing
shade everywhere. Plus there was greenery on most balconies of
residential buildings. It certainly brings a high level of beauty to
the city.
Our final stop on the tour was to the
beautiful Cathedral of San Isidro (Saint Isidore). It is the tallest
church in Buenos Aires with a neo-Gothic clock tower soaring more
than 225 feet above the city. It was commissioned by a Spanish
captain in 1708 who admired Saint Isidore, known for his piety toward
the poor, the animals and as the patron saint of farmers. The outside
is beautiful, as is the inside; though inside is quite simple in both
design and decoration.
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| Cathedral San Isidro |
After a little souvenir shopping, an
empanada for lunch, it's back to the ship, ready for a nap! We were
told the Wave's cafe changed to a delicious pizzeria for dinner, so
we checked it out … they were right! Another enlightening day in
another country … God is so good!
Days 8, 9 and 10: Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, January 29, 30 and 31, 2026, At Sea
Thursday: I attended the presentation
on the fascinating animals that can be found in southern Argentina
and Chili as well as southern Ocean to Antarctica. Very
informative. Lunch, afternoon tea and another lecture on the
Falkland Islands, our next stop. I knew practically nothing about
them before … fascinating, Then Dinner in the Grand Dining Room we
shared with sisters from Maritime Provinces, Canada and a teacher
from New York. It's so interesting meeting people from so many
different countries and from all walks of life. Another benefit of
cruising! We also went to the high-energy performance of Marina
Production Company's “Headliners: The Story Behind the Music”
featuring hit songs by The Bee Gees, Cher, Tina Turner and more. I
enjoyed it … Bob not so much.
Friday: Another day of rest and
relaxation … more informative talks on Falkland critters galore,
birds of the Falklands and another one on Antarctica: “The Ultimate
Continent.” We enjoyed dinner with two other couples from
Vancouver, Canada, at the Toscana Specialty Italian restaurant …
Bob: *Codi Di Scampii (sauteed
shrimp,, cherry tomato sauce, lardo di colonnata)
*Risotto Ai Porcini (porcini mushroom
risotto, ricotta cream, fried basil)
*Costata Di Vittello Ai Funghi Porcini
(grilled bone-in milk-fed veal cho, sauteed porcini mushroom sauce)
*Tiramisu for dessert
Me: *Fritto Di Calamari (fied calamari,
tomato-pepperoncino aioli sauce)
to *Linguine Cioppino (linguine,,
lobster, littleneck clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, monkfish,
roasted cherry tomatoes)
*Filetto Di Manzo Alla Florentina
(filet mignon, melted gorgonzola crust, sauteed spinach,, red wine
reduction)
*Tortino Di Cioccolata Fondente
(molten dark chocolate cake, blood orange sauce for dessert)
We do so appreciate being waited on and
served such fine foods! (It is also nice to have the menu in front of
you when you are doing this blog!)
Saturday: I pampered myself with a
full-body message and facial … heavenly! Guess this is going to be
my birthday present, anniversary present and Christmas present for
the next few years all rolled up into one!!! (Bob agrees!)Then we
attended a mandatory teaching on what to do and not to do while in
the vicinity of Antarctica as regulated by the governing body of the
continent to keep everything pristine. Tea time is always relaxing,
dinner of grilled steak and shrimp, sitting in the lounge listening
to the lovely string quartet while they fix the heat in our room!
All is good
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| Tea time |
Day 11: Sunday, February 1, 2026, - The
Falkland Islands
As we head further south, the daylight
hours are getting longer … 15+ hours now; and the temperatures are
going down … in the high 50's today with lots of WIND on sea and on
the island! We tendered to Port Stanley … it seems to me the
longest and roughest tender we've ever had. And once there, the wind
never stopped, though the temperature did rise to where the wind was
no longer biting!
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| Port Stanlley, Falkland Islands |
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Christ Church Cathedral - Angelican Cathedral in
Stanley |
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Whalebone Arches made from two Blue Whale
jawbones, constructed in 1933 to commemorate
the 100 years of continuous British administration
in the Falklands |
The Falkland Islands consist of over
750 islands, 15 of which are inhabited. The first English
inhabitants came about 250 years ago, with the current population at
3,000 plus the UK military. Though there are also over a half
million sheep plus some cattle in addition to the almost one million
penguins that nest here during the summer months. There are no
indigenous trees on the islands. The main revenue of the residents
are fisheries, tourism and agriculture. There are different habitats
… grand beaches, coastal cliffs, mountains, rock runs, lowlands,
fresh water rivers, fresh water ponds and lakes … on the islands
to sustain a plethora of wildlife and domestic sheep. The total land
mass is about the size of the state of Connecticut.
