Day 28…Cruise to South America…Stats on the cruise…Engine room tour and photos…

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The two officers were clear and concise in explaining the functions and safety systems in the ship’s engine room.
“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”
Another exquisite view of Ushuaia from the veranda.

We’re often curious about several passengers on our cruises. With this back-to-back cruise as our 20th and 21st since January 3, 2013, we were especially interested in the fact we observed passengers from all over the world.

Multiple monitors are on display for the management of the ship’s engines.

Most passengers spoke English on our past cruises, consisting primarily of Americans, citizens of the UK, and Canadians. While sailing in the South Pacific from 2015 to 2017, the passengers included Australians, Americans, citizens of the UK, Canadians, and a mix of other countries and languages.

It was interesting to hear about the many systems in place for the operation of the ship.

Based on the fact that this cruise would primarily be sailing in South America, except for the embarkation from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it’s been an exciting mix of passengers from all over the world, more than we’ve seen on any past cruises.

This monitor shows the status of the ship’s stabilizers.

Based on these numbers we’re sharing today, over half the passengers have been English-speaking on each leg of the cruise. Why is this significant or worthy of mention? Indeed, from our perspective, by no means a result of any prejudice of any ethnicity.

There were dozens of pieces of equipment for the staff to monitor 24-hours a day.

However, many passengers choose to cruise for socialization as well as being able to visit many countries in one fell swoop. The more culturally diverse cruises may limit some of the social engagement.

On several occasions, we were seated at shared dining tables where we could not communicate with our table-mates, making it difficult for all of us. We feel bad that we don’t know their language and are unable to speak. 

Emergency buttons available had yet to be used by either officer.

Here are some stats provided to us by the Captain’s Club Hostess as to the breakdown of the languages spoken by passengers on both legs of this back-to-back cruise:

Cruise #1 – November 23, 2017 – Fort Lauderdale, FL to San Antonio, Chile:

  • Arabic – 2
  • Chinese – 4
  • Croatian – 2
  • Czech – 3
  • Danish – 29
  • Dutch – 89
  • English – 1514
  • Finish – 6
  • French – 44
  • German – 121
  • Greek – 3
  • Hebrew -13
  • Hungarian – 6
  • Italian – 5
  • Latvia – 2
  • Malay -1
  • Norwegian – 34
  • Portuguese – 45
  • Russian – 1
  • Slovene – 2
  • Spanish – 175
  • Sweden – 4
  • Turkish -1
  • Ukrainian -4
  • TOTAL – 2109

Cruise #2 – December 8, 2017 – San Antonio, Chile: to Buenos Aires, AR

  • Arabic – 2
  • Chinese – 11
  • Croatian – 2
  • Czech – 2
  • Danish – 1
  • Dutch – 33
  • English – 1257
  • Finish – 3
  • French – 54
  • German – 103
  • Greek – 3
  • Hebrew -82
  • Hungarian – 6
  • Italian – 3
  • Japanese – 10
  • Korean – 4
  • Malay – 4
  • Norwegian – 17
  • Portuguese – 139
  • Romanian – 2
  • Russian – 14
  • Slovene – 4
  • Spanish – 368
  • Sweden – 4
  • Turkish – 22
  • Unknown – 1
  • TOTAL – 2193

Last week we were invited to participate in a tour of the ship’s engine room. Various tours are offered at no charge for Captain’s Club members, while other tours, such as the galley, require a payment. Without a needed expense, we decided we’d be happy to attend.

Although we anticipate the engine room staff may be tired of doing such tours, their courteous and knowledgeable manner made it appear that this was their first time.

Another workstation.

They eagerly answered questions and allowed photos of the equipment and computer monitors as they explained how it all works. Overall, it proved to be attractive to both of us, and thus, we wanted to share some of these photos here today.

Me and one of the two officers who conducted the presentation.

Today, the ship is anchored in the bay at Punta Del Este, Uruguay, with the lifeboats being used as tenders to take passengers ashore. With only a small population and few sites to see, we’ve decided to stay on board. 

In researching this small town, the highlights include shopping for local handicrafts and a few photo ops, a lighthouse, and a hand sculpture on the beach. Tomorrow, we’ll be arriving in Montevideo, Uruguay, where we’ll be heading ashore and sharing photos on Friday.
Tom and the second officer in command.

On Saturday, we’ll post our final expenses (including cruise fare) for this back-to-back cruise, including our total bills for both legs in the journey.

Have a lovely day and be well.

Photo from one year ago today, December 20, 2016:

Entrance statue to Binalong Bay in Tasmania.  Click here for details.  For more photos from the year-ago post, please click here.

Day 24…Cruise to South America…Cape Horn…The End of the World…How exciting!…Ushuaia…

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This rock formation connotes where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet at Cape Horn.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

Evening photo last night. The sun didn’t fully set until almost 11:00 pm.

It was only around 6:00 am that we were situated in Cafe al Bacio. The ship is humming with announcements over the loudspeaker, with the passengers’ enthusiasm palpable as we sail from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean via Cape Horn, South America.

Tom said he was nearly blown away by high winds when he took this photo early this morning as we approached Cape Horn.

It’s hard to believe we are currently in Cape Horn that explorers discovered long ago, uninhabited weather-dominated acclaimed “end of the world,” known as the last visible landmass, before reaching Antarctica.

Rock formations at Cape Horn.

This is of particular interest to us based on the fact that we’ll be heading to Antarctica in a mere 38 days. Taking this specific cruise before the upcoming cruise has proven highly beneficial to our understanding and appreciation for this remote part of the world.

Here is a map of this area from this site:

Map of the most southerly tip of South America, Cape Horn, where we’re currently sailing.

 From this site, more on Cape Horn:

“Cape Horn (Spanish: Cabo de Hornos) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramírez Islands), Cape Horn marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage and marks where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.

Cape Horn was discovered and first rounded by the Dutchman Willem Schouten, who named it Kaap Hoorn after the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands. For decades, Cape Horn was a significant milestone on the clipper route, by which sailing ships carried trade around the world. The waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs; these dangers have made it notorious as a sailors’ graveyard.

