Post Number 6: Straits of Magellan & Puerto Chacabuco

Day 9 The Straits of Magellan…the sea route immediately south of mainland Chile, a natural passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It’s considered a particularly difficult route to navigate due to the inhospitable climate and the narrowness of the passage – no place for sissies!

It’s 350 miles long and, in places, only 2 miles wide. The ship’s crew warns of rough seas when we enter the Pacific, and they clearly know what they’re talking about. We are told that sea sickness pills are available at the front desk. We think “better safe than sorry” and get 2 apiece. What a mistake!

We take the first pill at 8:00p and another at 7:00a – just as the seas start getting rougher. For the next 8 hours, the seas are, on average, 5-8 feet, with an “occasional” 20 foot swell. But we are so drugged from the pills that, except for meals (can’t miss meals!!), we spend most of our time in our cabin sleeping. At least we never feel sea sick.

Day 10- Leaving the Pacific, we head east and into the Patagonic Channel, the Canal Moraleda, and the Chilean Fjords, which we are told are fabulous – however, soon after entering, it begins to rain. Ghostly shapes of rocky projections appear and disappear in the mist and fog – not much to see so we get together and hang with our friends.

Day 11 – We take the tender into Chacabuco, Chile with Cruise Critic friends Debra and Gene. It's a nice little port with a few local boats and a lot of scenery as you leave town.

Once ashore we hire a driver and spend the day in and around Chacabuco. The temperatures are warming up and there’s intermittent sun and rain – perfect for photographing the rugged and dramatic scenery: waterfalls, canyons, valleys, and more rainbows.

And, of course a stop at the local airport, where the busy controllers let David see all the action from the tower.

See any airplanes?

Before boarding the tender we stop for a moment to shop and make new friends.

Tomorrow: Puerto Montt, Chile

Post Number 5: Punta Arenas

Day 8 – Our next shore excursion – Punta Arenas, Chile. The seas have gotten rougher, it’s extremely windy, and we don’t go outside without our winter coats. Tendering in to port is a challenge (check out the video).

We spend the day walking the city with Carol and Frank. There are many interesting monuments and some really great architecture.

Our first stop is the open air market where Carol exercises well developed skills.

After a while Frank and David go to a locutorio (internet cafe) to re-establish contact with North America by checking e-mail and the stock market (really bad move!!). After receiving the bad financial news it's only appropriate that we venture off to check out the cemetery. For many it's one of the highlights of visiting Punta Arenas (as long as it is not a final visit!).

I really like the cemetery, though I can’t say that David and Frank are thrilled.

On the way back from the cemetery we decide to dine with the locals. While we were dining we were serenaded by a local singer using a karaoke machine for his music. Interesting background music to say the least!

I’m also happy to have learned what Selk’nam is. We have seen the word frequently (both on this trip and last year in El Calafate), were curious, though never googled it. Turns out, Selk’nam is the name of an indigenous tribe found in this area until the early 1900’s and, given their unique form of body painting, make them an art form unto themselves.

Tomorrow the Straits of Magellan.

Post Number 4: Beagle Channel

Back on the ship, we get ready to cruise the Beagle Channel on our way to Punta Arenas, Chile.









While traveling through the northwest arm of the Channel, we see 8 spectacular glaciers, one after another!













We spend several hours on deck and on our balcony taking photos of the scenery

























and the first of many rainbows we see over the next few days.











That's it for tonight. Tomorrow...Punta Arenas, Chile and the Magellan Straits.