Back in Buenos Aries again, where we are able to get a room in our previous B&B, due to a cancellation. The rest of the month was solidly booked. Spent the night and next day just getting ready for our trip back to Houston. Left BA at 11:40 PM on the 3rd of March (First Class seats--Thank you Continental) arrived Houston around 6:30AM (4th), caught a flight to Orlando around 9AM and rented a car in Orlando, one way, to Stuart, arriving home around 2:30PM.
A long and enjoyable trip to South America, but good to be home and back to the grind.
Monday, March 9, 2009
continuation
To continue our travels--
Docked at the city of Puerto Montt today, a city much like a Bavarian city, even one that has a large population of Germans. Along with our friends Jim, Merri Lynn, Donald, and Carol, we hired a driver with a small van for a 4 hour tour.
Our first stop, about 20 miles inland, a German flavored town of Fruitillar. This town is located along the shore of LLanquie (pronounced Junky-way). Two dark German beers, 4 coffees and some very rich pastries and we were on our way to the other side of the lake.
Next town on the lake, Puerto Varas, a larger town with numerous shops selling local crafts.
Our driver gives a running comentary as he drives us back to Puerto Montt, and his country pride is evident as he explains the history of the area. We are finally dropped off near the water front, where we have lunch at a very small eating spot. Food was good but not inexpensive.
Our cruise ship was anchored out in the channel, so we boarded "tenders" to go from the dock to the ship. The tenders are actually several of the enclosed life boats carried aboard the ship, that are lowered into the water and used to transport passengers to and from the ship.
Another day at sea, this time in the Pacific, and early the next morning we dock at Valparaiso, Chile, our last stop on the cruise.
After disembarking we (Merri Lynn and Jim) rented a driver and vehicle to take us to Santiago, about an hour away to the east. Along the way we stopped at a VERY modern winery, did a tour of the facility, and were treated to a wine tasteing. After several pictures, we were on our way but soon stopped at a typical Chilean restaurant for lunch. Dirt floors but really a very nice place with waiters dressed as Gauchos. Empanadas, cold beer, great bread and once again on our way to Santiago, where we spent the night. The people in this city have much more indian influence than in BA, where the people are very Euopean in their looks and speech, and what we saw of the city was not as impressive as BA.
Docked at the city of Puerto Montt today, a city much like a Bavarian city, even one that has a large population of Germans. Along with our friends Jim, Merri Lynn, Donald, and Carol, we hired a driver with a small van for a 4 hour tour.
Our first stop, about 20 miles inland, a German flavored town of Fruitillar. This town is located along the shore of LLanquie (pronounced Junky-way). Two dark German beers, 4 coffees and some very rich pastries and we were on our way to the other side of the lake.
Next town on the lake, Puerto Varas, a larger town with numerous shops selling local crafts.
Our driver gives a running comentary as he drives us back to Puerto Montt, and his country pride is evident as he explains the history of the area. We are finally dropped off near the water front, where we have lunch at a very small eating spot. Food was good but not inexpensive.
Our cruise ship was anchored out in the channel, so we boarded "tenders" to go from the dock to the ship. The tenders are actually several of the enclosed life boats carried aboard the ship, that are lowered into the water and used to transport passengers to and from the ship.
Another day at sea, this time in the Pacific, and early the next morning we dock at Valparaiso, Chile, our last stop on the cruise.
After disembarking we (Merri Lynn and Jim) rented a driver and vehicle to take us to Santiago, about an hour away to the east. Along the way we stopped at a VERY modern winery, did a tour of the facility, and were treated to a wine tasteing. After several pictures, we were on our way but soon stopped at a typical Chilean restaurant for lunch. Dirt floors but really a very nice place with waiters dressed as Gauchos. Empanadas, cold beer, great bread and once again on our way to Santiago, where we spent the night. The people in this city have much more indian influence than in BA, where the people are very Euopean in their looks and speech, and what we saw of the city was not as impressive as BA.
catch up time
Our blog sort of got "blogged down" after we left Ushuaia, the most southern town in South America because it was sometime hard to find an internet cafe, and, several days were simply sailing days without putting in to a port.
Our next port of call was Punta Arenas, Chile. A beautiful little port city with mountains in the background. This was a city we explored on foot and with our friends Donald and Carol we stopped by a small, non descript restaurant (recommended by a local) and dined on excellent seafood. Fried salmon, seafood stew, king crab over a bed of lettuce, and plates of calamari---all excellent. If this sounds like a lot of food, you are right. Donald, who was better at Spanish than the rest of us, also had his problems, as it seems in ordering, he mentioned a few too many items, and the mere mention of an item was interpreted as an order by the waiter.
Sailing the next two daysalong the western edge of Chile, on inland waterways that passed several very large glaciers coming right down to the water. The scenery at times is spectacular and the weather could not have been better. Even the coldest and most windy days were moderate, 48 to 50 degrees----the wind made it feel a little colder--and there were only 3 days that cool.
