The Horn

Thursday, February 28, 2013
Today we sail around the Horn or tip of South America before starting our journey up the East side of the continent.  I will write later about it...

Today we sailed around Cape Horn, called "The Horn".  To become a cruiseship pilot is a very long process.  One pilot on our ship is Argentine and speaks spanish while the captain and rest of the crew are Italian. He has been a pilot 5 years before that 25 years in Navy.  There are 5 pilots onboard, each working 5hr shifts. It's a small island with a lighthouse and an albatros monument built in honor of all the ship captains who sail the horn.  There is a lighthouse keeper, his wife & son live here for 6 month intervals and then they are replaced. 

As we approached The Horn.  The weather was overcast, fog and rain.  Our cruiseship pilot called the lighthouse keeper to tell them who we were and what our navigational route we would be taking.
The lighthouse keeper's small son answered the phone and apologised that we did not have good weather, but this weather is the norm so close to artic.

The seas were very rough, 15-20 ft seas.  I took video of the water coming over our cabin window and the swimming pool water splashing out of the pool from one side to the opposite.
Today was an amazing experience.  I think about those pilots who came here in the 1600's without the aid of electronic navigational equipment.  In early 1600's ships came around CapeHorn to avoid the Magellan Strait because of fear of hitting rocks.

This whole journey has been filled with one amazing experience after another

In 1992, on a hilltop of Horn Island, a monument to the memory of the mariners lost in the waters off Cape Horn was erected, financed with both public and private funds from Chile and many other countries. The interior outline of its facing steel sheets form the image of a wandering albatross in marble plaque is inscribed with a Spanish poem by Chilean Sara Vial:

 

I am the albatross that waits for you

at the end of the world.

I am the forgotten souls of dead mariners

who passed Cape Horn

from all the oceans of the earth.

But they did not die

in the furious waves.

Today they sail on my wings

toward eternity,

in the last crack

of Antarctic winds.

DARWIN CHANNEL & USHUAIA ARGENTINA

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Today is a day of scenic cruising through the Darwin Channel. We awoke at 5am to sit on the highest deck of the ship so we could see everything.   It was so beautiful!  We saw several large glaciers, some were named after different countries, Espana (Spainish), Romanche, Alemania, Francia (French) & Italia (Italian) glaciers.  My very favorite was the Italia...it was by far the most spectacular.  It took about 3-3/12 hours before we were exiting the channel.  We froze but it was so worth it for the views.

Around Noon we docked at our next port Ushuaia Argentina.  It is at the southernmost tip of South America and its divided.  Partially belonging to Chile and Argentina.  It is the largest port and airport for cruises & flights to the Antarctica.  Scientists from all over the world fly to this port on their way to the Antarctica.

The port is surrounded by beautiful mountains in various shades of browns,greens,blues, purples and snow capped.  We stopped to mail penguin postcards to everyone.  Today we have our second Penguin tour!  The operator loaded us on bus and we headed out of town on a 55 mile ride (one-way) to a place named Estancia Harberton farm, it was founded in 1886. 

We sailed from Harberton Harbor to Martillo Island on a 15 minute semi-rigid covered boat.  We when arrived to island we looked out to see thousands of penguins lining the coast, what a sight!  We were all awe-struck.  We were cautioned to walk very slowly & quietly and to not make any loud noises or quick movements because one you scare one penguin...they all run away scared.
We spent an hour walking along side the penguins, taking pictures, watched them swim, kiss and sleep.  There were no chicks because they have all grown and are now in their molting stage.  We saw penguins in various stages of molting.  Some were done while a few had just started.
Today was an experience that I will never forget, well worth the 2 hours round trip by bus.   It made this whole adventure of ours complete.

