SEADAY

SEADAY

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Today is the second day in the Buenos Aires. We were both not feeling much like going into the City today after yesterday’s long day. We did a quick trip to the port terminal to do some shopping at the stalls which were set up there. From previous stops we have realised that the prices are the same as in the city or cheaper. After we returned back to the ship, we hung out at the pool deck as it was very warm and humid out there today. At 5PM a lot of people gathered on the pool deck for a sail away party. That was a lot of fun as we waved goodbye to Argentina. This evening we watched Saxophone player Kenny Martin from the UK (impressive). Afterwards we gathered for a game of music trivia. An interesting side note is, that Mr Bill Szymczyk was part of the trivia game. Bill was the record producer for most of the Eagles songs. He and his wife are passengers on this cruise. Later that night we watched a spectacular lightning show in the sky to the North of us. The next two days will be a seadays.

Cheers

“South America” “Cruising” “HAL Volendam”

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

This Morning we docked on the pier in Montevideo. No tender or transfer busses required. The pier is pretty well right in the old City. For the afternoon we had booked a walking tour of the old City. This morning we ventured of on our own. Several streets are pedestrian streets and are traffic free, what is nice. The old colonial architecture is amazing in this City. We covered quite a large area this morning, also managed to do a visit to the carnival museum. Before heading back to the ship we had lunch in an ouside type of market what was full of barbeque type of restaurants. There must have been at least 20 + restaurants to choose from. A lotttt of Beef here. After lunch we met up with our tour group at the ship and boarded a bus to the main square downtown. from her we started our walk tour back to the ship. On our walk tour we visited a variety of buildings, like the opera house, cathedral, a couple of museum’s and several old buildings. we ended up back at the ship just before departure time. As it is Valentines day today we had reserved for a italian dinner in the specialty restaurant on the ship. By 10PM the crew on the ship came by all the venues with loads of different type of chocalate treats. (yummy). We had to say goodbuy tonight to several people, who are departing the ship tomorrow. We have to amid that today was one of our best stops on the trip. We are both very impressed by the 2 visits to this country. Very modern, friendly people and good food, wine and beer. Uruguay is only a country of a little over 3 mill. people. I am sure there are more cows then people living here. This country is definitely worth revisiting and spending a week or 2.

Happy Valentines Day “Carol”

Cheers

“South America” “Montevideo” “Cruising”

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

I got up early this AM and watched the ship sailing into the harbour and dock. This is a massive city, 3 million directly in the city and another 10 mill in the suburbs.We were booked on an all day tour today through the city. The first visit was to the Cemetery to visit the grave of Eva Peron (Evita) This cemetery is like a city with small houses (Chapels). It is quite the tourist attraction. After this visit we zig zagged through the city for various photo opportunities. We stopped at the la Boca neighbourhood for a 1/2hr stroll and look at all the coloured houses. Drove by the famous Boca Juniors soccer stadium. For lunch we were taken to an Argentinian restaurant where we were being served a great meal followed by an hr long Tango show, that was fantastic. After this lunch we drove by a few other neighbourhoods. We made it back to the ship by 5pm. We were so tired, we had to take a nap before carrying on for the night. We didn’t do much for dinner as we were still full from lunch. For the night there was an local Argentinian show performance in the ship theatre. Very good show by the way. If I look back on the City visit today, it is a very big city with a lot of old buildings. The traffic infrastructure looks pretty good. There are a lot of green spaces in the city. These spaces are being well used by joggers, bikers and family’s walking. We were warned before going of the ship by the staff to be very carefull out there, and be aware all the time of pickpocketers and muggers. Don’t show any jewelry, watches and expensive camera’s. As it was, we heared of a few people getting mugged and their stuff stolen. We also had new passengers coming on board today for the Amazon portion of the trip. For tomorrow we have another day in this port.