Sailing around the Horn is widely regarded as one of the significant challenges in yachting. The need for ships to round Cape Horn was significantly reduced by the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Thus a few recreational sailors continue to sail this route, sometimes as part of a circumnavigation of the globe. Almost all of these choose routes through the channels to the north of the Cape. (Many take a detour through the islands and anchor to wait for fair weather to visit Horn Island or sail around it to replicate a rounding of this historic point). Several major ocean yacht races, notably the Volvo Ocean Race, the VELUX 5 Oceans, and the Vendée Globe, sail around the world via the Horn. Speed records for round-the-world sailing are recognized for following this route.

Many rock formations are named, but with the slow Wi-Fi right now, we’re unable to do much research.

Cape Horn is located on Isla Hornos in the Hermite Islands group, at the southern end of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.  It marks the north edge of the Drake Passage, the strait between South America and Antarctica. It is located in Cabo de Hornos National Park.

Cape Horn is the southern limit of the range of the Magellanic penguin. The cape lies within Chilean territorial waters, and the Chilean Navy maintains a station on Hoorn Island, consisting of a residence, utility building, chapel, and lighthouse.  A short distance from the central station is a memorial, including a large sculpture made by Chilean sculptor José Balcells featuring the silhouette of an albatross, in remembrance of the sailors who died while attempting to “round the Horn.” It was erected in 1992 through the initiative of the Chilean Section of the Cape Horn Captains Brotherhood.[ The terrain is entirely treeless, although quite lush owing to frequent precipitation.
Two lighthouses are located near or in Cape Horn. The one located in the Chilean Navy Station is the more accessible and visited and is commonly referred to as the Cape Horn lighthouse. However, the Chilean Navy station, including the lighthouse (ARLS CHI-030, 55°57′48.5″S 67°13′14.2″W) and the memorial, are not located on Cape Horn (which is difficult to access either by land or sea), but on another land point about one-mile east-northeast.
Views of Cape Horn from the ship’s bow.
On Cape Horn proper is a smaller 4-meter (13-foot) fiberglass light tower, with a focal plane of 40 meters (130 feet) and a range of about 21 kilometers (13 miles). This is the authentic Cape Horn lighthouse (ARLS CHI-006, 55°58′38.3″S 67°15′45.5″W), and as such the world’s southernmost traditional lighthouse.  A few minor aids to navigation are located farther south, including one in the Diego Ramírez Islands and several in Antarctica.
The climate in the region is generally cool, owing to the southern latitude. There are no weather stations in the islands, including Cape Horn, but a study in 1882–1883 found an annual rainfall of 1,357 millimeters (53.4 inches), with an average annual temperature of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F). Winds were reported to average 30 kilometers per hour (8.33 m/s; 18.64 mph), (5 Bf), with squalls of over 100 kilometers per hour (27.78 m/s; 62.14 mph), (10 Bf) occurring in all seasons. There are 278 days of rainfall (70 days snow) and 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) of annual rainfall.

Cloud coverage is generally extensive, with averages from 5.2 eighths in May and July to 6.4 eighths in December and January.  Precipitation is high throughout the year: the weather station on the nearby Diego Ramirez Islands, 109 kilometers (68 mi) south-west in the Drake Passage, shows the greatest rainfall in March, averaging 137.4 millimeters (5.41 in); while October, which has the least rainfall, still averages 93.7 millimeters (3.69 in). Wind conditions are generally severe, particularly in winter. In summer, the wind at Cape Horn is gale force up to 5% of the time, with generally good visibility; however, in winter, gale-force winds occur up to 30% of the time, often with poor visibility.

Ship in the area heading further south to Antarctica.

Many stories are told of hazardous journeys “around the Horn,” most describing fierce storms. Charles Darwin wrote: “One sight of such a coast is enough to make a landsman dream for a week about shipwrecks, peril, and death.”

We had planned to post the story of yesterday’s visit to Ushuaia but based on today’s sailing to Cape Horn. We decided to postpone it until tomorrow, which will be a sea day. We’re excited to share the photos from Ushuaia as well.

Cape Horn is not one single spot.  It’s a series of islands and rock formations.

Last night, at the Captain’s Club party from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, we thoroughly enjoyed the company of another new couple. We continue to enjoy meeting travelers from all over the world on this cruise, especially during the relaxed and easy environment of the Captain’s Club.

I took a break from the group at around 6:30. At the same time, management staff from the specialty restaurants stopped by to ask me to meet the chef from two of the specialty restaurants where we’ll be dining over the next few days, subsequently preparing stories here with photos of the memorable dining experiences.

Albatross statue at the top of a hill in Cape Horn by Jose Balcells as a memorial to sailors who lost their lives at Cabo de Homes, Cape Horn Chili.

At dinner, we sat at a round table for 10, again meeting more passengers we’d yet to meet. Later, several of us danced at the silent disco party in the area of the solarium pool.  It was cold in that area, and we both had to bundle up to stay warm, even with our rambunctious dancing to the music.

Today, we’ll need a nap. We’re both a bit sluggish after getting to bed at midnight and arising by 5:00 am. Tomorrow, we’ll be back with our fabulous photos of Ushuaia, one of the most exciting towns we’ve visited during this 30-night cruise, which ends one week from today.

Lighthouse in Cape Horn.  For this Cape Horn lighthouse fable, please click here.

May those of you who celebrate enjoy holiday festivities safely and with much merriment.

  Photo from one year ago today, December 16, 2016:

Fran and Terry hosted our evening ou at a local cafe. During our evening, we met other locals in Penguin Tasmania. For more details, please click here.

Day 23…Cruise to South America…Pantagonia…The Straits!!!…Today, we’re officially at the city known as the “End of the World,” Ushuaia, Argentina.

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Map of where we’ve traveled over these past many days in the Chilean and Magellan Straits.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

Note the snow-covered pointed peak

Of course, we were disappointed to be unable to post the stunning photos we’ve taken in this remote part of the world. Since we’re far from satellites, the signal is so weak. We can barely write the post, let alone post photos.

Snow-covered mountains left us all in awe of the scenes before our eyes.

After considering several “workarounds,” we’re now able to post with photos and have since gone back to yesterday’s post, adding the images we’d earmarked for that post.