The Islands are a self-governing
Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. They have their own levels
of government and make their own laws. Medical care and education
through college is provided without cost (except through their taxes,
of course). Those families that live on other islands are able to
have a traveling teacher come to their homes if they have 3 or or
more elementary age children. Once in high school, which goes to age
16, those students are housed in town for their schooling. College
options are all off the island, but still paid for by the government.
One of the issues of the islands has
been the influx of non indigenous critters, mostly mice, rabbits,
fox, left by the Europeans over the years that have had a negative
impact on the indigenous wildlife. The conservationists have been
working to eliminate them from some of the islands, with that work
continuing in earnest. The restoration of Tussac, a plant that binds
the soil and is a shelter to much for the smaller wildlife, is also
being reclaimed on many of the islands.
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| Memorial to those fallen in the Falkland war, 1982 |
Our tour consisted of a walk through
the Capitol city of Fort Stanley, its churches, schools, governmental
buildings, housing and a bit of history, especially the impact of the
April-June, 1982, war on the residents here when Argentina invaded
the islands in hopes of making them their own. As British citizens,
they were certainly afraid of what would happen to their way of life
if that invasion had succeeded. We visited a number of memorials but
unfortunately, we were unable to go through their museum or spend any
more time there. Our captain of the SS Marina truncated our visit and
called everyone back to the ship early because of the increasing
wind, creating a dangerous situation for the tenders to operate. So,
no, we didn't get to see the penguin colonies or any of the other
wildlife, though there were plenty of birds flying off shore as we
disembarked this evening.
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| The high school |
Dinner and a wonderful performance of
Tango Revue starring Latin Dance Duo Tango Cervila … the dance part
by me … not Bob! A bit of a disappointment about the wildlife we
missed, but we're assured the best is yet to come! I n this southern
Ocean our ship is also kind of doing a tango. We're expected to be at
the Antarctic Peninsula in a day and a half. More sea days ahead …
yeah!
Day 12 and 13: Monday and Tuesday,
February 2-3, 2026, At Sea, Cruising the Half Moon Island, Antarctica
Monday: The boat has been rather rocky
all night and all day … so most of us look like drunken sailors
walking down the hallways! Otherwise, it's been a rather uneventful
day … a couple lectures, lots of nap time, afternoon tea, and an
excellent dinner at the French Specialty Restaurant Jacques … our
second time there this trip but so many items to choose from. Had a
lovely time meeting a couple from Louisiana and two from the Overseas
Territory of the United Kingdom, Gibraltar … fascinating
conversations. We ended the evening with the entertainment of an
excellent comedian, Tom Briscoe. Never stopped laughing the entire
show. The boat is still rocking us to sleep, but not as bad as this
morning!
Tuesday: Considerably calmer seas
today. 36 degrees with gentle winds. Here we are … sighting the
Shetland Islands off the coast of Antarctica! Whales and chinstrap
penguins have been sighted early this morning as we make our way to
Half Moon Island.
Antarctica: “The Ultimate Continent”
(facts presented by lecturer Dr. Betsy Pincheira, researcher in
Antarctica for over 30 years). Why “Ultimate” continent?
It is the coldest continent in the
world … down to -136 degrees F
It is the highest continent in the
world … from the edges to the middle is a steady incline to the
mountain top of over 9,000 feet. Averaging the entire land mass
comes to 7,500 feet, the highest in the world.
It is the windiest in the world ..
up to 199 mph winds with nothing to stop them. Winds are generated
from the center mountains, coming down to the shore.
It is the driest continent in the
world … Surprisingly, Antarctica gets very, very little snow; and
what it does get just settles on the ground, and none of it melts.
The severe storms we've all seen in documentaries and movies is
simply the gushing wind stirring up the lose snow on the surface.
The continent is the most isolated
in the world. No other nation is within 1,000 miles of it.
There re no terrestrial animals
nor people indigenous to the continent. The only “living”
things are lichens, moss and snow algae, plus two grasses that grow
in the summer; so there is nothing to support animal or human life!
Antarctica consists of 1/10th
of the world's surface but holds 90 percent of the world's fresh
water … in the form of ice.
In the summer, Antarctica is about
5.4 million square miles; slightly larger than Europe. In the winter
it increases to about 20.4 million square miles larger than Asia,
due to the freezing ocean waters surrounding it.
The continent is governed by a
board represented by 58 countries around the world, 29 of them have
voting rights, 29 are nonvoting members. A treaty was drawn up in
1959 designating Antarctica for peace and science only.
Another interesting phenomenon is the
Polar front that surrounds the continent. It is a body of ocean
water that circles clockwise around and around the continent. At its
very outer edges where other oceans … the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian
Oceans … meet it, there is a clash and the other oceans bounce back
This creates the Antarctic Ocean controlling the weather in all of
South America and enables it to produce that which sustains all the
wildlife that is in and around Antarctica. It is during the six
months of day light each year that the krill is produced, the basic
food source for all wildlife. And wildlife is only here during the
summer months; none during the winter months.