PUNTA ARENAS CHILE

Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Today we will tender in Punta Arenas, Chile. This is the first of two ports where we plan to see penguins!   I do not like tender ports.  They are always unorganized and everyone gets mean in their haste to get off the ship.  This day was somewhat better.  They put our group in a room by ourselves and called us so we could all get on the same tender.
The tour guide was there to meet us as soon as we arrived, we jumped into one of 3 vans and off we went to the Penguin Colony at Seno Otway.
Today was a day of dissappoint for us.  First, our van got not one, but two flat tires!  While we hoped to get the penguins early to beat the crowds, we were stranded on the road twice.  It caused us to arrive 3 hours later than we planned.
Our second disappoint came when we arrived at the Colony.  We paid approximately $100/couple for this tour and were sadly diappointed to only see a handful of penguins.  We had to stand behind a wooden wall with holes in it to take their picture.  They basically just sat there looking sleepy.  They were cute...obviously.  But our guide had to have known there wouldn't be many and I felt she should have forewarned us before we got there.  We would have still gone, we prepaid the tour...but at least we would have known what to expect.
After snapping a few pics we headed back to town in our van without any more road mishaps :)  Later that evening some fellow passengers share photos of the same penguines and they were jumping in/out of water swimming, talking, walking around.....I think we just arrived at their siesta time...
This being said....I would NOT recommend this tour operator to anyone.  Not because the penguins were scarce, (we understand it is mother nature), but because she did not take the time to forewarn us of the truth.
So our first penguin adventure was a bit of a bust....but we have another chance on Thursday... :)

The Magellan Straits

Monday, February 25, 2013 ` The Magellan Straits

Today we spent the whole day very slowly cruising through these beautiful straits.  A strait is a waterway that connects to bodies of water.  The Magellan Straits connects the Pacific to Atlantic oceans.  It is named after the spanish explorer who discovered it.  They started out with 5 ships and  over 700 people, by the time the exploration ended...only  1 ship and 18 people returned to Spain.
As we cruised on our 300,000+ ton cruiseship, I often wondered what the Spanish thoughts were in their tiny boats of only 50-100 tons.  They surely felt both amazement and fear.  I was in awe of the magestic snow-capped mountains.  Some were so high that you could not see the tops for the clouds....Surely God was having fun while building such a beautiful place.

Sunset is not until 10pm tonight....tomorrow will be our first of two visits to penguin colonies!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASTITY!!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASTITY!!

The ship held brunch today.  The menu is different than regular breakfast and lunch menus.  We usually get filet mignon and eggs.  Hubby also gets cheese grits with his.  We each get one free drink couple and we usually buy blood mary.  Next time I might get an old southern breakfast drink called a mimosa, orange juice and champagne.  Will let you know how it tastes when we decide to try it.
We had a seminar on ship about the penguins, there was a MONARCH penguin, a CHIN STRAP penguin.  the chin strap is cute, try to lookup one on the internet and you will see where he got his name. Tuesday we will finally be going to the penguin island where all the penguins live.  I hope to get some really good pictures for you.

It was dress up day for dinner and also the captains party.  They held it in the halls instead of cramming everyone into a tiny room and it worked out beautifully.  I tried to get a picture with the captain but never saw him :(   We will have another dinner just for gold,platnum & diamond vips, perhaps I will have a better chance to meet him there.

PUERTO MONTT, CHILE

Saturday, February 23, 2013
We left the ship 8:00am on tenders to go ashore.  We were met immediately by our tour guide.  We rode on a bus with 14 others to see the fabulous Puerto Montt.  The land was full of lucious green property.  Most were developed by German immigrants who were offered acreage with themselves and male children if they relocated here to live.  The land ranged from the thick rainforest to gorgeous green farmland.  This land is fertile and they are blessed with seafood, llama, beef/cattle and wild boar and deer.  If it weren't for the long, cold winters we could see this area a wonderful place to live.

First we visited Petrohue Falls.  It was beautiful but more like rapids than actual waterfalls.  The water had the blue colors of the glaciers and it was raining while we were there.  What else did we expect in the rainforest ?

Afterward the Falls we drove around to get a glimse of the volcanoes and lakes.  We were then give 45 minutes to explore shop in the German Village.  It was quaint and very windy.  We bought a beautiful penguin rug for home and myself a pair of handmade gloves.

