The South American and Antarctic experience on the Zaandam

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, TayanaLorna said:

Did you find your guide at the entrance to the cemetery or arrange for one ahead of time for the day?

 

We arranged ahead and made a list of places that we wanted to see .

[scubacruiserx2]

5 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

We arranged ahead and made a list of places that we wanted to see .

 

And she also took us to some other places that we had not planned . After leaving the cemetery we walked beside it 

 

 

past the dog park

 

 

to this place for leather .

 

 

It's funny because we had seen this store on a TV program called  Samantha Brown : Passport to Latin America back in 2007 . They we running the program on their TV screen inside the store which was fine for me since I'm not  the savvy shopper that my wife is . But I did notice some alligator or crocodile bags on the top shelf that reminded me of some things that my mom use to have .

 

 

While the store smelled like leather bit it looked like money to me

 

 

I must admit that this jacket looked really good on my wife !

 

 

We did buy some things for the kids , grandsons and SIL and DIL .

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

After leaving the leather store we did some walking and window shopping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This store had some beautiful carvings , some from ivory

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We also went to the Mercado San Telmo

 

 

 

 

We didn't buy any of the fruits or vegetables as they would not be allowed on board 

 

 

 

These Dulce de Leche stores seemed like they were everywhere

 

 

We could tell that we were nearing Boca

 

 

 

[Manfred B]

For your consideration on the heels of this incredible journey:

 

https://nature.disney.com/penguins

[scubacruiserx2]

6 hours ago, Manfred B said:

For your consideration on the heels of this incredible journey:

 

https://nature.disney.com/penguins

 

Thank you Manfred , we linked here :

 

 

 

We also linked The Lion King in Antarctica 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The place that we had lunch at used to be a butcher shop

 

 

You can still see the meat hooks and racks

 

 

 

 

The fried Provolone was really good

 

 

 

as was the grilled filet ,

 

[Manfred B]

7 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Thank you Manfred , we linked here :

 

 

 

We also linked The Lion King in Antarctica 

 

 

 

Haha to The Lion King playing on an ice stage in Antarctica..... on April 1st!

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, Manfred B said:

Haha to The Lion King playing on an ice stage in Antarctica..... on April 1st!

 

We think that it plays once a year . 

[scubacruiserx2]

The Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires . This is considered to be the home church of the current pope  Pope Francis who was born in Buenos Aires .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Just down from the cathedral is the Plaza de Mayo

 

 

 

The Plaza de Mayo is a city square and main foundational site of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was formed in 1884 after the demolition of the Recova building, unifying the city's Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Armas, by that time known as Plaza de la Victoria and Plaza 25 de Mayo respectively. Wikipedia

 

The Pyramid de Mayo

 

 

The Pirámide de Mayo (Spanish pronunciation: [piˈɾamiðe ðe ˈmaʝo]; English: May Pyramid), located at the hub of the Plaza de Mayo, is the oldest national monument in the City of Buenos Aires. Its construction was ordered in 1811 by the Primera Junta to celebrate the first anniversary of the May Revolution. It is also used as a Spanish project by many middle schoolers and high schoolers who are taking Spanish classes. It was renovated in 1856, under the direction of Prilidiano Pueyrredón. In 1912, after having undergone many modifications, it was moved 63 metres (68.9 yards) to the east, with the idea that a much larger monument would eventually be constructed around it. Wikipedia

 

The white scarf of the Mothers of the Plazas de Mayo painted on the ground

 

 

The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (Spanish: Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo) is an association of Argentine mothers whose children "disappeared" during the state terrorism of the military dictatorship, between 1976 and 1983. They organized while trying to learn what had happened to their children, and began to march in 1977 at the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, in front of the Casa Rosada presidential palace, in public defiance of the government's state terrorism intended to silence all opposition. Wearing white head scarves to symbolize the diapers of their lost children, the mothers marched in solidarity to protest the atrocities committed by the military regime. They held the government accountable for the human rights violations they committed during their time in power. Wikipedia

 

The pink Palace

 

 

 

The Casa Rosada (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkasa roˈsaða], English: Pink House) is the executive mansion and office of the President of Argentina. The palatial mansion is known officially as Casa de Gobierno, ("House of Government" or "Government House"). Normally, the President lives at the Quinta de Olivos, the official residence of the President of Argentina, which is located in Olivos, Greater Buenos Aires. The characteristic color of the Casa Rosada is baby pink, and is considered one of the most emblematic buildings in Buenos Aires. The building also houses a museum, which contains objects relating to former presidents of Argentina. It has been declared a National Historic Monument of Argentina.  Wikipedia

 

The entrance to the subway station

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We did pass the Giant Flower stopping for a photo

 

 

Next destination La Boca

 

We passed this large apartment complex with their giant paintings on the wall , behind barbed wire

 

 

 

Boca Juniors Stadium

 

 

 

This painter was born in Boca and inspired the bright colors here 

 

 

Near the old port is Caminito

 

 

 

 

A statue of the pope

 

 

and the pope riding an alpaca

 

Edited April 3, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[newkq]

Now that we are almost 3 months past this memorable Antarctica cruise...are there anyone traveling on any other interesting cruise itineraries soon? Want to plan the next one...still thinking about which one.

