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Cruise, Week Two
Our second week was spectacular. It started with a cruise around Cape Horn, known as end of the world. This is where the Pacific, Atlantic and Antartic oceans meet. We were luck with calm weather: 12 foot seas and 50 mph winds. Two days later, and winds were 80mph+ and 30-40ft. waves!
We then cruised through the Chilean fjords. Specifically, through the Beagle Channel, and had a great look of the glaciers that line this channel. This took us to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. We hiked a local ski area and got our End of World certificate. And had some king crab, locally caught.
Our visit to Punta Arenus was cancelled due to hurricane force winds. The port was closed, so the captain decided to divert to the seldom visited Skua glacier. This is one of Chile’s main glaciers, about 13 miles long and runs into the ocean. We had a great view of the glacier and ocean interface.
Our next stop was Puerto Montt, Chile. A rather small city, whose main income was fishing. We visited the fish market, and based on our observations, wouldn’t want to eat anything from there. Not sanitary to our standards. On to Santiago, our last stop of this, the first leg of our cruise.
Again, a few pictures are ;posted below. our full albums are on Flicker (below right). Click on Albums to see the list of albums.
Our route
Cape Horn peaks
End of the World lighthouse
Lots of glaciers
Another magnificent glacier
Beagle channel glaciers
Early morning arrival in Uhsuaia
Downtown Ushuaia
A sea cruise, and we hike up a ski area!
Sun highlights the Skua glacier
Skua glacier to water interface
Skua glacier face
A peak of the Orsono volcano
Fish on display
Puerto Montt is a fishing village
Cruise, week One
Although our cruise started in Buenos Aires, we actually didn’t leave port until the second day. Instead, we had a tour of a local ranch, where we learned about their lifestyle. We viewed the ranch, watched horsemanship demos, learned more about folk dances, and ate some local barbecue. Washed it down with a local red wine.
Our first true port of call was Montevideo, Uruguay. Uruguay has some 300 million cows, and 3 million people. So local industry was heavily skewed to leather and beef. We had a pleasant stroll through the city and “shopped” a local art fair. A storm was brewing, and we made it back to the ship just before a major storm struck. Others were not so lucky, and got a good soaking.
A short cruise brought us to Punta del Este, a local hotspot for the rich and famous. Beautiful beaches and a cheap economy makes it a haven for people like Madonna and Leonardo deCaprio, who frequent this area. But we also saw the poor side of the area, showing the contrast between the haves and have nots.
We ended out first week at Puerto Madryn, AR. Not exactly a tourist town, but a 2 hour drive in a cramped van brought us to Punto Tomo, a major rookery for Magellan penguins. Thousands of them were here, we saw penguins from hatchlings to elders. We also some some local rather rare birds and small mammals.
A few pictures are shown below, but feel free to click on the Flickr link (below, right) then click on Albums for our complete albums.
Local dances and color
Cooking lunch, Argentina style
Downtown Montevideo
The storm approaches!
Montevideo beaches
Artist feature on beach
Magellan rookery
Magellan penguin
Buenos Aires – Last day
In the entry way
Kind of looks like Rome!
Different designs from one grave to the next
A look inside finds caskets with silver hardware
Inside one, caskets stacked on top of each other
Some older ones are breaking up
Eva Peron’s grave, still very popular
Pastry bar
Inside Cafe Tortoni
Buenos Aires – Day 3 and Tango show
We walked a lot today… a lot. We left the hotel, walked up to the 9th of July Avenue (incidentally, this is the widest avenue in the world) and headed east. Along the way we saw restaurants, stores and businesses. After a half mile or so we ended up at El Obelisco. This is a national historic monument and icon of Buenos Aires. Located in the Plaza de la República, in the intersection of avenues Corrientes and 9 de Julio, it was built to commemorate the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city.
Here we took a little detour down Lavalle St. This is a pedestrian only street, filled with shops of every kind, money changers (the dollar is in huge demand) and restaurants. Ida found two nice leather purses, and with the US Dollar, she got a great price.
We walked back to the Teatro Colon, an opera theater built at the turn of the 1900’s. Patterned after Italian and French examples, it is a beautiful and elaborate structure. It is large, will hold around 3,000 people and still no amplification is needed. It is said to have the best acoustics in a large hall in the world. Most impressive.
After our theater tour we walked back to the hotel on Lavalle and Florida Streets. Once again, stores and eating establishments everywhere… and lots and lots of people. And it isn’t even evening yet!
This evening we took in a dinner Tango show. It was thrilling to sea and hear the Tango, performed by Argentinians, in Argentina!
