Explorer Feb 1-17 Buenos Aires to Santiago Live

[RachelG]

Really big glaciers and waterfalls

[Travelcat2]

Those photos are gorgeous!  Love both glaciers and waterfalls.

[Hambagahle]

Beautiful photos - and I love the glacier coming almost to the lake (or inlet of the sea?)

[RachelG]

Travelcat and Hambagahle, those photos were taken through the windows in Compass Rose at dusk.  Imagine how much better they would have been outside in daylight.

[Hambagahle]

Even more amazing.  There is a special term for a glacier that flows down into the sea which Terry Breen used.  Anyone remember it?

[ronrick1943]

What a great trip your taking, it's obvious you're enjoying every minute of it.  Just want to thank you so much for taking the time so everyone can enjoy your trip----I know I am.  Safe travels, and I know many more to come your way. Rick

Edited February 10, 2019 by ronrick1943

[gnomie1]

1 hour ago, Hambagahle said:

Even more amazing.  There is a special term for a glacier that flows down into the sea which Terry Breen used.  Anyone remember it?

Tidewater glacier??

 

gnomie

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

I am so enjoying reliving our South American cruise through your posts. We were on Oceania and did all private tours.

Found the Falklands fascinating, from the penguins to the desolate landscape, with its battlegrounds to the small village.  We had a British gentleman as our guide, who was there during the war. We were in a 4X4 and spend a lovely day with him. Great memories.

Enjoyed Ushuaia and sailing around the Cape.

The glaciers were beautiful. 

Thanks for sharing. 

Sheila

[RachelG]

Bellagio cruisers, glad you are enjoying reliving your cruise.  Ronrick, my pleasure to share.

 

February 10, 2019–Punta Arenas Chile

 

Another smooth night sailing brought us to Punta Arenas Chile.  Apparently the wind was howling outside according to some other passengers, but we neither heard nor felt it.  Punta Arenas is the gateway to the Torres del Paine national park and Patagonia.  We spent a 2 week land hiking tour in this region about 11 years ago.  Lots of people were going today on very long tours to Torres del Paine or to the penguin colonies.  Since we had been to both before, and know you just can’t do justice to the Torres del Paine on a day bus trip, we chose to stay closer and visit the one thing on the list of excursions that we had missed previously— the Magellan Strait Park.

 

The weather was cool, with high around 50F, mostly sunny skies.  Punta Arenas is know for being very windy.  When we were here before, the plane we landed on couldn’t open the doors to the cargo hold because of the wind, and we had to wait a couple of hours for our luggage.

 

Today did not disappoint as far as wind.  We were docked at the end of a long dock, and as we disembarked, there was a crew member there warning us to secure anything loose.  George was smart enough to realize this wasn’t a safe place for his cowboy hat, so had worn a baseball cap.  It immediately went flying, but he was able to catch it.  

 

In front of us was a very windblown typical South American small city of about 120,000 with lots of small houses, some apartments, and something new since our previous visit— a huge high rise casino and hotel which looked more expensive than anything else in town.

 

We went by bus about 60 km south along the coast to the Magellan Straits National Park.  One mile past the park, the road ends.  It is the southernmost paved road in America.

 

We visited an old fort, Fort Bulnes, which was built as a Chilean outpost in 1843.  Living conditions were very hard here, and eventually it was abandoned in favor of Punta Arenas.  The wind blows hard and constantly.  There are a bunch of reconstructed buildings, a couple of nature trails and a trail to the old lighthouse.  

 

We then visited the brand new museum, just Opened last year.  It is small but very well done, with interesting exhibits about the history and geology of the area.  The early explorers called the native people “patagons “ as they were very tall, almost giants, thus giving Patagonia its name.

 

By the time, we got back to the ship, it was 3:30.  We considered walking in town, but the wind was blowing so hard, and fighting it was such work, we decided to surrender and go back to the ship.  I had to hunch over and power through to get myself back onboard.  There are a lot of frail old people on this cruise.  I have no idea how they made it.

 

Half our trivia team was missing.  Despite that, we got 10 correct answers, and the ones we didn’t know we really had no idea.