Now, at almost 1:00 pm Friday, December 15th, we’re back in business and able to post correctly. It’s a huge relief! We were both concerned and frustrated being unable to complete the posts, not only for the disappointment in being unable to stay in touch with all of our readers but also for the fact we’d get behind with backlogged photos and stories.

We imagined how exciting it would be to be on a small boat maneuvering through the fiords.

As of today, we’ll be caught up. Early this morning, we disembarked the ship to visit one of the most exciting ports of call during this cruise, Ushuaia, Argentina. Knowing we’ll be returning to Ushuaia in 39 days to board the Antarctica cruise made being here today all the more exciting.

The fiords create their own weather system, which was constantly changing.

Tomorrow, we’ll share the Ushuaia photos. Still, today, we feel it’s important to share the pictures and story of the great passage we made through the Chilean and Magellan Straits, one of the most memorable scenery experiences in our five years of world travel.

With the utmost awe and wonder, for days, our eyes were constantly peeled out the windows and decks (albeit in bitter cold), taking in every fantastic scene of the remote and untarnished area of the world, Patagonia, as shown in the above map.

A patch of blue sky at a distance.

There was no port of call stops. There were no shops, no restaurants, and no trinkets to buy. There was only the finite remoteness of a land we can only imagine, as neither of us had ever witnessed anywhere in the world.

Many of the rock formations have a grayish cast.

I feel breathless in attempting to describe this lonely place near the “end of the world” where one snow-covered mountain and glacier after another caught or attention, leaving us in a state of utter wonder over the magic of the world around us.

We sailed over hundreds of miles (KM) through the Chilean Fiords and The Strait(s) of Magellan.  The views are breathtaking!

Our photos cannot do it justice. How does one take a fascinating image of a glacier or mountain when “up close and personal” as we were hour after hour? We sailed through it all morning until dark which didn’t come until almost 11:00 pm each night.

Each snow-covered mountain is more beautiful than the next.  Photos don’t do it justice.

A few photos we previously posted of the two of us were indeed taken outdoors around 10:00 pm. The air is cold and fresh. We saw no evidence of human intervention, no trash, no debris, no remnants of human life in any form.  

Gorgeous glaciers.

We observed a variety of seabirds, but there was little visible wildlife. However, we anticipated hidden within the rugged terrain, therein may live a vast array of wildlife we may never see.

We’d heard snippets of the Chilean Fiords and the Strait of Magellan. Also, we’ve seen similar settings in other parts of the world, for example, the “sounds” in New Zealand. We’ve anticipated the Norwegian fiords and others. But, no way can we conceive of those being more shocked than that which our eye beheld over these past days at sea.

A glacier in the straits.

Thus, dear readers, with a bit of trepidation, we share today’s photos, knowing full well that there’s no way our amateur photos can depict what our eyes beheld. Know that…within our heartfelt words expressed here…it was astounding. We’ll never forget.

This photo was taken through the glass window in the dining room resulting in the blue tint.

In a mere eight days, we’ll disembark this ship, the Celebrity Infinity, for a month in Buenos Aires, a vast difference from our time aboard the ship, but surely we’ll enjoy it in an entirely different manner.

Be well.  Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, December 15, 2016:

This pretty horse caught our attention as we drove through the countryside in Penguin, Tasmania. For more photos, please click here.

Day 20…Cruise to South America…Part 2, Puerto Montt, Chile…What’s going on at sea these days?

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The giant Sentados Frente del Mar statue is often criticized for its unattractiveness. We found it to be humorous and charming. Note the size of the statue by comparing me standing at her feet.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

A snow-covered mountain view from the veranda while in Puerto Montt.

With only 11 days remaining until the cruise ends on December 23rd, Tom’s birthday, we continue to find ourselves with stories and photos backed up. Of all of our 21 past cruises in our over five years of world travel, we’ve yet to have so much to share.

Santuario Santa Maria del Mar.

In part, it may be due to the fact that we’ve taken an even greater interest in ports of call with an increased passion for learning more and more as time marches on.

Side view of the tiny church.

Many of the ports of call and areas we’re seeing on this cruise are new to us and although we’ll definitely plan to return to South American no later than 2020, we’re fascinated with this complex continent. 

The tiny church appeared to be able to seat about 16 parishioners.

As we mentioned in the past, spending part of a day in a port of call by no means provides us with any degree of knowledge compared to our experiences of “living” in a country for two to three months.

Stained glass window.
But, for many travelers, these one-day experiences give them somewhat of the flavor of the country as they scramble to see as much as possible in a four or five-hour tour, whether “ship sponsored” or on their own.
The mysterious “all-seeing eye” is often found in churches throughout the world.
There are certain hazards in visiting ports of call, especially for seniors (or others) with medical conditions. In rough seas, a few days ago in Puerto Montt, we heard that three seniors suffered heart attacks while on the tenders. 
“Osorno Volcano is a 2,652-metre (8,701 ft) tall conical stratovolcano lying between Osorno Province and Llanquihue Province, in Los Lagos Region of Chile. It stands on the southeastern shore of Llanquihue Lake and also towers over Todos Los Santos Lake. Osorno is known worldwide as a symbol of the local landscape, and is noted for its similar appearance to Mount Fuji.”
Another was injured when seats on the lifeboat in which they were riding, broke loose during rough seas slamming against a passenger’s legs. Of course, this is hearsay since the ship’s staff doesn’t share information about illness and injury to passengers. 
A Black-faced Ibis.
Sometimes, what we may “hear” is fact and at other times may purely be based on the human phenomenon to embellish a story when it’s passed on from one person to another. 
Harbor view.
We know how dangerous rough seas can be and for the less experienced passenger, being in a lifeboat in outrageously choppy seas could easily elicit sufficient stress to exacerbate an already existing medical condition.
View of our ship, Celebrity Infinity, in the harbor in Puerto Montt.
As we’ve navigated through the Chilean Fiords over these past few days, (photos coming tomorrow) the seas have been rough at times, swaying our ship to and fro. 
Flowers blooming on the grounds of the church.
The Chilean Fiords are used by ships when attempting to avoid the rough seas and bad weather often experienced when passing from the Pacific Ocean from the western end of the Strait of Magellan. Tomorrow, we’ll be writing more on this part of our itinerary including photos and a map of our location.
Today, another day at sea we’ll continue as we have over the past several days, enjoying the pleasant company of many other travelers, reveling in their stories, as well as sharing our own.
Pretty flowers at the tiny church.
Yesterday, we met a fabulous couple, Vicki and Ray, with whom we spent the entire afternoon in Cafe al Bacio.  We shared many hilarious and entertaining stories of our mutual experiences in awe of how diverse their adventures were as well.
At dinner with shared a table with two couples, one from Germany, who is on a one-year world travel adventure. Much younger than us, it was exciting to hear of their often frightening and risk-taking treks in many areas of the world.
Views of Puerto Montt from atop a hill.
Another couple at the table, Linda and Leo, are now living in Florida, also have had extensive travel experience and it was fun to hear their stories. The two hours at the dinner table passed quickly and by 9:30 pm we headed back to our cabin. 
The lighted cross atop Tenglo Island as our ship sailed away after dusk.
Tom’s cold was still present and an early night’s rest was definitely on the agenda. So far, I’m yet to suffer any symptoms that he’s passed it on to me.  My fingers remain crossed that miraculously I’ve been spared. But, Tom doesn’t complain and without a fever or a cough, he’s been able to continue to participate in our usual routine.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more. May you have an outstanding day!
Photo from one year ago today, December 12, 2016:
We run outside each time we see the Tas Rail train coming, hoping it’s the one with the Christmas lights. For more photos, please click here.