As we are maneuvering around many
islands today, we notice they are short mountains, usually the result
of very ancient volcanoes, with many, many glaciers. Most have rocky
shorelines. Upon reaching Half Moon Island on the edge of the South
Shetland Islands, we see hundreds and hundreds of chinstrap penguins
and a couple of seals, though via the bridge camera on our stateroom
TV we could see the humpback whales and other chinstrap penguins in
the water, unfortunately for us, on the other side of the ship!
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| Chinstrap Penguins |
We then head south to Deception Island,
which we're told is one of the most important islands of Antarctica.
It was the headquarters for the whaling industry in the early 1900s
because the caldera is secluded and warm; though now, of course,
whaling is no longer permitted. At the southern end of the island is
a huge caldera, called the restless caldera because one of the edges
collapsed, allowing the Arctic Ocean to flow into it. The water in
the caldera remains warm because of the heat from the depths of the
volcano. The volcano has erupted in 1923, 1930, 1967, several in
1969, 1970, 1991 and 1992, some causing damage to the scientific
stations that were here at the time. There still is a Spanish
research station inside the caldera that is here three months each
summer. It is a very long island, and it was exciting to see so many
colonies of chinstrap penguins both up the hills and along the sand
bars, plus a few seals as well.
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Fur Seals
|
I apologize for the quality of the
pictures. My 50x zoom camera requires being absolutely still at that
distance for the best quality picture. Because of the rocking of the
ship and the relentless wind, it's been impossible for me to stay
still enough to get some great pictures .. but here's a few of the
best! Enjoy.
 |
| The beautiful colors of the volcanic rock |
Day 14: Wednesday, February 4, 2026,
Cruising Dallmar Bay, Sailing by Gamma Island to Estrecho Gerlache,
then to Paradise Bay, the Antarctic Peninsula
Approximately 20 hours of daylight; 36
degrees F, very calm, very sunny today … what we would call a balmy
winter day in Minnesota! It's about as good as it gets down here.
Penguins, penguins and more penguins:
No true penguin species can fly …in the air... they fly in the
water. They are marine birds that live only in the southern
hemisphere and are exclusively in the water, except once a year they
come on land to molt and to breed and raise their chicks. They have a
higher than average body temperature and very dense bones. Both the
male and female have the same physical features, so it is not
possible to tell the female from the male. There are about 18-20
species of penguins. In most species, both male and female share in
incubating the egg; however, the mortality rate can be from 40 to 80
percent of eggs laid. Once hatched, the mom will generally go out to
sea to find food for the youngster, taking 10-20 days to do so. After
that both parents alternate in rearing the youngster for anywhere
from 2-14 months, depending on the size of the species … the
Emperor penguins being the biggest at 4 ft. tall and weighing upwards
of 100 lbs.
So far we've only seen the chinstrap
penguins, named because it looks like they are wearing a black helmet
with a strap under its chin. They are cute little things, only about
2 feet tall and are the most plentiful breed on the Antarctic
Peninsula. They are the second largest number of penguins species
(The Adelie being the most populated), consisting of about one
quarter of the world's penguin population. They forage for food under
water, mostly krill, and can dive down to 230 feet below the surface.
They do swallow salt water with their intake of food, so they have a
special salt glad (a super orbital glad) at the top of their skull
near the eye which removes salt from their blood. That salt is then
excreted through their nostrils by sneezing or shaking their head.
This is typical of all penguins.
 |
| Humpback Whale |
Today there was a small group of
chinstrap penguins on an ice float very near the ship … so cute! We
also see quite a few humpback whales, though it's quite difficult to
actually get a good picture of them! But the scenery of the islands
and mainland is beautiful in its own right … jagged mountains about
2,000 feet high, all white with snow and flowing glaciers, glaciers
all along the edges of the mountains. Today there have been no
beaches, only those beautiful glaciers, big and small, and many ice
floats and a few ice bergs.
This afternoon we pass by the
Argentinian Research Center where a nice sized group of gentoo
penguins were on the hillside. Gentoos are the third largest member
of the penguin family after the emperor and king penguins … 30
inches tall, about 12 pounds with a life span of 15-20 years. They
are noticeable because of the dark hood on their heads with a white
patch above the eye. They are the fastest underwater swimmers of all
penguins, reaching up to 22 mph. They congregate into large breeding
colonies of up to 2,000 pairs, usually at the same area every year.
Gentoos are seasonally monogamous (as are most penguin species),
though some pairs remain together for life. The incubation of
generally two eggs takes 34-36 days, with the chicks ready to swim
out on their own after 80-100 days. Their first breed is typically
when they are 3-4 years old.
 |
| Gentoo Penguins |
During tea time this afternoon, a
school of Orca whales swam past the ship … the ship stopped to
allow them to pass by. It was so exciting to see so many at a time.
