Punta Arenas
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March 4th & 5th. . We embark ob the Silver Explorer, followed by a day at sea
cont. from Santiago
We landed at Punta Arenas at 12.30 and were aboard the Explorer an hour later, Our cabin was 424 , it seemed quite small after the cabins on the Cloud but I will soon get used to it once I have found a home for everything. Then we had lunch, Yes, another one!, chatting to Ursula and Christine, and then Declan and Ann. I then unpacked the one suitcase that had arrived, David adjusting the wardrobe door so that it opened slightly better. We reported the missing case and then enjoyed a coffee in the Panorama lounge after exploring the ship. Still no case
Enjoyed a pisco sour in the Panorama lounge around 6 as the ship set sail. Then the mandatory Ship evacuation drill at 6.30. This had been delayed due to the 3 hour delay of the second charter from Santiago ( this plane had an engine fire on the runway and its occupants had to wait for a replacement!). A ship´s cruise around Cape Horn was cancelled as "the delay meant we would have arrived there after dark on Sunday" ( but in fact that was always going to be the case with the cancellation of Puerta Williams!!). . Ate at the Grill , known to us as Hot Rocks!, whilst there was still sunshine on the deck, but it was still very chilly!, so descended to the bar for coffee and petit fours as soon as the last morsel of steak and prawns had been digested. Had a long chat with Camilla & Brian, she Swedish, he US.
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March 5th
A good night´s sleep although I found the noise of the engines somewhat loud. Received our ordered fresh OJ without a hitch at breakfast. Had 10 minutes in the gym afterwards. Then a roam round the ship before expedition leader Leá ´s Overview of the voyage and what we were doing in the next couple of days . She presented her team: Paulo. Marine biologist from Argentina; Mila , historian & archaeologist from Alaska; Jackie, sultural historian & archaeologist from Vancouver; Christophe , botanist from Austria; Damon birds from Australia ; Carolina from Argentina & Roger from Spain both expedition guides, Julie from California & Javier from Spain both assistants. Also Pedro the photographer.
After lunch and coffee we approached the Fourier Fjord, a little visited fjord off the S W branch of the Beagle channel: there the ship hovered near the glacier for about 40 minutes.
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Then I enjoyed a jacuzzi and a sauna before afternoon tea and Trivia. Then a lecture by Damon on Chile.. The Captain-s Welcome at 7.30 where we got talking rp Christine & Ian, wirh whom we then had dinner. Captain Freddy, of Finding the Endurance fame, introduced his officers By 10 pm I was ready for bed!
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Onto Ushuaia