Day 19…Cruise to South America…Part 1, Puerto Montt, Chile…What’s going on at sea these days?

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Shoreline view from high atop the city.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

View from the veranda as we approached Puerto Montt, Chile.

Last night at dinner, one of our tablemates asked, “Aren’t you bored with traveling and all the hassle that goes with it?”

Tom and I looked at each other, our eyes twinkling with that “knowing sense” couples acquire after years together, and responded simultaneously, “Not at all.” I chimed in with “It’s more exciting now than it was years ago.” Tom agreed.

City street in Puerto Montt, Chile.

Anyone with a permanent home could be asked a similar question, “Aren’t you bored with your home and all the hassle that goes with it?” It’s all about what we do with our time and our ability to glean the most from our day-to-day lives.

Christmas decor shop.

How we spend our days and nights becomes the essence of the quality of our lives. As continuous world travelers, we have the same opportunity to make life meaningful and fulfilling as do those who don’t travel at all, or who do so to a lesser degree.

We feel the challenges that arise for everyone each day. For example, Tom’s been fighting a cold for days that finally manifested into a full-blown case of the snivels with a tickle in his throat. I’m usually the one who “catches” a bug on a cruise, not Tom. 

There was some type of protest in the city regarding dogs.

I’m good so far. It’s been four days since the onset of his symptoms and I’ve yet to experience any symptoms so I’m hopeful it may bypass me this time. Realistically, I’ll most likely get it from our close quarters in the cabin and our incessant handholding while walking.

Graffiti on a wall in the city.

(At times, I wonder if our handholding is out of Tom’s desire and concern to steer me along and not dawdle while we walk or simply a sweet form of affection we both relish. But, who’s to question this pleasurable habit we’ve developed over the years?) I prefer the later, romantic that I am.

Yesterday, we went ashore to the town on Puerto Montt, Chile  Here’s some information about the port city:

Puerto Montt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Puerto Montt
Meli Pulli
City and Commune
Nocturnal view.
Nocturnal view.
Flag of Puerto Montt
Flag
Coat of arms of Puerto Montt
Coat of arms
Location of the Puerto Montt commune in Los Lagos Region
Location of the Puerto Montt commune in Los Lagos Region

Puerto Montt is located in Chile

Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt

Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 41°28′S 72°56′WCoordinates: 41°28′S 72°56′W
Country Chile
Region Los Lagos
Province Llanquihue
Founded as Melipulli
Founded 12 February 1853
Government[1]
 • Type Municipality
 • Alcalde Gervoy Paredes Rojas (PS)
Area[2]
 • Total 1,673.0 km2 (645.9 sq mi)
Elevation 14 m (46 ft)
Population (2012 Census)[3]
 • Total 218,858
 • Density 130/km2 (340/sq mi)
 • Urban 192,473
 • Rural 26,385
Demonym(s) Puertomontino -a or
Melipullian
Sex[3]
 • Men 107,748
 • Women 111,110
Time zone CLT (UTC−4)
 • Summer (DST) CLST (UTC−3)
Postal code 5480000
Area code(s) 56 + 65
Climate Cfb
Website Official website (in Spanish)
“Puerto Montt is a port city and commune in southern Chile, located at the northern end of the Reloncaví Sound in the Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Region, 1,055 km to the south of the capital, Santiago. The commune spans an area of 1,673 km2 (646 sq mi) and had a population of 175,938 in 2002. It is bounded by the communes of Puerto Varas to the north, Cochamó to the east and southeast, Calbuco to the southwest and Maullín and Los Muermos to the west.
Founded as late as 1853 during the German colonization of southern Chile, Puerto Montt soon outgrew older neighboring cities due to its strategic position at the southern end of the Chilean Central Valley being a gateway city into the Chiloé Archipelago, Llanquihue and Nahuel Huapi lakes and Western Patagonia.
Puerto Montt has gained renown and grown significantly due to the rise in Chile as the second largest salmon producer of the world during the 1990s and 2000s. However, the Chilean salmon aquaculture crisis of the late 2000s resulted at least temporarily in severe unemployment and exposed weaknesses in the local economy. The city’s cultural heritage mixes elements of Chiloé culture with German heritage although the city has attracted a significant number of newcomers from all over Chile in the last 30 years due to employment opportunities.”

______________________________________

Many passengers had booked pricey tours to various scenic locations but our determination to avoid expensive and crowded ship sponsored tours often spending hours sitting on the bus, we decided, as usual, to take off on our own. 

After a ride on the lifeboats used as “tenders,” we landed at the pier taking off on foot to assess the situation and decide what we’d like to do. Would we walk through the town or take a taxi for a tour of the highlights? 

The answer to this was predicated on how close we were to the action in town. After walking a few hundred meters it was evident we’d need to take a taxi in order to see what Puerto Montt had to offer.