But a few minutes after we moved forward again, a half dozen or more
of the young Orcas decided to check out the ship and followed us for
a ways, flipping through the water … giving us quite a show, again!
Unfortunately, again, I didn't have my camera with me, so it's a
beautiful memory and story to tell! So here we spent the entire day
just leisurely gliding through the waters around the bottom of the
world, enjoying penguins, whales, birds and the gorgeous snow-covered
mountains and glaciers … how good is that??
Day 15, Thursday, February 5, 2026,
King Island, Admiralty Bay, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
 |
One of the many icebergs we've seen the
last couple days |
Yesterday the ship turned around and
has been sailing north all night to King George Island, entering
Admiralty Bay about 10:30 this morning. King George Island is the
largest of the South Shetland Islands and is the main hub of activity
in the Peninsula because it is only 600 miles from South America.
There are six national research bases around the bay … Poland,
Brazil, Russia, South Korea , Peru and Argentina. People from all
bases help each other out, share their research, share supplies where
needed … no political agenda here. Interesting that the Russian
base built a Russian Orthodox Church on site where a full-time priest
resides. Both snow and glaciers grace the mountains here; but unlike
yesterday's scenery of all snow, there is also a lot of bare rock.
And on that rock is green; yes, green moss and lichen. The reason for
the bare rock is the bay is more secluded and protected, so
temperatures and winds are warmer, causing more snow melt. Also, the
water is not as crystal blue as yesterday because the melting glacial
snow carries with it a lot of very fine silt, which then takes a lot
time to filter down to the bottom of the ocean.
 |
| Henryk Arctowski Polih Antarctic Station |
We then head south to Nelson Island,
another in the archipelago chain of the South Shetland Islands. This
island is also home to the bases of the Czech Republic, Chili,
Uruguay, China, and Argentina, with the USA, Netherlands, Germany and
Ecuador represented as well. It has a gravel air strip built by
Chili that is used by all nations to resupply their bases, and, of
course, bringing people in and out of the bases. Not all bases
operate year round, as all of the water here freezes over in the
winter and all the wildlife leaves. It is estimated there are about
4,800 researchers on all of Antarctica in the summer but only 1,200
during the winter. What I found fascinating was the amount of
amenities found on some of these bases … Chili's has a small
village that houses 150 civilians in the summer with a school, post
office, bank, etc. There are only 18 people at the base in the
winter. Others also have athletic and recreational halls, etc.
Shatters my perception of a hard life in the bitter cold!
 |
| One of the dozens and dozens and dozens of glaciers! |
 |
Compared to the size of our vessel, these Brazilian
researchers going back to their station looked about
the size of your fingernail! |
As we round the corner of the island
this afternoon, we are now heading north to Drake Passage and the
mainland of South America. So many countries are doing research here,
which includes microbiology, meteorology, biotechnology, climate
change, biodiversity, oceanography and geology. In 1969 Chili built a
meteorological center on Nelson Island. Information is collected via
satellite, analyzed and re-transmitted daily to all scientific
stations, ships and planes in the Peninsula area. There are two other
meteorological centers in all of Antarctica.
Reflections on Antarctica: It's a
place I wanted to go to but never dreamed I'd get here! I was
surprised at the mountainous islands and even along the mainland
where we were. We had so many speaker presentations from five
different experts about this area … I was so ignorant of the
geology, weather, ocean, wildlife. It's been quite an exciting and
enlightening education. I came to see penguins, unrealistically
expecting to see them everywhere! Of course, we have previously
learned that wildlife rarely fit our expectations. But the very
large populations of hundreds of different species that we did see
each day, the humpback whales outside our window seat during lunch
today, the orcas yesterday at afternoon tea were all very exciting.
The weather was very good … by
Minnesota standards! Actually, I was told by someone who had been
here five times before that our perfect day yesterday was the first
time she experienced such completely blue, sunny skies and calm,
windless seas! … 36 degrees both air and water temperatures, though
today it is over cast … the norm, I'm told! Plus, the vessel cannot
travel more than 10 mph through these waters … just perfect! The
Antarctic Circle is at 66.3 degrees; south latitude. We went down as
far as 65.2 degrees … so close, But I'm going to claim it anyway to
say we've been to both the Arctic and Antarctic Circles! Plus, we can
also claim having been to all seven continents … God is good!
Day16, Friday, February 6, 2026,
Cruising The Drake Passage
It's been a uneventful day … enjoying
bloody Mary's, lunch, afternoon tea with entertainment by TJ on the
piano, dinner. The weather is overcast, but getting warmer; the waves
are not extraordinarily high 4-5 ft. … just a bit of ship rocking
most, but not all, of the time. After catching up on everything, I'm
beginning to wish I had my sewing machine with me to start on the 6
quilts I'm going to be making this year!!!