Cheers

“South America” “Buenos Aires” “Cruising”

PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY

This morning we anchored in the harbour of Punta del Este. Because of the sandbanks in the harbour we were about a 30 min tender ride out from the shore. Due to the longer duration we were using a larger tender (200 passengers) from the city. Our first impression was, this is a very modern city. we decided do our own walking tour for the day. Right a way we noticed the largest fury sea lion having a nap on the boatramp. I quietly took a picture and continued on without waking him up. This City is very much an vacation resort. Lots of condo buildings restaurants, little cafe sand a lot of shopping and sandy beaches. As this part of the City is build on a narrow peninsula, there are beaches on both sides. After walking through the City we ended up by a important monument, 5 fingers sticking up out of the sand. This is to remember all the locals who lost their lifes at sea. The temperature meanwhile had risen steadily through the morning up to 32C deg by now. Time to find a lunch spot. We had some Cold local beer and empanada’s at a small pizzeria. After luch we wandered some more through town and enjoyed the weather. Because the peninsula is exposed on both sides to the ocean, it had become quite breezy. We took the tender back to the ship around 4 pm. It had become so breezy on the back of the ship, that the captain decided to close the deck down for safety reasons. The remainer of the night we did ship things. Overal, I think this is a cool place to hang out for a week if you like beaches.

Cheers

“South America” “Cruising” “Punta del Este”

SEADAY

After our Penguin stop in Puerto Mandryn, we are done with Penguins! Today back at sea. I am going on with my seaday program today. Carol has been enjoying the lectures from Dr Craig Franklin from the UV of Queensland Australia. This man is a very good speaker and has a great knowledge of the environment. Up to today we had lectures about Antartic climate, Ozon layer, Importance of maintaining the antarctic ice, Sharks, and Crocodiles. Craig used to be a very close friend of the late Steve Irwin (crocodile man). Besides the lectures we also have presentations on seadays of the future ports we are going to visit. Some of the people we got to know on this cruise will be leaving us in Buenos Aires. In total 200 are leaving and 150 new ones are coming on board for the Amazon portion of the cruise. (looking forward to the Amazon) It was a very windy day again today on the outer decks. Meanwhile the temperature has risen to above 30C deg. Luckely the sea swells are not to bad, what makes the traveling not to uncomfortable. Tonight we have the last performance of the band Savannah Jack. Over 3 performances they have worked their way from the 50’s to the 80’s tonight. They do 2 shows per evening, but the shows are different from each other what makes it so great. With most entertainment on the ship, usually the late show is a repeat from the earlier show. For tomorrow we are suppose to land in Punta Del Esta in Uruquay, we are looking forward to it.

Chow

“South America” “cruising” “Savannah Jack”

PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA

This morning we did wake up early and were at breakfast for 6:00 AM and watched the sunset from our table. Besides the sunset we also observed the ship being docked at the Pier. For today we booked a trip to see Penguins at a nature reserve called Punta Tombo. You readers might think more Penguins? Yes, we booked this trip as a backup to the Falklands Islands penguin trip, as only 50% of the ships are able to dock at the Falklands due to the strong winds. Puerto Madryn is a midsize City in northern Patagonia where most of the economy is coming from the Aluminum smelter, with additional economy coming from fishing and tourism. There is quite a Welsh influence in this area. In order to get to the penguins there was a 2.5 hr long bus ride. The country side looked a lot like Arizona minus the Cactus. Total rainfall for the year is only 150mm-200mm. After a couple of pee stops, we arrived at the state park. At the park there was a 1.5km boardwalk to get to the ocean. Along the boardwalk, there were penguins nesting everywhere. It was amazing to see that the males and females take turnes guarding the young chicks. While one of them is guarding the nest, the other is making the trek to the ocean to get food, sometimes they have to walk 500m or more. We all know how fast the penguins waddle. (very slow) While this is going on there are southern giant petrels overhead luring to steel the chicks or eggs from the nest. From the 2 penguin eggs usually 1 egg will make it to adulthood. After spending 1-2 hr at the penguins, we boarded the 2.5hr back to port. We thought the bus ride was very boring, not much to see. After we got back to port, there was no time left to spend time in town. After we got back onto the ship, we were desperate in need of a cold drink. We decided to head for the rear deck. The wind was so strong on the deck that we had to be carefull being up there. Shortly after, they closed the deck for safety reasons. (wind 40-50 knotts). After a great dinner (Indonesian buffet), stage show and a game of music trivia we called’r the night.