It was a cool sunny day perfect for sightseeing.

Many of the taxis waiting to take passengers on tours were old and rundown,n but we didn’t mind a bit, except that the seat belts didn’t work. Our taxi driver George assured us he’d drive safely. Rarely, would we agree to ride in a vehicle without seatbelts but we threw caution to the wind and took off.

George drove to a high spot in the city for panoramic views.

George agreed to take us around the city for two hours at a fee of US $45. Feeling this was a fair rate, we didn’t negotiate. After all, George has to make a living. If we feel a “fare is fair” we pay what is asked. If not, we’ll negotiate.

In his older vehicle he’d use plenty of fuel in two hours and this rate was fine with us, as compared to three or four times the cost for a pre-arranged similar tour through the ship or other tour providers. We didn’t hesitate to add a tip at the end of the tour. He’d done a nice job. 

View from the tender as we approached the port exit.

Much to our delight, our experience in speaking a little Spanish after 113 days in Costa Rica, was helpful in explaining what we were hoping to see. We’d done some research in advance and were able to convey this to non-English speaking George.

We could see our ship at a distance.

The time passed quickly as he took us to our suggested and his favorite spots allowing us to take many photos.  Once we returned to the ship that stayed in the harbor for several more hours, we could get some great shots of the city before sail away around 9:00 pm.

With Tom’s looming cold, we decided another early night was in order and by 10:00 pm, we headed to our cabin.  I awoke at 2:00 am and didn’t fall back to sleep until around 4:30, getting in two more hours, much to my relief. 

Expansive view of the city of Puerto Montt.

Tom coughed off and on during the night awakening to a non-stop runny nose.  We decided not to head to the dining room and risk infecting others. Tom headed to the Oceanview Cafe for poached eggs and bacon while I held our seats in Cafe al Bacio. 

A building with a turret on the roof.

Today’s a sea day and all the seats could be taken if I didn’t hold our usual table for four, leaving two seats free should any passengers ask us to share which we’re always happy to do. Most days, others join us for more lively conversation while I whittle away at the day’s post hoping to upload it before too late.

Blue sky with fluffy white clouds at an overlook area.  

Tonight is dress-up night, referred to as “evening chic” which used to be described as “formal.” Still, many women wear evening gowns and men wear tuxedos and suits. We opted for what we may call “casual dressy” with no such clothing on hand,  which is definitely an oxymoron, but you know what we mean.

Tom wears one of his new long sleeved dress shirts with black pants and I’ll dress up an otherwise more casual outfit with a scarf, my one pair of high heeled shoes and some costume jewelry. 

A  closer view of the above shoreline.

Right now, it’s so cold on the ship (and outdoors) that I wonder what I’ll wear tonight should Tom feel well enough to go to the Captain’s Club party from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and then off to dinner in the formal dining room. We’ll see how it rolls out.

Be well and be happy!

Photo from one year ago today, December 11, 2016:

During his performance in the annual Christmas musical in Penguin, Tasmania, Terry, our dear friend and landlord. He’d learned to play a sax a few weeks earlier! For more photos and details, please click here.

Day 18…Cruise to South America…Part 2…Arica, Chile…The cruise continues…An amazing coincidence!

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Adult and baby pelicans atop a fishing net.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

A scene of Arica, Chile, from the veranda.

Last night at the nightly Captain’s Club party, we had an opportunity to meet several passengers, engaging in exciting conversation as usual. Toward the end of the two-hour party, we stumbled upon a woman that sent us reeling in awe of the coincidence.

Boulevard scene in Arica, Chile.

Here we are sailing around part of the South America continent, and we met Marjorie. She lives in a town nearby us (in our old lives) and attends the same church we attended in Victoria, Minnesota, many moons ago. 

Arica is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Father Bob, who is still pastor at St. Victoria, married Tom and me one year after our civil ceremony after we’d had our former marriages annulled. Oh, my, what a coincidence!

Dining in the open mall area.

Marjorie shopped at the same markets where we shopped, bought her eggs and chickens from the same farmers in the area. We were shocked by the opportunity to meet Marjorie. Of course, she’ll say hello to Father Bob for us.

It was pleasant walking through the attractive town.

After our enthusiastic conversation in the Constellation Lounge, we invited Marjorie to join us for dinner in the main dining room, the Trellis Restaurant. She had planned to meet up with her sister and brother-in-law in San Antonio (the second embarkation point on this cruise), and due to bad weather in the US, they missed embarkation day.

Arica is a famous tourist town.

Instead, they had to fly to today’s port of call, Puerto Montt, to catch the cruise while it’s in port for approximately 10 hours. That could certainly be a stressful situation that occurs when passengers go on private tours and don’t get back to the ship in time for its sail away at the end of the day. We hope it all works out for them.

Walk-up McDonald’s restaurant attracted quite a crowd.

After dinner ended, it was almost 10:00 pm, and we decided to head back to the cabin for an early night’s rest.  Neither of us has slept well on the cruise, and we are both exhausted.

An old locomotive on display at Colon Park.

After another fitful night’s sleep, with both of us awakening every few hours, we’re still a bit sluggish today, hoping to take a 20-minute nap later in the day. We’re planning to get off the ship today after we upload the post to visit the town of Puerto Montt, which supposedly has some interesting history.

A colorful fishing boat.

Most likely, we’ll get on a tender by noon, spending the bulk of the afternoon in town taking photos on yet another cool and cloudy day. Much to our surprise, it has been cold during most of this cruise. 

More colorful fishing boats in the harbor.

We’d imagined South America would be hot during the time of year but were we ever wrong.  Although not outrageously cold, Temperatures have been in the 50’s and 60’s Fahrenheit (10C and 16C). 

Another outdoor cafe was hoping to attract ship passengers and other tourists.

Today, when we leave the ship, we’ll be wearing some of the clothing we purchased for the upcoming Antarctica clothing. We’re thrilled we have these warm items with us.  I’ve been wearing sweaters I’d bought for that cruise over the past several days. We’ll be adding our heaviest jackets when we soon disembark on the tender boats.   

We couldn’t determine what this white patch consisted of.  Any comments?