Next was a stop a small backyard restaurant where we sampled delicious dishes prepared by a local chef and served with red & white wines.  A stop at a local grocery store allowed for purchase of Chilean Wines to bring home. I also bought some delicious chocolate..
We arrived at the port just in time to catch our tender boat back to the ship.

Sea Days February 21-22, 2013

Thursday & Friday, February 21-22,2013

The first two sea days of Leg 2 of our wonderful journey has been a bit boring.  Yesterday was a much needed day of relaxing.  My legs & feet hurt so badly from walking up & down stairs.  I spent the day reading in our cabin while Hubby worked out in the gym twice.  We had room service deliver our lunch. Supper was yummy Salmon for myself and chicken for Hubby.

The highlight of Thursday evening was the Latin Dance show in the Theatre.  OMGosh the costumes were gorgeous!  The show was beautiful, the dancing exquisite and they received a standing ovation.
Friday we awoke early and spent most of the morning in the gym and hot tubbing.  Temps are in the 50's and It started a light rain this morning and has stayed with us throughout the day.  No more sun :(
This afternoon we attended a very informative lecture on Penquins by MickeyLive.  The various breeds, habitats and their personalities.  It was a great show and I learned much.

Tonights show is a vantriliquist

Valparaiso

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Today is the beginning of Leg 2 of our journey.  It begins here in Valparaiso and ends in Buenos Aires Argentina.

Today Hubby didn't feel like going ashore so I did a walking tour with a group of 8 others.  Our tour guide was Leo and a native with an artistic flair.  Boy did we walk!  We began with a ride on one of their elevators (tram) with a great view of the harbor.  From there we walked around the city which was many alleys with stairs everywhere!  One elevator was inside a mountain where you had to walk through an underground tunnel to get to it.  I thoroughly enjoyed our day of discovery, even though my legs hurt lol

We ate lunch in a local dive that sold hamburgers/hot dogs.  My hotdog was huge, covered with guacamole.  I was surprised to see they use french style green beans on their hamburgers like we use lettuce.  Cokes are expensive - 3-4 dollars each.

Valparaiso has 42 hills/mountains which define a neighborhood.  Each hill has its own flavor and classes of residents.  Next 2 days will be SeaDays.

February 19/20, 2013 Sea Days

Monday /Tuesday, February 19/20, 2013 Sea Days

It's the last night of leg1 of our 3leg cruise.  17 days seems to have flown by.  Yesterday we enjoyed a wonderful brunch onboard the ship complete with bloody mary & filet mignon.  Just delicious!
Last night we visited the casino after supper.  Played some let it ride and a couple of machines.  Afterwards, we drank hot chocolate on the lido deck before retiring to our cabin.  We lost another hour of sleep.

Today we worked out in the gym twice.  Used the hot tub and had a very relaxed and lazy day onboard the ship.  After supper we plan to visit the liquor store for some baileys to use in our coffee.
Tomorrow will be the first day of Leg 2 beginning in Valparaiso.

ARICA CHILE

Sunday, February 17,2013


We arrived in ARICA CHILE 8am.  I took some pictures of the beautiful sunrise over the water.  There were many dolphins following both sides of the ship as they ate their fish for breakfast.
We ate a quick breakfast of cereal & fruit and headed out in search of some Chilean wines.  We found some great prices in a grocery store.  We made 2 trips! After our shopping trip we came back to the ship around Noon for lunch.


After lunch we dressed in our swimsuits and walked to a nearby beach.  The water was beautiful but the dark grey sand was really hot and we decided just to take a few pictures.  Someone told me that Arica is the hottest desert on the planet and after a day in their sun I have no trouble believing it.  On the way back we stopped at a restaurant/bar on the beach for a mojito & margarita (both were very strong).  It was 3:30 by the time we returned to ship, tired & sunburned.  We took an afternoon siesta before dinner.  I was so tired from the heat, I considered skipping supper but Hubby doesn't like to go alone so I went.  After eating I skipped the theatre and returned to our cabin while Hubby went to the Casino.  We have 3 more days left to this leg of our trip.  Time seems to be flying by us.