Our next port of call was Punta Arenas, Chile. A beautiful little port city with mountains in the background. This was a city we explored on foot and with our friends Donald and Carol we stopped by a small, non descript restaurant (recommended by a local) and dined on excellent seafood. Fried salmon, seafood stew, king crab over a bed of lettuce, and plates of calamari---all excellent. If this sounds like a lot of food, you are right. Donald, who was better at Spanish than the rest of us, also had his problems, as it seems in ordering, he mentioned a few too many items, and the mere mention of an item was interpreted as an order by the waiter.
Sailing the next two daysalong the western edge of Chile, on inland waterways that passed several very large glaciers coming right down to the water. The scenery at times is spectacular and the weather could not have been better. Even the coldest and most windy days were moderate, 48 to 50 degrees----the wind made it feel a little colder--and there were only 3 days that cool.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ushuaia
Since Montevideo we spent two days at sea--landed Port Stanley, the Faulkland Islands. Did a short tour to see the penguins--also past a mine field that was fenced off, a remnant from the was between Great Britain and Argentine. A rough ride the night before coming into this area--the South Atlantic was generating some fairly large waves. Cathy slept right through it.
Spent another day at sea, and rounded the southern tip of South America -- better known as Cape Horn, and located at latitude 56 degrees south--at 6:30 local time on the 22 day of Feb 2009--This point is farther south than any other land mass in the world, and is still about 2000 miles north of the south pole.
Today, we are tied up at the port city of Ushuaia, the southern most city (town of 140,000) in South America. This is the jumping off port for the ships going to Anartica. Beautiful bay, ringed with majestic peaks, many of them snow covered--the end of the Andes Mountain chain.
Leave today at 3 pm and will pass several glaciers before night fall around 8:30.
Spent another day at sea, and rounded the southern tip of South America -- better known as Cape Horn, and located at latitude 56 degrees south--at 6:30 local time on the 22 day of Feb 2009--This point is farther south than any other land mass in the world, and is still about 2000 miles north of the south pole.
Today, we are tied up at the port city of Ushuaia, the southern most city (town of 140,000) in South America. This is the jumping off port for the ships going to Anartica. Beautiful bay, ringed with majestic peaks, many of them snow covered--the end of the Andes Mountain chain.
Leave today at 3 pm and will pass several glaciers before night fall around 8:30.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Cruise
Boarded the Amsterdam last afternoon, took in an onboard show, later had a late meal and retired for the night. A VERY NICE room with an unobstructed view, port side. The ship was built in 2000, is 760 ft long, will accomodate 1350 people, with a crew of over 600. We are still in port today and sail tonight for Montevideo for a day and then reverse course for the Faulkland Islands.
Onboard they want $55 for 100 minutes on the internet, sooo, you can bet we will be looking for internet cafes at each port of call.
Problem with cruiseing is that if you have a few extra pounds around the waste (and elsewhere) when you board the ship, you can bet your sweet bippy that you will have MUCHO MUCHO extra pounds when you leave. And for Alan---the deserts and ice cream are great, and in too great a supply.
Onboard they want $55 for 100 minutes on the internet, sooo, you can bet we will be looking for internet cafes at each port of call.
Problem with cruiseing is that if you have a few extra pounds around the waste (and elsewhere) when you board the ship, you can bet your sweet bippy that you will have MUCHO MUCHO extra pounds when you leave. And for Alan---the deserts and ice cream are great, and in too great a supply.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Up the Lazy River
Took a mini city tour today that ended at a point on the Tigre River, where we boarded a very nice air conditioned launch that carried us North into the delta (many small islands and numerous additional rivers flowing into the Tigre and then into the ocean). The wealthy have hundreds of summer places along the river, and there was much boat traffic, including sail boats, motor launch, and Seedoo. This water is like mud---absolutely brown from bringing sediment down from the inland. Also as we were informed, the water is quite polluted--everything from industrial waste to human waste, and is not safe to swim in--so why did we see so many people swimming in it?
If you have ever flown over the delta formed by the Mississippi as it hits the Gulf, you will understand what I am describing. In this case, the water never changes color for hundreds of miles, north or south.
Our boat trip took one and a half hours, and brought us back to BA commercial harbor, and we finished up by going to a large street fair--swap meet--flea market, etc.
Another encounter with a "little ole lady", this time sitting on the curb with a goofy outfit and playing a home made horn. When Cathy approached to take a picture, she held up a sign that read "Show Me The Money". What a gal!!!!
If you have ever flown over the delta formed by the Mississippi as it hits the Gulf, you will understand what I am describing. In this case, the water never changes color for hundreds of miles, north or south.
Our boat trip took one and a half hours, and brought us back to BA commercial harbor, and we finished up by going to a large street fair--swap meet--flea market, etc.
Another encounter with a "little ole lady", this time sitting on the curb with a goofy outfit and playing a home made horn. When Cathy approached to take a picture, she held up a sign that read "Show Me The Money". What a gal!!!!
Funny thing, I can take a DC-10 and circumnavigate the globe, find a tiny speck of land in the middle of the Pacific to land on, but my biggest challenge here, when stepping out the door in the morning, is to remember whether to turn right or left to go to a destination that we have already visited numerous times. Now this is where the famous "Copeland" memory system comes into play, as she likes to remind me (many times). Seems she has memorized the landmarks along the way, and then gets to direct me as to the proper turns, streets, etc. She says that makes us even, reference my comments about the elevator.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