Today, we’re posting the final photos for Arica, Chile, and tomorrow we’ll be back with more images. How silly we were, worried we wouldn’t have enough photos to share during this cruise. We’ll be lucky to share the bulk of them.

Was this small wood building used to store musical instruments for street musicians?  We weren’t sure.

Thanks to our loyal readers such as Marie and Bill, LeAnn and Chuck, Pat and Dan, Gary and Judy, and many more who have written to us. Your messages mean so much. We love hearing from you.

A lonely-looking stray dog.

May you have a lovely weekend day during this busy holiday season!

Photo from one year ago today, December 10, 2016:
Upside down Christmas tree on display at Makers Workshop in Burnie, Tasmania.  For more photos, please click here.

Day 17…Cruise to South America…Part 1…Arica, Chile…The cruise continues…

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Christmas tree in Colon Park with St. Mark’s Cathedral (San Marcos)l in the background.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

Buses arrived at the port to take passengers on tours.

With almost two weeks remaining for this cruise, we continue to find we’ve had no problem having stories to share with so many ports of call and the opportunity to experience activities we’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

Government building in Arica, Chile, near the port.

Now that the second round of passengers has boarded the ship and become settled since yesterday’s embarkation, we’re meeting many more exciting travelers, all with their own unique stories to tell.

From this site:  “History goes that during the War of the Pacific (1879-1880), Chilean troops took the Morro de Arica in a heroic deed after only one hour of fighting against the Peruvian-Bolivian army. This historical feat took place on June 7, 1880, and ever since has marked the northern territorial boundaries of the country.  Today, over one century after such an epic event, visitors only need to go up the almost 200 meters rising from the sea to behold the enormous City of Arica. Whoever hit the summit of this morro in those days would immediately gain control of the city. There were many casualties. In a matter of minutes, almost 2 thousand soldiers from both sides lost their life.”
Another view of the Morro of Arica from the Plaza Colon, where we wandered around the park.

Yesterday, at the prearranged luncheon for the 273 back-to-back passengers, by chance, we ran into a couple we’d heard about, Nancy and Bob, about our ages, who’ve also been traveling the world for the past five years.  What a coincidence!

Statue in the park.

Like us, they sold everything they owned, but, unlike us, their choice of locations and accommodations are pretty different from ours. Those facts made our conversation about our mutual travels all the more fascinating. 

A pond in the park is occupied by dozens of seagulls.

Of course, we never expected that other long-term travelers would do it just like us. Although, many commonalities made the four of us laugh out loud during our two-hour lunch in the dining room.

We stopped to see a nativity scene in the park.

Nancy and Bob are the first couple we’ve met that have been traveling as long as we have. We’ve met many couples who are currently beginning their journey or have plans to do so shortly. 

Another view of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Arica, Chile.

We all reveled in our bravery in making this type of life possible, required by letting go of everything and everyone we all knew and loved and releasing a life of comfort and familiarity for the vast unknown.

Santa Teresita de Los Andes statue in San Marcos Church.

With no complimentary cocktail party last night for the Captain’s Club members and without the excellent companionship of Lisa and Barry, we went about meeting new people both in the dining room and later in the famous Ice Bar. 

 A confessional.

It’s unlikely we’ll find another couple with whom we were so well matched, like Lisa and Barry. However, the conversations and camaraderie we see with others will continue to be a great source of quality time spent on the second half of this cruise.

The central aisle in the church.

Finally, last night, for the first night in two weeks, I slept over seven hours feeling like a new person today.  Those 2:00 am bedtimes not for the faint of heart, and I often wonder if I’m a little too old for such late nights.

A wooden side door.

Tom seems to thrive regardless of how much sleep he gets or doesn’t get.  On the other hand, I am five years older than him, making a difference to some degree.

I’m late in preparing today’s post and apologize to our dear readers for lagging behind. We attended at 9:15 am CruiseCritic Meet and Greet this morning, arriving late to begin the day’s post.

A decorative statue in San Marcos Church.

Shortly after that, once we were situated in the cafe, we became engrossed in conversation with a lively pair while working on the post; a friendly grandfather and his lovely 31-year old granddaughter. How wonderful to see them cruising together!

We have no big plans for this afternoon, another day at sea. Surely, we’ll chat with other passengers as we lounge at the comfy table for four in the cafe, an easy invitation for two others to join us. This is one of our favorites onboard activities…meeting new people along with others we’ve already met.

View the park from the interior of the church.

It’s considerably more fun than playing shuffleboard, bingo, or learning to dance the merengue, all of which are offered on today’s list of available activities. The ship’s Emporium area, packed with various shops with pricey cruise fare, holds little interest to either of us even during their 50% off sales, which seem to be conducted daily.

Tonight, at 5:00 pm, we’ll head to the happy hour in the Constellation Lounge, and by 7:15 or so, we’ll get in line for a shared table for dinner in the Trellis Restaurant. Oddly, we’re never bored and always able to find ways to keep ourselves engaged and entertained, regardless of how we spend our time aboard the ship.

May you have a lovely day engaged and entertained!                                                     

Photo from one year ago today, December 9, 2016:

Many possible holiday gifts were available at the Makers Workshop in Burnie, Tasmania. For more details, please click here.

Day 13… Cruise to South America… Part 2… Visit to Pisco, Peru… A colorful, interesting culture, shown in our photos

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This pelican is trained to entertain tourists as the man passed around a cup.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

Activity in the port in Pisco, Peru.

Today, we began checking flights for February 10th, when we plan to fly from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Mpumalanga/Nelspruit, South Africa. Prices are high for the shortest flights of 16 hours with two layovers.

Locally harvested seashells for sale, along with a few pairs of flip-flops.

It’s always tricky deciding if we should book now or wait for a price drop which may appear closer to the time we plan to fly. We’ve tried both ways, and on occasion, we get lucky finding a price drop during the last 60 days.

Ship sculpture made from bones.

It’s too risky to wait until the last 30 days when we’ve often found prices rising with few remaining seats available. There’s never an easy way or set plan on how to book expensive flights. We’re expecting to pay US $3,500 for the one-way tickets for two.

Activity on the boardwalk in Pisco.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to get to South Africa from Argentina that avoids an overnight flight with a layover in the middle of the night. After all these years, we’ve finally gotten over the fact that a “red-eye” may be the only way we can get from Point A to Point B.

