Chilly but sunny.
We four were on tour today, a bit of history of the early history of explorers and of the indigenous people that lived down here. Yes, there were some people, who, for whatever reason, lived down in this area.
The climate here is to me, not a very nice place to live full time. Today we are in full summer, but everybody is bundled up and hoping it doesn't rain. There is obviously a breeze coming off the Magellan Strait that is at this point very wide and quite chilling.
This Chilean city of some 200,000 some odd souls is the most southerly city in the world. There are some more southerly places but they are on islands. Ushuaia is our next port, but it is on a large island and a bit further south. It is also in Argentina.
Tomorrow some time the captain is going to sail us around the place known as Cape Horn, if the weather allows us to before we set foot in Ushuaia the day after tomorrow. We then sail south to Antarctica and bump around there for a few days before turning north to the Falklands and modestly warmer weather.
Today we visited and explored a replica of Magellan's ship and the HMS Beagle. We were all amazed at the smallness and the lack of any decent accommodation for crew. Imagine, Magellan and his crew without heat, decent sanitation and proper diet for three years. The Beagle was somewhat later and a bit more comfortable looking but far from what we could withstand.
We also spent some time in a very impressive museum that was somewhat crowded because there were three ships in port today.
We had time for some browsing and shopping and then relaxed with a lunch in an out of the way Chilean Restaurant called Sangre De Toro which we sourced out because they had free wi-if!
Back on board where we stayed in port a bit late so those passengers that flew to Antarctica for a walk on that continent could get on. Price for that 11 hour trip that gives you four hours on Antarctica: $3999 [US$]
Sunk in 1946 when it ran aground in a Chanel we sailed through last night. Sad sight indeed.
The other three coming ashore in Porto Arenas via tender.
Magellan's ship Victoria, unbelievably small, and uncomfortable. Those men were remarkable, although many died and some turned around and went home and even Magellan never lived to tell of his discovery.
Where is my toque when I need it?
A wonderful wooden art piece. I wonder if they ship Worldwide?
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