8th SeaDay

Saturday morning, February 16,2013

Today is our 8th Sea Day, 

We are sailing  slowly south along the Chile coastline.  We are having beautiful weather, 70's slightly breezy.  We worked out in the gym for an hour then headed back to shower before breakfast.  We have had very hectic mornings lately so this morning we decided to have a long & leisurely breakfast in the dining room.  We are now cutting back on the bread before meals and only eating eggs 1-2x per week
. 
At breakfast we shared a table with a nice retired couple from Reno.  Both will be staying on until New York.  The husband told us he enjoys skiing and sometimes there is skiing until July in Reno. 
Now it is time for me to relax with a book, tomorrow will be a lot of walking in Arica Chile.

LIMA PERU

Friday, February 15,2013
This morning we set our alarm clock for 5am for the gym, We are arriving in Lima Peru at the same time.  We worked out for an hour, ate a quick breakfast of cereal and fruit and prepared for our adventure onshore.

The Cathedral, The Bishop House and the Presidential Palace in Lima town square.

The ship docked in a commerical area and there was nothing around the port area to see on our own.  We booked a tour of the city with a shopping trip to an Indian Market.  The traffic in the city was heavy so the bus took longer than expected to get everywhere.  I was somewhat disappointed to see bars on windows and doors of the homes.  The residential areas were similar to Manta in that they were built of cement and most would be called "the projects" at home in US.  There was cement everywhere, hardly any greenery.  I guess we were expecting forests or at least to see some forests.  No wonder there is great concern over the disappearing rain forests.



The big shopping item here is peruvian sweaters or Alpaca.  I bought one and we also bought various other handmade items.  We mailed postcards to the grandchildren before leaving the port.
The weather is getting cooler each day as we travel south towards the horn. Right now is in the 60-70's.

Valentines Day in South America

February 14,2013...HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Last night's show was "The Mentalizer", Indian guy who claimed to be able to read minds.  We left before the show was over :(

Today we worked i worked out in the gym while Hubby walked on the jogging track. Afterwards we had a healthy breakfast.

There are many activities onboard for Valentines Day.

It is our 2nd and final "Formal" night in the dining room.  Instead of eating in the dining room, we were invited to eat in the Steakhouse with the others who share our table.  They even paid for everyone which was really nice.  The food was fantastic, the steaks were huge and so were the desserts.  We plan to watch a movie on deck tonight with popcorn. 

Tomorrow we dock in Lima Peru.

MANTA ECUADOR

Our first stop in South America will be on Mardi Gras Day in Ecuador, they also celebrate Carnivale...not sure if they wear costumes or not..

Today is February 13 (Wednesday) Yesterday we stopped in Manta Ecuador.  It is a country within South America.  All the Starfish and Bumblebee tuna we buy in stores comes from here. We visited Tarqui Park.  It is a small beach where locals were celebrating Carnivale (MardiGras).

We also saw how they make Panama Hats from straw. It takes them a very long time to make one hat.  I bought a pretty one, Pawpaw said he didn't like how they look on his head so he didn't buy one

From Pollywogs to Shellbacks!

February 12 (Tuesday) morning around 1:15am we had crossed the Equator for the first  time and earned our right of passage from being Pollywog to Shellback.  After crossing the equator we are now Shellbacks there was a big ceremony by the ship pool


We crossed the equator for our first time.  It is a big deal on the ship, they have a ceremony and party.

4TH SEA DAY

Today is Sunday, February 10th, its our 4th SeaDay..  We have been trying to workout in the gym every morning.  This morning the boat was rocking badly and it was very windy on the deck for walking.  I got a little bit queazy so I cut it short and we went to the gym.
Every Sunday they serve Filet Mignon for breakfast, it has been delicious.  It is so interesting to meet people from all over the world.