Locals and tourists are enjoying the beach on a perfectly sunny day.

The simple reality is that we won’t sleep for about a 24-hour period. Neither of us can sleep for more than a few minutes on a flight, and taking a nap after arriving at our location also alludes us. But, we’ve found, if we can manage a mere 20-minute doze, it can do wonders when we’re exhausted.

Various feathered friends were resting on a moored fishing boat.

Yesterday morning, after we’d uploaded the post on a sea day, I found myself nodding off while seated in Cafe al Bacio. We both decided to head to the cabin to see if we could sleep for a bit. Magically, we both slept, albeit lightly, for about 30 minutes, feeling refreshed upon awakening.

A boat tied up at the beach near the pier.

“They,” say (whoever “they” are who often provide incorrect information), a short nap (under 30 minutes) is more beneficial than a long daytime doze. For once, we agree with “them.”

Local trinkets.

Last night, we had lots of fun with friends Lisa and Barry. The usual two-hour Captain’s Club event in the Constellation Lounge was canceled for a Senior Officer’s party at 7:45 pm. Usually, at this time, we’re in the dining room having dinner.

A small fishing boat was lying on the beach.

Instead, we decided on an early dinner at 6:30 to head to the party after dining. It all worked out great when we sat at a table for four in the Constellation Lounge with Lisa and Barry, after which we all embarked on a “bar hopping fest” where live music and dancing were on the menu.

Bronze sculpture welcoming guests to a restaurant on the boardwalk.

Tom and I both love dancing together. It’s good exercise, reminds us of our youth, and is a fun shared activity.  Last night, hanging out with our new friends only added to the experience as we used the ship’s program to decide where the best spot for dancing was coming up next on the agenda.

A pelican was proudly posing for a photo.

It resulted in another late night. We arrived at our cabin around 12:15 to another one-hour time change. We’re a little bit sluggish this morning, but once we’ve uploaded the post, we plan to leave the ship to visit the town of Arica, Chile, where our ship docked early this morning.

Local band playing Peruvian music hoping to earn tips.

This first leg of the back-to-back cruise ends in three days. There are only about 250 passengers out of 2,170 staying behind for the second leg. Last night, there was a notice on the bed stating a meeting at 9:00 am on December 6th (tomorrow) for us back-to-back passengers.

A tightly packed RV park in Pisco.

We’ll be provided with instructions for the process of staying on board when the remainder of the passengers will be disembarking at San Antonia, Chile. This final stop was supposed to have been in Valparaiso, Chili, a much more exciting town than San Antonio. 

Ocean inlet along the dunes.

Due to strife at the port in Valparaiso, the cruise line decided to change this final port of call to the less complicated San Antonia. Many passengers were disgruntled. For us, it made little difference when we’ll be back in South America down the road.

So, folks, have a wonderful day! We’ll be thinking of YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, December 5, 2016:

Historical Furners Hotel in downtown Ulverstone, Tasmania. There were many small towns we explored while in Penguin. For more photos, please click here.

Day 12… Cruise to South America… Part 1… Visit to Pisco, Peru… A colorful, interesting culture, shown in our photos

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We had no idea Pisco, Peru, had this type of desert terrain.

“Sightings from the Veranda while Cruising”

Various vendors set up shop outside the ship, hoping to attract shoppers leaving and arriving on shuttle buses.

Pisco, a town in Peru

Pisco is a port city on Peru’s southern coast, known for the grape brandy of the same name. It’s a gateway to the uninhabited Ballestas Islands, home to scores of sea lions, pelicans, Peruvian boobies, and Humboldt penguins. Nearby is the Paracas National Reserve, which encompasses desert, ocean, and the Paracas Peninsula. Also, here is the Paracas Candelabra geoglyph, a huge hillside etching of mysterious origins.
Area: 1,536 mi²
Weather: 66°F (19°C), Wind SW at 6 mph (10 km/h), 84% Humidity
Population: 99,550 (2007) UNdata
Local time: Monday 7:45 AM

 

The dunes reminded us of Morocco.

We had no idea the shuttle bus ride to Pisco would take us through a desert of rolling dunes, not unlike those we’ve seen in many countries in the Middle East. Here’s a bit of information about this subtropical desert climate:

Geography of Peru – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Peru

The Peruvian coast is a microclimatic region. The region is affected by the cold Humboldt Current, the El Niño Southern Oscillation, tropical latitude, and the Andes mountain range. The central and southern coast consists mainly of a subtropical desert climate composed of sandy or rocky shores and inland cutting valleys.

Area‎: ‎Ranked 20th
Lowest point‎: ‎Bayóvar Depression‎−34 meters…
Coastline‎: ‎2,414 km (1,500 mi)
Highest point‎: ‎Huascarán Sur‎, 6,768 metres …
A metal dolphin sculpture In Pisco, Peru.

After a 25-minute ride through the uninhabited and barren desert, we arrived in Pisco, a town dominated by its seaside industry, which included tourism and fishing, evidenced by the many colorful fishing boats in the harbor.

Our ship appeared to be the only one in San Martin Port in Pisco, Peru.

A pleasant boardwalk, wide enough to accommodate the thousands of passengers that walk along with its tourist-themed shops on the inland side, was easy to navigate in the crowds, most of which were from our ship.

Vendors line the boardwalk hoping for a sale.

The flavors of Peru permeated the air with over a dozen restaurants, with staff pleading with passersby to partake of their many offerings. There was no doubt in our minds that this small town was thriving with its frequent status as a port of call by over a hundred ships throughout the year.

Some shops and restaurants are decorated for the Christmas season.

And yet, the town’s persona was one of low income with old worn buildings and the most minimal infrastructure when many former utility poles were void of any wiring of any type.

This dog may not have been a stray when he appeared well-fed.

However, it’s these less affluent tourist towns that intrigue us the most; the stray dogs lounging in walkways; the young children running willy-nilly through the streets; the vendor’s hopeful expressions as we walked by bespeaking a lifestyle few of us can fathom as we sit at our computers.

There are dozens of restaurants along the boardwalk, all offering local delicacies.