[Manfred B]

2 hours ago, newkq said:

Now that we are almost 3 months past this memorable Antarctica cruise...are there anyone traveling on any other interesting cruise itineraries soon? Want to plan the next one...still thinking about which one.

We'll be travelling on the Norwegian Bliss for 21 days in November, Los Angeles to NYC via the Panama Canal!   https://www.ncl.com/cruises/21-day-panama-canal-from-los-angeles-BLISS21LAXCSLMZTPVRPRQPCLCTGSMRORJWILPHINYC?numberOfGuests=4294953449&sortBy=Price&state=null&sailmonths=4294942328&embarkationport=4294953406&destinations=4294961383&itineraryCode=BLISS21LAXCSLMZTPVRPRQPCLCTGSMRORJWILPHINYC

[scubacruiserx2]

On 4/3/2019 at 11:34 AM, scubacruiserx2 said:

We did pass the Giant Flower stopping for a photo

 

 

Next destination La Boca

 

We passed this large apartment complex with their giant paintings on the wall , behind barbed wire

 

 

 

Boca Juniors Stadium

 

 

 

This painter was born in Boca and inspired the bright colors here 

 

 

Near the old port is Caminito

 

 

 

 

A statue of the pope

 

 

and the pope riding an alpaca

 

 

More of Boca

 

 

 

 

We don't see many monuments to firefighters in our country

 

 

But they had several

 

[TayanaLorna]

Again fascinating.  Much to see in BA.

[scubacruiserx2]

21 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Again fascinating.  Much to see in BA.

 

We tried to cover the highlights on the first day and were so glad to have a car and driver .

[scubacruiserx2]

More colorful shots from the La Boca area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

A few more photos from La Boca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We made 2 more photo stops before returning to the ship

 

The Presidente Sarmiento

 

 

and the Women's Bridge

 

 

A 3-D street painting

 

 

 

It was a great tour .

[scubacruiserx2]

Our last supper on the Zaandam 

 

 

 

 

Dewa and Zeki took excellent care of us and our suite 

 

 

The last morning's sunrise

 

 

The sky had cleared so it was going to be a hot one

 

 

 

 

 

 

[A2Sea]

scubacruiserx2

I have really enjoyed your pictures!  Thank you for sharing!

Both Estancia and Patrick Watts have great reviews for their tours to Volunteer Point.  Trying to decide, did you notice any difference in the two?

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, A2Sea said:

scubacruiserx2

I have really enjoyed your pictures!  Thank you for sharing!

Both Estancia and Patrick Watts have great reviews for their tours to Volunteer Point.  Trying to decide, did you notice any difference in the two?

 

Thank you and you're welcome . We have only been with Estancia and they were very good . We have heard many good things about Patrick Watts as well .  Maybe if you contact both companies you may get a feel for the best fit for your needs . A key point is to try to get on the earliest possible tender for either company as it is a long long ride and viewing is more enjoyable with fewer people there and more time with the penguins . Have a great trip !

[scubacruiserx2]

HAL gave us 2 nights in a hotel and transportation . We were the second to the last group off the ship and we took our time eating and walked around ship and our room one last time .

 

 

 

The doors to the balconies were open for cleaning for the next cruise

 

 

The decks were fairly empty

 

 

 

 

A Costa ship was also in port

 

 

A couple of impressive bank buildings

 

 

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

They called for our group at 9:30 so we took our carry on luggage of the ship and down to the bus .

 

 

After arriving at the terminal we were told that our luggage was on the bus after  we cleared immigration . It was a short ride to the Sheraton Hotel . We were met by a representative told us to bring our luggage into this room .

 

 

We we told that we may not be able to check in until 2 PM ! We were told that it is a big , busy hotel and we needed to wait for other people to check out . We were also given the paper work for the Hotel and told that we could leave our luggage there if we wanted to .

 

 

My DW spotted the twin beds and we were not too happy with that room . We decided to find out how busy they were and if upgrades were available . I stood luggage watch while my wife went to the desk . She returned shortly with our keys cards and away we went .

 

 

 

 

It had a great view of the port

 

 

and we could see the Zaandam in the distance , perfect for sail away !