Tomorrow we will be crossing the equator for our first time.  It is a big deal on the ship, they have a ceremony and party.  Will let you know what its like.  Our first stop in South America will be on Mardi Gras Day in Equador, they also celebrate Carnivale...not sure if they wear costumes or not..

Puerto Quetzal Guatemala

Today (Saturday, February 9) we arrived in Puerto Quetzal Guatemala. We visited a local Coffee Plantation. It was great! They showed us how the coffee is red like a berry when it is first harvested. We squeezed a bean out of the shell to taste. Although we thought they would taste bitter, we were surprised at how sweet & sticky they were. They allowed us to taste some coffee, then we hiked up a mountain where the coffee plants are grown. It was very hot and the trail was steep. It takes 2 years for the plants to grow before coffee beans can be harvested. A single plant will produce for 25 years. The coffee beans are picked by women & children. Hard work for them!

Afterwards we went to a marketplace where they sold handmade items. We bought beautiful piece for my dining roomt table & trinkets for the girls.

HUATULCO MEXICO

Today is Friday (2-8).  We arrived in Huatulco Mexico.  We went on a River rafting tour along the Copalita River.  First we stopped at an Iguana Farm, they showed us how they lay eggs and what they eat.  There were all sizes from babies to huge adults. We saw many birds and the river ended at a gorgeous hidden beach.  We both wore sunscreen but still got red faced.  We had a great time.  Tomorrow we will dock in Guatemala.

Cabo San Lucas

We awoke early so we could get some exercise time at the gym before we arrived in Cabo.

 

Our ship arrived in Cabo 11am.  The ship is unable to dock, we are given tickets to board tender boats to bring us ashore.

 

We arranged a whale-watching trip today with 8 others.  Our boat captain Hector had a great sense of humor. He pointed out areas of interest along the shore as we headed out to the Pacific a bit. The baha peninsula is beautiful.  There are many new homes and condos being constructed.  We were told purchasers do not own the land when the buy real estate, only the buildings.

 

We saw many whales, taking photos was challenging because of the waves they made. The area was also full with dolphins & seals.

 

After returning to the dock we walked around Cabo checking out the shops & bars.

 

We were exhausted when we finally returned the ship. Dinner was a quick trip to the Grille for burgers.

South America Cruise - Embarkation Day

I think the combination of excitement & spicy food kept me from sleeping much.  

 

We awoke to a gorgeous sunrise view.  Our complimentary hotel shuttle to the ship was scheduled for 10:10am.

 

We had a simple breakfast of QueenMary pastries and coffee on our hotel balcony.

 

We arrived @ Carnival Embarkation 10:30.  While the line was not particularly long when we started, I could see that it was going to get very long, very quickly. Especially since all the Carnival workers were repeating, "we are behind", "we will be busy" and "this is NOT a typical embarkation for us.

 

We finally reached the check-in desk at 1:00pm.  Check-in only took 15 minutes. Carnival said they would retain all passports until end of cruises on New York.

 

We were seated for lunch on the ship by Noon.

 

After lunch we explored our new home for the next 49 days.  After emptying our suitcases we watched the Super Bowl.

South America Cruise - Pre-cruise

Our Southwest flight from New Orleans arrived 30 minutes later than scheduled.  We retrieved our luggage then headed outside for our Super Shuttle van.  The guy drove like a maniac.

 

We checked into the Hotel Maya in Long Beach at 5pm.

 

 

Our king room had a fantastic view of the harbor from our balcony.  The room is large, we are satisfied.

After dropping off our luggage we walked along the waterfront to take photos of the old Queen Mary cruise ship which now functions as a unique hotel. We took pictures of the hotel & sunset across the harbor. 

 

 

 By this time we were both quite hungry.  We decided to go the easy, more expensive route & eat at the hotel restaurant which had mostly good reviews. I ordered lobster macNcheese, Hubby decided on a Latin pork dish with black beans. Both were good with large portions.  Supper was $50.

 

 

After supper Hubby drank coffee & we both took much needed baths after a very long day. We fell asleep with gentle breezes and the sounds of the harbor through our open balcony door.