Drake Passage is a 600-mile wide deep
waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans between Cape Horn
on the tip of South America to the South Shetland Islands and the
Antarctic peninsula. Its average depth is 11,000 feet, going as deep
as 16,000 feet near the northern and southern boundaries. This area
was very important as the trade route from the Atlantic ports to the
Pacific ports prior to the construction of the Panama Canal in 1914.
It was a rigorous and dangerous journey through the Drake Passage for
the ships of that day because of the icy and stormy conditions that
often arose. Today we're fortunate to be on a bigger vessel with
stabilizers to keep us from rolling over!
The disappointing news from the Captain
this noon was they are expecting bad weather in Ushuala, Argentina,
tomorrow; so in the interest of safety for all, we will NOT be
docking there but instead continuing on to the next scheduled port in
Chili on Sunday. But Ushuala is where we had booked an excursion to
get up close and personal with Magellan Penguins … a bit
frustrating though understanding we have no control over the weather!
And given the forecast, I'm taking a dramamine tonight… just in
case!
Day 17, Saturday, February 7, 2026,
Cruising Beagle Channel, Argentina to Chili, South America
 |
| Cruising Beagles Channel |
The ship was calm all night and into
this morning, though the waves in the Beagle Channel were pretty
rough. Towering on both sides of the ship are high, jagged mountains
with patches of snow … the southern end the Andes Mountains where
it meets the grasslands of the Patagonia. We are on the extreme tip
of South America between Argentina and Chili in the Tierra del Fuego
Archipelago on this 150-mile channel. This area can experience all
four seasons in one day and very strong winds during the summer
months, hence earning the name “Land of the Short Flag”.
Everything is very calm in the winter. Surprisingly, the area also
gets only about 16 inches of rain a summer and very little snow in
the winter. It is raining today.
Depending on whether we were bordering
Argentina or Chili, a pilot from that country is aboard ship, guiding
us through the channels. As we travel further west between the
rugged mountains and numerous islands, we begin to see two different
colors of the water in the channel. The creamy aqua color is water
coming from the falls off the mountains bringing with it huge amounts
of silt. As we get closer to a bay, it's clear to see where the silt
water is coming from! This relatively short area of the channel is
known as Glacier Alley of the Chilean Fjords that is home to five
beautiful tidewater glaciers, meaning the glaciers slowly slide down
the mountains into the channel. These glaciers come from the massive
Darwin Ice Field on largest island of the archipelago, Isla Grandea.
They were all very impressive, but the most unique and jaw dropping
was Espana Tidewater Glacier and Waterfall … simply stunning, with
a massive waterfall spewing from beneath the huge glacier, gushing
down to the water. We've never seen anything like it before!
 |
Notice the two different shades of the water in the channel.
The creamy one is from the waterfalls; the clear
one is the channel water.
|
 |
| Espana Tidewater Glacier and Waterfall |
The weather has turned from sunny this
morning to cloudy and misty by noon (when going past Glacier Alley)
to clear again in this afternoon, to cloudy and misty again this
evening. The winds are brisk and the channels are choppy, but our
vessel just keeps cruising along nicely! The zigzag route eventually
takes us out to the Pacific, then back to channels again, finally
entering the Strait of Magellan sometime in the night. So the day
was leisurely spent enjoying this gorgeous area of the world,
listening to a speaker educate us about all of this, a long leisurely
lunch with a couple from Seattle and another from Belgium, dinner and
drinks. How Blessed we are to experience His majestic creation!
Day 18, Sunday, February 8, 2026, Punta
Arenas, Chili
We have sailed up the Strait of
Magellan to dock at Punta Arenas. You may recall that the Strait,
which has been recognized as Chilean territory since 1881, was
discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520 while on an expedition to
find a westward route to the Spice Islands. The discovery of this
Strait saved considerable time for merchants as well as avoided the
treacherous waters navigating around Cape Horn and brought prosperity
to this town. However, the importance of the port of Punta Arenas
diminished after the opening of the Panama Canal, though it has
become more prosperous this century as it became the center of
Chile's international wool trade and was designated the capital of
the Chilean Antarctic Region.
Chili's southern most city of Punta
Arenas (Sand point) is a seaside town of about 140,000 residents
nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains where it meets the
grasslands of Patagonia. Sources of income include the raising of
cattle and lots and lots of sheep; mining of zinc, manganese,
methanol, etc.; fishing and tourism. Tourism has been a boon to the
town since the world has become interested in Antarctica, as both
Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, Argentina, have become the gateway to
Antarctica.
 |
| Ferdinand Magellan |
 |
| Magellanic Penguins |
It was a busy morning as we ventured
into town, admired the ornate statue of Ferdinand Magellan, climbed
110 steps to the overlook of the city and surrounding bay area,
attended Mass at the Cathedral of Punta Arenas (also called Sacred
Heart Cathedral), did a little shopping and then headed back to the
ship. Remember we were unable to take our excursion to walk with the
penguins in Ushuaia and all excursions to do the same here were full.
