Southern Chile

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Hi Everybody!
It is summer in South America but as far south as we are, it is still cool, windy, and often rainy. After leaving Ushuaia, Argentina, we cruised through the Beagle Channel. We passed through the Southern Ice Fields which contain 48 glaciers. Many were more spectacular to me than the Alaskan glaciers. Glaciers form more rapidly in this part of the world than in Antarctica where there is little snowfall. It may require hundreds of years for a glacier to form there, but in Chile one can form in as little as 10 years. S. Chile has heavy snowfall and warm enough summers to produce plenty of melting snow water. The glaciers often come right down to the water´s edge. The scenery has been much prettier on the Pacific side of South America. There are lots of mountains, rugged snowy peaks, islands, fjords, and magnificent green forests. Very few people live in this area so we have seen few houses and towns. It stays light here until between 10 & 11 o´clock. We stopped a couple of days ago at Punta Arenas, the "city at the end of the world." It is located on the Strait of Magellan. There were many statues in the town in honor of Ferdinand Magellan. He was the first explorer to successfully find a western route to the Spice Islands in the early 1500´s. His ship, the Victoria, made it all the way around the world. Magellan was killed by natives in the Phillipines.
Today, we are in Puerto Chucabuco which is near Aysen, Chile. We had to be tendered ashore here. The people in this area make their living from commercial fishing and salmon fishing.
Walt says that if you want to feel young, take a cruise. Several passengers have asked Walt if he is a doctor, because he did the Heimlich maneuver on an older gentleman in a crowded restaurant on the ship.
We hope all is well with you.
Take care,
Everette

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Comments

[Lila]

Doctor on Board
Sounds like you two are having fun as usual. I hope you continue to enjoy your adventure. Be safe and hurry home. Everette, I miss your E-mails!!