 

Dinner was in Sette Mare.  George wanted a big salad, and the buffet there allows you to do that.  It was a very good dinner with great views of the port. We should have been up there last night going through the glaciers.

 

Lots of people were out on very long excursions, so the ship seemed pretty deserted.  Not that it ever seems crowded.  Even though it is totally booked, I have never felt crowded at all, except in the theater waiting for the first tours to be called.

 

Tonight is the Beatles Show, always a fun time.  I think they wanted something more casual given the late return of a lot of the tours.  It Is going to be out in the main atrium area.  I think that will be a good venue.

[RachelG]

Punta Arenas City city views.  The big glass building is the casino and hotel.

[RachelG]

Magellan Strait Park.  Can anyone guess how many layers I am wearing?

[tripperva]

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Wish it were a little warmer down here.

[forgap]

Thank you for your wonderful blog!   We hiked a national park in Ushuaia prior to our Antarctica trip.    But, if you think it’s cold on the tip do South America, wait til you get to the bottom of the earth!  At least Ponant gave us great jackets that kept us very toasty and dry.  What ship are you taking for your Antarctica trip? 

[RachelG]

11 minutes ago, forgap said:

Thank you for your wonderful blog!   We hiked a national park in Ushuaia prior to our Antarctica trip.    But, if you think it’s cold on the tip do South America, wait til you get to the bottom of the earth!  At least Ponant gave us great jackets that kept us very toasty and dry.  What ship are you taking for your Antarctica trip? 

Forgap, we are on Silversea Cloud.  They have really good parkas as well.  I thought about bringing mine from last years trip to northern Alaska and Russia with me on this trip, but didn’t as it takes up quite a bit of room in the luggage. One of my work colleagues just did the Antarctica trip with Le Ponant.

 

21 minutes ago, tripperva said:

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Wish it were a little warmer down here.

Me too, but actually I can deal with the cold ok, it is more the wind that is the problem.

[OrthoCruiser]

Hi Rachel,

Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience on the Explorer! My wife and I are traveling with another couple on the Explorer's LA to Miami in March so we are hanging on every word you say regarding your adventure! We have cruised Navigator several times but this will be our first on Explorer and we are looking forward to the shipboard experience.  Please continue to share your thoughts as they relate to the food, lounges, music, daytime activities, spa, evening cocktail venues, etc.  We all love living vicariously through your posts.  Thank you again and bon voyage!

[Boatmans Lady]

Fantastic photos and I too am very grateful for your blog. 

 

As you asked, I reckon on 5 layers depending if you are counting everything! 

[Catlover54]

• Thank you for continued posts, Rachel.  We did a similar route on SS six years ago on Silver Cloud and your report is bringing back memories ( especially the wind battle reports, but also the hike, complete with a woman falling into the mud). I admire how you two have so much energy. At some point, George may need to invest in a chin strap to keep his hats on, but I see from the pinning celebratory event that at least his one pair of trousers are holding up 🙂

[rallydave]

19 hours ago, RachelG said:

 

 

 

We went by bus about 60 km south along the coast to the Magellan Straits National Park.  One mile past the park, the road ends.  It is the southernmost paved road in America.

 

 

Rachel, believe this is the usual case of Argentina vs. Chile however I thought and just confirmed that the southernmost road is the end of the Pan America Highway which ends just outside of  Ushuaia which is the southernmost city in South America.  Sure you heard that from the guide touting Chile but, the road in Argentina is much further south and paved.

[RachelG]

Dave, Ushuaia is on an island, as confirmed by our guide in Ushuaia.  So I think that technically speaking the Chilean claim (not an island) is correct, but I agree it is a Chile vs Argentina thing.

 

catlover, I am cracking up at your deja vu experience with the lady falling in the mud.  Boatmanslady, you are correct regarding layers.

 

orthocruiser, I am supposing you are a bone doc.  I had my personal ortho experience 2 years ago, when I slipped and fell while making rounds, breaking my shoulder in 3 places. A plate, 8 pins, and a whole lot of PT, I am back at 95%. But I left on a cruise 2 days postop!