However, patience and persistence paid off! I was able to get a
seat on the excursion that headed to Magdalena Island, home to
anywhere from 6,000 to 9,000 Magellanic Penguins! The ride there was
about an hour and a half, an hour strolling along a designated path,
enjoying the cute preening, waddling and squawking penguins and
taking a hundred pictures, then an hour and a half back to the ship.
This was my ultimate goal of the cruise … and it did not
disappoint. I'm elated and so grateful for this opportunity. And
there was also the bonus when cruising both there and back of being
entertained by many dolphins, a couple seals and even a couple
albatrosses.
 |
Cathedral of Punta Arenas
|
The very social Magellanic Penguins
breed and raise their young on this island every year, then leave to
go north toward warmer climates in Peru and Colombia in the winter,
ultimately returning the following summer to begin the cycle again.
Unlike those species who migrate back to the Antarctic region, this
species digs deep holes down to 6 feet all over the island in which
to nest and lay two eggs. These hatch in about 4 days; and within
two to three months, the chicks have grown, molted, and regrown
feathers to be able to swim off to fend for themselves. And because
of the seclusion of the island, there are few predators; so the
success rate of chicks growing to full adulthood is very high. On
this island the penguins were generally dotted all over in small
groups of one, two or three. However, there was one huge group of
them all together down in one of the beach coves. We're told these
penguins only group together when they are molting and when they are
getting ready to swim north for the season. Magellanic Penguins
generally mate with the same partner year after year and can live up
to 25 years old. I was also surprised to see so very many seagulls
mulling around the island, squawking, finding their goodies all over
the grounds.
Overall, it's been an exceptionally
wonderful day. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude!
Days 19 and 20, Monday and Tuesday,
February 9 and 10, 2026, Meandering through the Chilean Fjords
The southern coast of Chili is covered
with a very large number of fjords and channels from Cape Horn to
Reloncavi Estuary. (We all know where that is.) The channels are
mostly used by vessels wanting to avoid the bad weather and rough
seas so often experienced on the south Pacific. But these very
unique, pristine fjords feature high, abrupt shores with a plethora
of mountain peaks, waterfalls and channels weaving around the
archipelago of islands creating an unspoiled beauty that's difficult
to describe. The fjords, which are the most extensive in the world,
have also served as a natural barrier to prevent north-
south land
travel in Chilean Patagonia. This area experiences a significant
amount of rainfall, mostly in the winter; but the channels rarely
freeze over in the winter. When they do, it's mostly the inner parts
of the fjords whose surface waters are mainly freshwater. The weather
during both days of cruising is not very cooperative … mostly
cloudy and misty with the sun occasionally peeking through, but the
waters are calm so the majesty of the area is not diminished! On
Tuesday we did venture away from the fjords into the Pacific. That
meant higher swells, also meaning a rolling ride during most of the
day; but the sunny sky, the vast deep blue sea and white puffy
scattered clouds warms the heart and brings joy to the soul.
Both days on board were very relaxing
with a few activities, the highlight on Monday being the private
Captain's cocktail, then dinner with a delightful couple from Canada.
Tuesday … the culinary demonstration by the head chef of the Marina
(entertaining and educational!) and beautifully decorated and
delicious cupcakes at afternoon tea. This is the very restful and
lazy life!
Day 21, Wednesday, February 11, 2026,
Puerto Chacabuco, Chile
 |
| Southern Andes Amountains, Patagonia |
Chacabuco is a small town of about
1,600 people nestled in a beautiful bay at the head of Aisen Fjord.
It's the main port of the region, and the livelihood of most here is
salmon fishing. Its also on the northern end of the Patagonian
region. This area gets a lot of rainfall all year round, so the flat
lands, hills and low mountains are lush with vegetation … so thick,
it seems to me, that you wouldn't even be able to walk through it!
The temperature reaches as high as 62 degrees F in the summer and as
low as 28 degrees F in the winter. Again, it is surprising that it
snows very little in this part of the country in the winter.
Our bus excursion took us on a scenic
drive across the beautiful, often snow covered, often sheer cliffs of
the Andes Mountains. There is only one road through this area to the
town of Coyhaique, and it winds around the mountain gorge of the
Simpson River. There are a few small farms of cattle or sheep
wherever there is a clearing; and since there has been several days
of rain recently, there were a number of lovely waterfalls racing
down the mountains to the river. Coyhaique, population of about
60,000, is the largest city in this region of Chile and serves as the
capital of both the Coyhaique Province and the Aysen Region. Settled
in 1929, it is 1,000 feet above sea level at the confluence of the
Simpson and Coyhaique rivers. It's a stunning location with snow
capped mountains surrounding the city and as well as a large plain of
farming land. Unlike the western side of the mountain range, this
area does get a lot of snow in the winter!
