Feb 27, 2019 - board Midnatsol

Our ship holds about 450 people. Authorities only allow about 100 passengers to be put on shore in Antartica at a time. This means we will have to take turns and might lead you to believe that a smaller ship would be a better choice. But smaller ships are less able to handle the rough waters and their Antarctic cruises get cancelled regularly because of weather. It's a crap shoot. Big ships are also somewhat cheaper due to economies of scale. This trip cost plenty already. Getting everyone to the ships is an organizational challenge. It is...

Feb 26, 2019 - on the town

Every time we have come here, I have been reminded how important it is to have good government. This beautiful country has suffered greatly at the hands of incompetent, greedy and even cruel leadership. The current inflation rate of 48% makes it impossible to save. Large transactions like home purchases must be made in cash US dollars, not local peso currency. As we wander around down town, we hear a steady chorus of "cambio" from middle class looking people who want to exchange their pesos for dollars. If they can't get dollars today, they...

Feb 25, 2019 - Buenos Aries, Argentina and the Trip Home

04 11 Feb. 24, 2019 Buenos Aries, Argentina and the Trip Home The wether continued to cloud our chances to explore - although we had done just that in Buenos Aries a few years ago with Classic Journeys. So when it rained upon our arrival to that bustling city we were not disappointed on our last full day as we enjoyed the amenities of the ship and began the process of repacking. Either our clothing expanded or something happened since Tom had to expand his suitcase! We had not purchased anything! The ship was docked in a commercial port...

Feb 25, 2019 - arrive in Buenos Aries

There was nothing premium about Premium Economy. We were on an old plane; perhaps a new one configured for this service might have been better. It felt exactly like the old economy flights we used to take to Europe, only much longer. The immigration line was long and slow. When we got through it we were so happy to see our bags on the other side and our guide waiting. A long and tedious travel day. Once your feet are firmly planted on the ground and your luggage is in your hands, other needs begin to rise. The hotel had our rooms ready...

Feb 20, 2019 - At Sea and White Night

04 10 Feb. 20, 2019 At Sea and White Night Another day at sea began with an amazing sunrise. This has been a cruise with the most days at sea and taught us not to take an ocean crossing cruise in the future! It was a leisurely time at sea with not a lot of rolling and pitching. Tom tried a hot dog from the patio. It was a bit better than the one from Chile, but still not like back home. Many of the passengers were spread out on the pool deck absorbing the rays. Deck five also has deck chairs and is out of the direct sun making it one of our...

Feb 18, 2019 - At Sea and Puerto Madryn, Argentina

04 08 Feb. 17-18, 2019 At Sea Instead of taking 2 days at sea to reach Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, we headed to a calmer part of the South Atlantic and closer to the mainland. We dined at Prime C, one of the two premium restaurants and then enjoyed the dancing show by Sasha and Dyma - two very talented performers. 04 09 Feb. 19, 2019 Puerto Madryn, Argentina We chose a two-stop tour that first took us to a sheep ranch - San Guillermo. Here out in the Patagonia pampas desert away from civilization, the owner decided to fashion his...

Feb 16, 2019 - Docked in Ushuaia Harbor with near hurricane winds

04 07 Feb. 16, 2019 Docked in Ushuaia Harbor Nearly hurricane winds of a constant 60 mph crossed the harbor as we arose early. The harbormaster closed access and the ship was securely tied with every line. All passengers were kept aboard but the three Chilean Ship Pilots who had accompanied us to Ushuaia were able to disembark and get their flights back to home base. Two entertainers were able to join the roster while the gangplank was lowered only once before being withdrawn. All shore excursions were cancelled. Tom was very disappointed...

Feb 15, 2019 - Beagle Channel

04 06 Feb 15, 2019 Beagle Channel The extreme southern tip of South America is an archipelago made up of many large and smaller islands. There are two main channels for crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic and one open ocean passage. The Magellan Strait is the northernmost and the Drake Passage is the most southern. Drake is used for commercial shipping. We took the mid lane, The Beagle Channel which has glaciers and waterfalls, making it more scenic. The channel was named after the ship HMS Beagle which made its first hydrographic...

Jan 8, 2019 - Evita Museum

To learn more about Eva Peron Duarte, the most famous First Lady of Argentina, I walked to the Museo Evita. The museum chronicles the life and social work of one of the most important women in the history of Argentina. Different moments of Evita's life are recreated in historical surroundings using modern museography techniques including some of her clothing and jewelry. One of her outstanding accomplishments was her work for women's suffrage. In 1948, the house, once a small family hotel, was acquired by the Maria Eva Duarte de Peron...

Jan 7, 2019 - MALBA and Tango Show

MALBA Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires Latin American Museum of Buenos Aires This museum began as the collection of Eduardo Constantine, donated and declared MALBA Museo del Arte Latino Americano de Buenos Aires in 2001. The current exhibition was 223 works by more than 200 Latin American artists of the 20th century. Among others, Xul Solar, David Siqueiros, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera are represented. Besides the permanent collection, there was a Pablo Suarez (1937-2016) exhibition called Narciso Plebeyo or plebeian...

Jan 6, 2019 - San Telmo Sunday Market

San Telmo is one of the oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods in BA with many colonial houses and manors. The Sunday market features blocks and blocks of stalls of jewelry craftsmen. Plaza Dorrego is known for its antiques market and outdoor entertainment. This is where you can find the Mafalda statue sitting on a bench a few doors from where her creator, the cartoonist Quino, used to live. Mafalda is a national favorite and icon of the comic strips in Argentina. For lunch I found empanadas at La Continental on Defensa.

Jan 5, 2019 - Even BA Has Chinatown

After I went to the port to see Jennie and Linda off on their cruise around the Horn, I stopped at Plaza Francia in front of the Recoleta Cemetery. On weekends the plaza is filled with vendors of handicrafts, textiles, art, and silver jewelry. Next I walked to El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a classic bookstore founded in 1912, with 34 locations throughout Argentina. Although Buenos Aires has always been known for its books, there's nothing quite like the experience of stepping into the El Ateneo located in what was once the Teatro Grand...