Cheers

“South America” ” Cruising” “Puerto Madryn” “Penguin”

SEADAY

Another day at sea. I have developed lately a ritual for filling the sea days. After breakfast I usually retreat to a quiet place on the ship to write the blog. You readers must have noticed, I have been writing 2 days at a time. Before I start on my Blog, I stop at the exploration cafe to to pick up an Americano from Marie the best Coffee lady. After blog time it is gym time followed by a late lunch. We hang out to 4:00 PM (Carol Time) to be ready for happy hour. I always thought happy hour was an American thing, but the Europeans on the ship are adapting very quickly to this custom and they seem to be enjoying it. This evening we all got literature in our room regarding the tighting rules regarding the coronavirus. We don’t had any issues up to this point, but with passengers leaving and new ones coming on board in Buenos Aires, the cruiseline upped their screening process. This morning I happen to look out of my balcony door and seen the largest Killer whale you can imagine breach the water by at least 6 ft high, not ones, but he (she)did it 3 times. (priceless). Tonight we retreated to our cabin after the 8:30 show and be ready for port day tomorrow bright and early.

Happy birthday to Bob Sharpe.

Cheers

“South America” “Cruising” “exploration cafe” “HAL Volendam”

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Good Morning Folks. This morning we anchored in the harbour of Stanley at the Falkland Islands. I hate to say it, we were lucky again. Normally only 50% of the cruises manage to land here, due to the strong winds. As there is no dock to tie on to, we have to tender in on the life boats. It takes about 25min to get to the ramp with the small boats. The waters were very calm this morning. This morning we booked a trip to see the Rockhopper penguins. A van picked us up at the harbour and took us to a farm. From here they disperged our group up and we carried on in 4ea 4×4 Landrovers. We cruised through the farmfields covered with rock outcroppings and peat. The ride was very rough. After about 45 min ride we got to some rocky cliffs by the ocean. Yes there they were, the Rockhopper Penguins. They have quite a smell to them. This peticuler colony still had very young ones. The young penguins have to lose their fur before they are able to go swimming. After spending 45 min at the penguins the 4×4’s took us back for another rough ride back to town. On the way back to town, we passed the 1982 war memorial. The farm we were at was 10,000 acre. The land is only good for sheep farming. While we were on the farm the annual dirtbike event was going on there. Back in town we stopped at the Globe Pub for some fish and chips and a local beer. After lunch we walked along the waterfront and stocked up on some pop at the local supermarket. Carol send of some postcards to the grandkids. Talking to some locals they were saying that there is pretty well no unemployment. The Island is on verge of an oil boom. No hotel space is available in the local hotels, because they are all booked up by the oil companies. Houses are heated by way of electricity or propane. The electricity comes from 6 ea wind turbine generators and backed up by diesel generators. In the old days houses were heated by peat. Today about 3500 people call the Falklands home. I noticed a few new subdivisions being build, as the population is growing. There is a good size military base on the other side of the island, this is about a 30 mile drive from Stanley. Weekly flights are departing to Punta Arenas and Santiago Chile. There is also a weekly military flight to the UK, on this flight 25 seats are reserved for civilians. Young people go mostly to the UK for there college and University studies. There is about an 85% return rate for these young people to settle back on the Islands. At about 3:30 we boarded the tenders back to the main ship. For the rest of the night we kept ourselves busy with on ship stuff.

Cheers

“South America” “Falklands” “Cruising”