 |
| The City of Coyhaique nested in front of the mountains; farming in front |
 |
| Nalca |
A plant I found interesting is the very
giant rhubarb-type bush called nalca. The leaves are leathery and
3-5 ft wide and are used for cooking, as are the stalks. They make a
stew by first digging a hole in the ground, adding some very hot
stones, layering the nalca leaves over the stones, adding the meat
and vegetables for the stew, layering another nalca leaf and a cover,
and in 3-4 hours dinner is ready! We sampled some of the local
cuisine … both beef and cheese empanadas, a skewer of a variety of
bite-sized meats, a skewer of a variety of fresh fruits, a couple of
cracker-sized appetizers and … a pisco sour! Pisco sour is the
national drink of Peru, but apparently Chileans also love it, as I do
… a very strong limoncello taste. Mmmm … good! All in all, it was
another interesting and educational day, enjoying this gorgeous part
of the world, going to places less traveled by others, though it is
becoming a more popular place to explore!
 |
| McKay Hill on the edge of town |
Day 22, Thursday, February 12, 2026,
Castro, Chili
 |
| Note the mussel farm bouys in front of the shoreline |
It's a perfectly beautiful day today as
we are anchored in the bay adjacent to Castro, Chili, on the island
of Chiloe … 60 degrees F, sunny skies, the water as smooth as
glass. As the capital of the Province of Chiloe, Castro is the third
oldest city in Chili with a population of about 40,000 situated in a
bay surrounded by high hills of both trees and fields. Outside our
balcony we spot hundreds of bouys near the shoreline, which we later
found out were mussel farms. Fishing is is a major source of income
for thousands of fishermen, though they struggle against an
increasing industrial presence. Artisanal fishing represent almost
half of the fishing sector in Chili, and have for decades fished for
their families, passing down their skills to the next generation. It
has been an uphill battle for them because of the regulations,
licensing and quotas imposed upon them. Today the small-scale
fishermens' coveted and exclusive access to the coastline has shrunk
to within one nautical mile of the shore.
We tendered into the city, walked
UPHILL for about 6 blocks to the town square. It was cute that along
that uphill sidewalk were various wooden statues as well as wooden
benches on which to sit to catch your breath before climbing further!
On the Plaza de Armas town center is the beautiful 1912 Church of
San Francisco, also known as St. James Church. This wooden church, as
well as about 70 others around the area, was constructed in a
neo-Gothic style by Jesuit missionaries using the island's wood
craftsmanship. Constructed in the 17-19
th centuries, all
of these wooden churches were built on hills to be seen by the
navigators and to prevent flooding; and they were designed using the
indigenous community's relationship with the sea. Sixteen of these
wooden churches have been designated UNESCO sites, noting they are
“outstanding examples of the successful fusion of European and
indigenous cultural traditions” (UNESCO Internet site). The Church
of San Francisco was certainly unique with some beautiful statues.
 |
| Church of San Francisco |
Today the town was celebrating its
200
th birthday of returning to Chile from Peruvian
control. with a parade around the town center and talks by the local
authorities. And there were those representing the “gauchos”
(cowboys), in their traditional garb … spurs and all! Firefighters
and military were also impressive. We had lunch in town, did a little
browsing of the many craft stalls, then headed back to the ship.
Another great day immersed in Chilean culture and history! God is
good!
 |
| A couple of gauchos |
 |
| The firefighters |
Day 23, Friday, February 13, 2026,
Puerto Montt, Chile
The hours of daylight have dropped to
under14, but the temperatures are rising, up to 66 degrees F today.
The ship is anchored in a bay of Puerto Montt, a city of about
278,000 people. It was founded in 1853 after the German government
sponsored immigration to this area. It is well known because of the
rise of Chile becoming the second largest salmon producer in the
world during the 1990s and 2000s. Puerto Montt is the main port,
principal commercial and financial hub of the Chilean Northern
Patagonia – Zona Austral. Its economy is based on agriculture,
cattle, forestry in the surrounding islands and fishing, especially
salmon.
 |
| Volcano Osorno behind the city of Puerto Montt, Chili |
The Volcano Osorno dominates the
region's landscape. At 8,701 feet high, its snow-covered peak is a
beautiful backdrop for Puerto Montt. It is still considered an
active volcano, though the last eruption occurred in 1869.
 |
| Tenders |
After tendering into the terminal, we
walked the beautiful park all along the shore of the bay. While the
climate is a wet oceanic climate with heavy rainfall throughout the
year, we are experiencing one of the drying trends in the summer. On
average, temperatures stay below 77 degrees F year round, though it
does freeze a couple times during the winter months. There were
plenty of local craft booths set up all along the route, and we had
lunch in a cute little hole-in-the-wall restaurant … very friendly
servers trying to accommodate our lack of Spanish (me) or very
little (actually, Bob does remarkably well with it!), very good
cheese empanadas and sausage (actually … two large hot dogs!) and
fries. Pisco Sour was
 |
Flyers on the walls and ceiling of American-
made movies! Very unique. |
also on the menu, but I dared not indulge or
I'd never be able to walk all the way back to the terminal!! And
that's about it for meandering through small Chilean ports on the
western edge of Chili. What an interesting adventure it has been.
