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Published: March 12th 2007
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With the southern most reaches of the world being so inaccessible and desolate at it is....we decided to jump aboard the Norwegian Crown on a two week voyage around the tip of S. America. We have aided you all in the geographical aspect of the cruise with an attached map and fun pictures and when you hear the cruise horn blow...turn the page... so read along kids!!! bawoooooo!!! all aboard!!..okay, okay...i'll stop.
We started in Valparaiso, Chile and headed south down the coast to some smaller towns thriving from the forestry, fishing, and salmon farm industries. The towns of Puerto Montt, and Puerto Chacabuco were quaint and quickly introduced us to a changing weather trend of cold, cold, and colder as we headed south. A close likeness to parts of the northwest terrain were apparent and it was refreshing to step off the ship and immediately be among the locals in the middle of daily life. Chacabuco was nestled in a small channel surrounded by steep mountains. This was the kind of town where every thousand dollar home had a million dollar view and we strolled down dead end dirt roads to glimpse where man had stopped and nature begins.
fishermen mended nets, dirty faced kids delighted in the age old warfare of dirt clod fights and we had time to simply take in the crisp air and relax.
We left to sea and embarked on our journey along the coast and viewed the highest peaks of the southern andes off our left ( San Valentin- 13,350 feet) and an endless horizon to our right. The Patagonian Channel portion of the cruise allowed our eyes to skip from mountain peaks to valleys and numerous glaciers hid between in frozen cascades. Also, joining us for the ride was a group of humpback whales that made their introductions through tale splashes and blow hole sprays. The Strait of Magellan was further south and took it's name from Ferdinand Magellan who first set eyes on it's shores in the early 1500's. The Chilean Fjords were a rare treat as the captain felt weather was in our favor and we camped a half day sitting side by side with a massive wall of glacier that would ever so slowly move and break off piece by piece into the water. shards of ice 5 stories tall would crash into the water below sending ripples out
for miles and earning the oohs and aahs of the spectators aboard. This region is also where we took in Punta Arenas the southern most city of Chile with it's bustling city square.... the economy has remained strong echoing the heyday of it's origin as a strong trade city prior to the panama canal. The next city of Ushuaia was our first stop back in Argentina and the truly the southern most city in the world and the jump off point for Antarctic expeditions. An hour outside this quickly growing city is Tierra del Fuego National Park, which preserves the beauty of this land with it's twisting streams, spongy moss and 45 degree bent trees from the prevailing winds that rip through the region. we were blessed with beautiful weather as we had a taxi take us on a tour through the national park as well as the slave train station that once ferried inmates back and forth between housing and daily work in the rock quarries. Our great thanks to John and Terri from California for joining us on the excursion and keeping us company with their own tales of adventure in travel...we'll stop by soon for your legendary
tacos.
Finally, we made our way to the Cape Horn where in 1615 the first recorded voyage made its way around this southern tip and set in progress a new trade route for countless countries. The reputation for being turbulent was well founded as our ship was tossed around easily by the large waves...many crashing over the rails. The staff were instructed to keep passengers away from areas on deck that were being hit. Our sea legs of were tested as we stumbled from side to side in the violent seas and finally relenting and giving in to seated viewing of the storm outside.
Heading North now, we headed out to sea to visit the Falkland islands. This English island territory has been settled for years by just a handful of english folks but takes great pride in it's connection to the much larger island of the U.K. This pride is further defined in history in it's short conflict with the country of Argentina where in 1983, the then president of Argentina felt a sure fire way of rallying country morale and political support would be to take back the small, rocky island of the Falklands. After a short occupation
of the island by Argentine forces..PM Margaret Thatcher flexed some muscle and around two months later took back the island. Roughly 1200 soldiers collectively parished in the conflict and still today, a grudge is felt on both sides. The drastic change in culture from S. America was felt as soon as you stepped onto the island. We took in the museums and since really nothing has changed since the conflict, you could see all of the sights where historically relevant happenings took place. The weather was sunny yet brisk and we took the day to walk along the streets past pubs and well...pubs. Also..I'm pretty sure there is a successful land rover dealership there as everyone..i mean everyone drives one.
A day or two later at sea and we made it back to the main continent just in time to vist Puerto Madryn a little city nestled in the protective cove of Golfo Nuevo. It's an obvious jumping off point for outdoor enthusiasts visiting the wildlife sanctuaries complete with sea lions, penguins..and basically any animal that swims well and waddles on land. The city is also lined with a beautiful beach that beckons the Argentines from all over during the
summer months. We were unlucky in seeing the sea creatures as most were out to sea feeding but it is well known that a population of nearly 1 million penguins live here in a single colony.
We then bounced up to Montevideo, Uruguay that felt a lot like a small Buenos Aires with it's architecture, people and well cheap prices. The warm beach was a refreshing change to the the weather we had been experiencing the past couple weeks and chose to soak it up versus browse the trinkit shops...sue us.
The two week cruise ended in buenos aires and we left our lavish living of breakfast in bed, white robes awaiting our hot tub dips and our midnight room service delivery of chocolate and wine. It was time to shake ourselves from this dream and strap the backpack on once more. It's time for Brazil!!!
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DW Kelly
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hi friends!! these pictures are amazing, and I wish I was there with you! The one of the dog on the car....i mean really?? miss you!