[OrthoCruiser]

18 minutes ago, RachelG said:

orthocruiser, I am supposing you are a bone doc.  I had my personal ortho experience 2 years ago, when I slipped and fell while making rounds, breaking my shoulder in 3 places. A plate, 8 pins, and a whole lot of PT, I am back at 95%. But I left on a cruise 2 days postop!

You guessed correctly.  You're a tough one indeed although it might take more than that to keep me off the Explorer next month!  Not that I want to tempt fate!  Hope that shoulder is treating you well!

Edited February 12, 2019 by OrthoCruiser

[WesW]

Have to give Rachel a shout out (and George in support) she joined Mr. Rumor/Rich & Ginny and us on Singapore to Hong Kong back in Feb 2017.  She is the toughest Doc we know, having met them for lunch in La Veranda on embarkation day--Rachel slinged and medicated up--but so excited to be on board.

 

 

Edited February 12, 2019 by WesW

[RachelG]

Yes, orthocruiser, WesW is a witness.  My ortho doc was not thrilled that I was going to SE Asia 2 days postop, but i did it and survived.

[RachelG]

February 11,2019–cruising the Chilean Fjords

 

First of all, last night’s Beatles party was a huge success.  Even George danced.  (I know that those of you who know my husband are calling 911 now to have them come take you to the hospital to treat your heart attacks.)

 

We woke up to very overcast skies.  On all sides, there were thousands of islands and inlets, ranging from tiny to huge, with the higher peaks snow topped.  From time to time, we could see a glacier in the distance.

 

The weather was chilly, in the 40s, but not much wind.  Perfect weather for my very favorite thing onboard, an early morning walk out on the top deck.  The view changed constantly as did our heading as the captain carefully worked his way through the maze of islands.  I can’t imagine how hard and painstaking this was before modern navigational tools, depth finders, and ships which can change course quickly and easily.

 

We saw the wreckage of an old ship, the Santa Leonor, which apparently happened when the person driving turned starboard instead of port.  Fortunately all onboard were safely evacuated.  It is all rusted out now, but the wreck changed how orders are given on ships.

 

Internet connection was not great due to all the fjords.  Lots of trouble downloading emails and connecting with the office, so I finally gave up.

 

Lunch in La Veranda for the first time this cruise.  It was the Tex Mex buffet, which is not their strong suit, but I had a big salad.  The guacamole is good, so that was my dessert.  There were lots of other options—grill with burgers, hot dogs, fries; several hot dishes not Tex Mex; pasta made to order; a big cold seafood buffet.  So many choices make it hard to be good.

 

In the afternoon, it was Island after Island.  They could have been running a loop film outside the window.  I hate to say, but it got a bit boring.  It looks very similar to Alaska.  Finally, we started seeing some ice in the water, then we arrived at a huge glacier.  The captain stopped the ship, turned it around 360, and gave us a good view.  We were 2 1/2 miles way, but it looked huge. 

 

Dinner with saildude16 and his lovely wife in Compass Rose. We had so much laughing!  I had the tandoori chicken while George had steak.  

 

The show was Paradis, which is the French show.  This is the 4th time I have seen it, and it is admittedly not my favorite.  That said, this was the best of the four by far.  They are very talented. 

[RachelG]

Fjord pics

[Travelcat2]

Rachel - we have previously discussed the "faux" Mexican buffet on Regent.  One has to wonder if they have ever had authentic Mexican or "Tex-Mex" food.  Agree that guacamole is good.  When Regent has this buffet, we try to find some chicken or beef in La Veranda to put in a tortilla with salsa (weak), tomatoes, cheese and onions.  Being raised in Los Angeles, we do love our Mexican food.

 

Still loving your photos and commentary.  I'm going to start a very early "almost live" thread to detail the nightmare that we have been going through (weather and airline related).  While still not 100% resolved, rather than having a slight chance of making it to the ship on time, we now have a good chance.

 

I find it so interesting that the weather on your cruise has been my kind of weather while the weather on our cruise is too warm.  Since it is such a big celebration for Dennis, I'm willing to do anything - even fight with airlines - sail in hot weather, etc.  He is definitely worth it!  In almost 40 years of marriage (anniversary later this year), he is still the most amazing, kind, patient and generous man that I have ever met:-). Sorry for the off-topic paragraph.