The Marina Production Company's evening
production of “Our World” was another beautiful performance …
“a theatrical celebration of music from around the globe, weaving
together melodies, rhythms and cultures that transcend borders”
(their description). What talent! It was very enjoyable. Afterwards
we applauded the entire staff of the ship (over 700 of them and a bit
over 800 of us guests) as they marched up to the stage … also so
fun as they lined the exits as we left, clapping and celebrating us
as guests! Another great day on board the Marina.
Days 24 and 25, Saturday and Sunday,
February 14 and 15, 2026, Sea Day and Santiago, Chili
Our day at sea was a beautiful
relaxing, uneventful day until the afternoon when it was time to
start packing to get the luggage out by 10 p.m. Time was spent
enjoying the warmth on our balcony, doing a few activities around the
boat and early to bed.
On Sunday the ship docked at the pier
in San Antonio, Chili, and we disembarked the Marina and boarded a
bus excursion with all of our luggage and 20 other people. The day
was spent along the beautiful Pacific coastline, ultimately making
our way to the Santiago airport by 6 p.m.
San Antonio is a large port city that
is known for little else. The manufacturer of all the shipping
containers used to be there, and the evidence of that was the
thousands of shipping container sitting on the docks and elsewhere.
The cruise ships used to dock at Valparaiso; but due to a dock
workers strike several years ago, it was decided that San Antonio is
more accommodating.
Our first stop is at a gorgeous
overview of the Pacific Ocean, Piedra Del Sol. It is said that the
Inca Indians either brought the stones there or just used what was
naturally there as a calendar telling them when it is time to plant
and harvest their fields. It was such a small area but with
absolutely stunning views!
Next, we drove to a higher elevation
outside the city to Laguna El Peral, a nature center overlooking a lake with a city on the hill across from it. This is summer and
everything is very dry, so the nature center didn't seem to be as
beautiful as I thought it would be. But some of the views were
interesting and a short walk along a tree-covered path was very nice.
Then we drove to Algarrobo. This
impressive, modern town boasts of the second largest swimming pool in
the world in the resort of San Alfonso del Mar. The 20-acre pool was
noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world
when it was built in 2006, but since 2015 Egypt claims that title
with a pool of 23.7 ares. The San Alfonso del Mar resort also has
1200 apartment units in a series of 14-story buildings, each unit
having views of the Pacific on one side and the city with the
mountains on the other. Very beautiful. After walking the beach
here to view the pool, we motored across town .. very heavy traffic,
resorts and shops on the ocean side, buildings and steep mountains on
the other … to the La Costeria restaurant. This little gem was on
the beach of a very busy bay with many sun worshipers and colorful
beach umbrellas, swimmers, surfers, a tourist boat and other private
sail boats, a gigantic rock to one side, a very long dock and lovely
sail boats on the deep blue water out in the open waters. Lunch
included a pisco sour and any other beverage you wanted, an appetizer
consisting of a tasty raw hamburger-type beef … I say tasty, though
it's a first for me for raw beef and I ate very little … and a good
beef stew over rice for the entree.
Next up, we meandered through wine
country … hundreds, maybe thousands, of acres of vineyards nestled
among the mountain slopes. Casablanca Valley boasts a large number of
wine cellars and boutique wineries. Wines from this area have been
receiving great reviews in recent years. We stopped at Bodegas Re
winery where we had a tour of their small-scale, long-time family
owned fermentation process. According to their Web site …
“Bodegas
RE offers a concept of wines of unique character, based on
REcreating, REinventing and REvealing ancestral wines from the
biblical RE latos to the wines produced in the past centuries by the
family, in noble and beautiful clay jars. This is how the wines of
ancestors are REborn and their craftsmen RElive; REcreating imagined
wines, REinventing dreamed wines and REvealing a beauty that can only
exist in RE wines. Wines of Beauty are Reborn.” (needless to say,
we are REpeating an advertising blurb)
Their
wines are first fermented in huge clay pots before being transferred
to wood barrels for aging. We had a sampling of both a white and a
red blend wine … very good … plus a little appetizer on the
table. It was a beautiful place.
From there we drove the almost 70
miles through the beautiful, lush valleys to the Santiago airport …
an often-frustrating time getting through everything (like most
airport experiences) but we're finally back in the States and now
enjoying being with family and friends in Florida before heading home
to the still cold and snowy Minnesota! It's been an incredible
journey, meandering through much of South America and Antarctica.
There are no words … it is something one really needs to
personally experience. We are so very, very Blessed!
