We've always enjoyed traveling whenever we could find the time. Now that we're retired, we're taking the trip of our life: a cruise around the world.

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Rio de Janero, Brazil I’m a bit behind but will try to catch up before we get to the Amazon. Rio is, as you might expect, a beautiful city. The landmarks of Christ the Redeemer standing atop a mountain and Sugar Loaf together with the beaches of Ipanima and Copacabana, etc. create quite a backdrop for the setting of this city. We were docked there for two days so on day one, we took the H. Stern shuttle into the city to their international headquarters workshop. We had a tour showing how the stones are cut and polished and then put [View Full Entry]

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Buenos Aires and Montevideo The Falkland Islands waters were rather choppy and the weather damp and rainy, so we decided to stay aboard because Bruce is starting to get a cold. A wise choice since there is nothing to do in Stanley except eat fish and chips and quaff a pint or so. We did SLD’s instead - got hair cuts, did laundry, and rested. The last tender from shore was almost 45 minutes late because the waves made getting the tender to the ship’s platform difficult. Finally, we sailed for Buenos Aires, a two day trip. We played bridge and [View Full Entry]

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Cape Horn and Antarctica Sailing around Cape Horn could be troublesome, but for us it was “a piece of cake,” so to speak. In fact, the Captain sailed around the whole island which is something he is not often able to do. This enabled everyone on both port and starboard sides to experience “rounding the Horn.” The weather continued to cooperate in the Drake Passage as we sailed south to Antarctica. This passage is known to produce fierce winds, making the trip very difficult; however, this time the waves really were not too roly-poly, and we were able to sleep quite [View Full Entry]

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Hi Guys and Gals - we had an absolutely glorious day of scenic cruising yesterday in the vicinity of the U.S. Palmer Research Station on Amberes Island, part of the Antarctic Penninsula which extends northward toward the South end of Argentina (Terra del Fuego) where Magellan saw fires set by the natives as he rounded the southern tip. I believe we sailed as far south as 66 degrees S. Lat. near the Antarctic Circle and today are proceeding out of the Gerlache Straits toward Deception Island in the Shetlands where we will be tonight. A really big treat was to have [View Full Entry]

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Punta Arenas and Ushuaia Actually, Punta Arenas (sand point, in Spanish) is our last stop on the mainland of Chile. We have scenic sailing to the port of Ushuaia, Argentina which is the last stop before heading around the Horn and south to Antarctica. The weather is overcast and nippy with temps in the 40’s and occasional bursts of sun peaking through, especially around the glaciers where they create their own climate. In Punta Arenas we took a city tour of the highlights. The cemetery is much like the one in Buenos Aries except this one is even more beautiful because [View Full Entry]

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Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Our last stop in Chile is Chacabuco. The day was rainy and rather cold, so Bruce ventured forth on tour armed with parka, umbrella, and, Julie, his waterproof shoes you helped pick out for him. The tender ride, although sort of wet, was, at least, smooth. Most people who hadn’t booked tours stayed aboard rather than go out in the rain. I had a beautiful view of the shore from our room where I stayed and wrote the last blog Bruce returned about one thirty with a good report about the tour. His guide said that one could [View Full Entry]

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Isla Robinson Crusoe and Puerto Montt, Chile It took us from 5PM Thursday until 9AM on Saturday to sail from Valparaiso to Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile, one of the most remote populated islands in the world. We were barely proceeding a storm front, so we had a rock and roll night making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep as our sliding bathroom door kept slamming shut - then open - then shut again. We did make it, of course, and are here to tell the story. Although Daniel Defoe never visited the Isla Robinson Crusoe, he was inspired by [View Full Entry]

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Coquimbo and Valparaiso, Chile Let me be the first to tell you that there is nothing in Coquimbo, Chile. If you ever have a chance to come here but can’t make it for some reason, don’t fret about it. The port is the only thing that keeps this town alive. We had a tour to some wineries out of town, but it was canceled. The other tours were not so hot, so we stayed aboard. Bruce ventured into the downtown, but said there was nothing to see, so I didn’t even venture forth. The best thing is the weather that continues [View Full Entry]

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Arica and Iquique, Chile Arica, Chile is located just where South America turns inward, or east, before going more or less straight down to Cape Horn. It is here that in 1874 a huge Tsunami hit the city and destroyed many buildings including massive damage to their cathedral. Not many years after that, Chile was engaged in its only war. As I understand the story, Peru had a pact or some agreement with Bolivia to help protect it from attack. Bolivia wanted access to the ocean because it is a land locked country. Peru was willing to sell coast land to [View Full Entry]

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Lima and Pisco, Peru We arrived at the port of Calleo, about a half hour drive to Lima through much traffic. Lima sits atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and having many parks with breathtaking vistas. As we drove along we saw parasailors leaping off the cliff and taking flight - most impressive. We also learned that it “never rains in Lima.” Because of the Humboldt Current, the coastal areas are very dry. It may be cloudy and look like rain, but it just doesn’t rain in summer, and very little in winter. The water for irrigating comes from the [View Full Entry]

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