An elaborat balony railing
Early morning walk on Lavalle Street
Government buildings
Great hallway, where the rich people gathered during intermission
Balcony suites, left side
Boxes and stage
Main floor and “widow’s boxes”
Inside the Tango Theater
John and Romola
Les and Ida
Tango show
Buenos Aires evening
We are staying in a neighborhood where night time activities can be somewhat sketchy. Nevertheless, we had to eat, so off we went to a place recommended by our hotel (Don Ernesto’s). We had an excellent meal, starting with a very nice salad, with lots of hearts of palm. Our main course consisted of two huge cuts of meat: a rib eye, and a filet. Washed down with a very good Malbec, we needed the 8 block walk home.
But when we got outside we saw a wine shop, where we met an owner most willing to please. We bought another bottle of Malbec, Ida got a unique Malbec rose and a fine drinking Malbec. Ours is for consumption at the hotel, Ida had hers packed for travel.
Romola and I met with our new friend Carlos, who took us to a very old traditional coffee house and bar. Dust on the bottle, manually turned meat slicer, very rustic. A nice way to spend the evening!
Night time in BA. Kind of quiet.
Our steaks
Our bottle of Argentinian Malbec
Happy with our wine purchases in the wine store.
Inside the coffee shop.
Day 2 in Buenos Aires
Our second day in Buenos Aires was mainly an orientation day. We walked all over the place, got lost, found our way again, and had a great time. Getting lost is a good (but possibly dangerous) way to learn a city.
After hitting a few of the main shopping streets, we ended up in Puerto Madero, where the old warehouses were refurbished and made into shopping and eating locations. Nice place to stroll along the water and see the sights.
Street scene
Alonh Ave Peru
Some fancy grafitti
Street scene
Casa de Gobkerno
Walkway under one of the buildings
Les and Ida see something to the left
Local church and oivernment buildings
Statue with building facade
The “Puente de la Mujer” foot bridge
Romola found someone who didn’t talk back
Cooking on the street – with a charcoal grill
Our “neighbor” across the street
Arrived in Buenos Aires
We managed to get out of Dallas between two winter storms. Lucky we made it! Had an uneventful flight, although sitting in an airplane for 11 hours (and a 3 hour jet lag) does tire one out. Just the same, we went for a walk in the San Telmo neighborhood, where our hotel is located. Tomorrow we explore further.
Eva Peron is very popular
Still summer here, so trees are blooming
More Grafitti
Here’s one for Tanya
Skyline from our hotel
Taking a break
Grafitti
Grafitti
Oh oh….. ice and snow!
If you read my last post, you know that we are leaving for Buenos Aires tomorrow. But last night the temperature dropped, it started to sleet, and now the whole Dallas Fort Worth areas has come to a slip sliding halt. Only the foolish and the officials are out there moving. Flights are being canceled.
We parked our motor home at some friend’s house yesterday, before the mess started. Hopefully it is all right. We are staying at Tanya and Shane’s house to wait out the storm.
Not sure when all this is supposed to end, but let’s hope our flight to BA tomorrow isn’t delayed, or worse, cancelled…..
A quick view of Tanya’s back yard….
A new year, a new country
On February 24, 2014 we start our next big trip… circumnavigating (mostly) South America.
We will spend 4 days in Buenos Aires, and sample some of the local scenery, food, and culture. We look forward to a lot of scenery, some great food, and of course — Tango!
On march 1 we board the Infinity (Celebrity Cruise Lines) to begin the first part of out 4 week cruise. We will sail to Uruguay, then through the Drake Passage (reputed to be the roughest seas on earth), then up through Chile. On the 14th day we arrive in Santiago, Chile.
After one day in Santiago, we cruise north and touch base in Peru. We will see Panama, as we cruise the entire Panama Canal. A few more stops, and arrive in Fort Lauderdale. From here by plane back to Dallas.
Should be a terrific cruise!
Starting in Argentina….
Kickstarter and travel albums
For 5 years, we have been traveling to local and exotic locations. And I have been documenting it with my camera. My photo albums have become popular, so much so, that on our next trip (by cruise ship around South America) one of my goals will be to focus on images for hard bound photo albums. The ship is booked, the travel arrangements are made, and we leave in 4 weeks.
The trip includes some exotic locations, including significant wildlife, nature, local people and habitats. I have put together significant and capable photo gear, have made arrangements for photo storage in the Cloud, so we’re ready to go.
There are however some additional photo opportunities, in remote and beautiful locations. But the only way to get there is to hire expensive local guides. Since I would like to add this to my trip, I need to raise money. To do this, I have started a Kickstarter project called “Circumventing South America”. The link is here:
You can check it out if you like. Of course, there is absolutely no obligation, and the photographic record of our journey will be free on our web site, as always. So travel with us as I will try to keep our blog at http://www.laninga.com up to date, internet willing.
An image from last year’s Galapagos trip
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