For us, the town of Pisco offered an exciting array of fascinating scenes, as will be illustrated by our photos today and over the next few days. Whether it was the faces of the locals, marine wildlife, or friendly strays dogs lying in the road, its genuine culture remained consistent.

A variety of handmade and imported goods are peddled on the boardwalk. Vendors are relatively aggressive in promoting sales but not particularly offensive.

This type of seaside town may not appeal to some travelers for a long-term stay, but it was definitely worth seeing as a port of call. We spoke to several passengers who participated in various tours offered by the ship, and on private tours, they or others had arranged.

A restaurant with a bougainvillea-covered lattice roof.

In each case, we heard nothing but rave reviews about each tour. As mentioned earlier, we’ll be returning to Peru in the next few years when we return to South America for an extended stay. 

This is possibly a memorial for a local lost at sea.

At that point, we plan to visit many exciting locations in Peru, including Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, and more. For now, we continue to tighten our belts as we carefully watch our budget based on the pricey upcoming Antarctica cruise.

Children were playing at the beach with views of colorful fishing vessels.  These boats remind us of the colorful fishing boats in Negara, Bali. (See that link here).

Last night, we had a blast; Captain’s Club from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with friends Lisa and Barry; dinner in the Trellis Restaurant; then off to the Ice Bar for the 10:30 pm Silent Disco bouncing around with many other passengers we’ve come to know. It was too much fun!

Shopkeepers were enthusiastically attempting to attract shoppers from the cruise.  A cruise in port is crucial for this existence.

By the time we got to bed, it was after 1:00 am. Then, the clocks moved forward one hour, and it was 2:00 am.  We were up and dressed and out of our cabin by 8:30 am, a new time. Pooped? Yep! Ready to go again tonight? Yep!

Many fishing boats are anchored in the harbor.

We’re going to need a “vacation” after this cruise!  Ha!

Photo from one year ago, December 4, 2016:

Our first morning’s view from the living room window in Penguin, Tasmania. It was a cool sunny day. Tom always says when asked that Penguin was his favorite place to stay in our world travels. For more details, please click here.

It’s time to start planning clothing for the Antarctica cruise… Different for us than most other travelers…

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This is a variety of Bromelaid.  This stunning bloom is located  on the grounds of the villa is over-the-top!

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This was a perfect opportunity to get a photo of Ulysses, our groundskeeper, and maintenance person, who lives in an apartment on the property.  We wish we could chat with him freely but we are able to communicate sufficiently to ask him questions and make requests.

It’s not as if we can jump in the car and drive to REI or Cabella’s to purchase clothing for our upcoming Antarctica cruise in five months. And, realistically, we need to start planning now knowing anything we purchase will have to be shipped to Buenos Aires and go through customs which can take a long time, as we’ve experienced in past situations.

There are several options for handling the required items of clothing considering we’ll be leaving the ship on Zodiac boat for several hours at a time while we visit various islands, ice floes, and glaciers. Waterproof gear is a must.

Another Bromeliad with patterns appearing more like fabric for curtains than an actual plant. Wow!

Over the past several days, we’ve begun conducting research to discover the following options since the Ponant Cruise Line doesn’t handle rental clothing as do most other Antarctic cruise lines:
1.  Rent from one of a few companies that handle such clothing, all of which require the clothing to be sent to us in Buenos Aires. Downside: Clothing of this type can easily be stolen in transit; customs can cause delays; the clothing is rented for a specific period and penalties will incur if there are delays in transit times;  the clothes must promptly be returned at the end of the cruise, adding one more project to handle when we need to be on our way.
2.  Purchase the clothing from the US at lower costs. Downside: The above shipping and potential theft issues would be unavoidable. Plus, when we’re done, shipping the clothing back to the US to be held by our mailing service until we need it again someday.
3.  Purchase the majority of the clothing through Ponant. They’ll have it waiting for us in our cabin when we board the ship. Purchase odds and ends in the US and have them shipped to our hotel in Florida on November 22nd where we’ll stay for one night before boarding the back-to-back cruise the next day. This results in a two-step process. Downside:  Ponant’s items are expensive.

These waxy flowers almost look like Begonias we’d plant years ago in shady areas in Minnesota.

Originally, when we booked the cruise, we budgeted US $1,000, (CRC 57,594) for each of us for clothing rental as a necessary element of this expensive cruise, which is pretty much the going rate per person for all items. If we purchase some of the items separately and ship to Florida, we may be able to save a few hundred dollars each.

After considering all of the above options, we’ve definitely decided to go with purchasing the bulk of the major items directly from Ponant and the balance  (long-sleeved shirts, socks, glove liners, etc) from Amazon in the US with free shipping with our Prime membership directly to the hotel in Florida.

These orange flowers, Lobster Claws, against the palm background create an appealing scene.

The other options, although less expensive make no sense at all, especially when there’s the cost of shipping and delays due to customs. If we purchased the bigger items on our own, we’d have no idea of the quality and suitability for the cruise. Most likely, the clothing from the cruise line is suitable.

Most likely sizing will be an issue for me with my extra-long arms and legs. Maybe I’ll be able to tuck my pants into the Ponant provided complimentary boots to avoid the high water look. Hopefully, I’ll have enough layers to keep my arms covered especially wearing the almost elbow-length gloves we’ll also purchase through Ponant.

What was Mother Nature thinking here?

Tom inquired to previous Antarctica cruise passengers at Cruise Critic for more finite details and based on their comments, it appears we’re going down the right path.

It’s considerably easier for those who can jump in the car and drive to local cold-weather-clothing stores to check out the possibilities, try on a few items and purchase their smaller items with ease. Here again, this is one more of the many challenges we face as constant world travelers. 

We love this type of palm tree.  We’d seen many of these in Hawaii a few years ago.

No doubt, we’ll have it all figured out long before we board the ship, Ponant Le Soleil, on January 23, 2018, in Ushuaia Argentina. No worries. It will all work out! 

Have a happy Monday or Tuesday, depending on where you may be in the world, whether it’s approaching the end of your warm summer months or your cold winter months, depending on which side of the equator you may live.

Photo from one year ago today, August 14, 2016:

We visited the Phuket Seashell Museum. It was fascinating to see all of the various seashells indigenous to the area. For more photos, please click here.