Michael:
Here we are again in good old Punta Arenas. Actually, this is a very nice small city (about 140,000) with very friendly people and some nice stuff to see. They have recently built a promenade along many miles of seashore and it is very impressive. I scored an excursion today called “Punta Arenas and the Museum of memories.” Most of the museum was outdoors, and it was very cold. It was composed mostly of steam powered farm equipment. It was not the high point of the day.
Next, I made a return trip to both the cemetery (again very impressive) and the Braun-Menendez Mansion (also neat to go through).
Here we are again in good old Punta Arenas. Actually, this is a very nice small city (about 140,000) with very friendly people and some nice stuff to see. They have recently built a promenade along many miles of seashore and it is very impressive. I scored an excursion today called “Punta Arenas and the Museum of memories.” Most of the museum was outdoors, and it was very cold. It was composed mostly of steam powered farm equipment. It was not the high point of the day.
Next, I made a return trip to both the cemetery (again very impressive) and the Braun-Menendez Mansion (also neat to go through).
It was on to another Braun house; this one occupied until quite recently and then through a secret tunnel into the adjacent hotel for empanadas and blackberry flavored pisco sours – Yum, this was the high point!! I returned to the sip for lunch and to meet up with Beverly. I mentioned that I learned of another yarn store in town, so it was back on the shuttle bus for yet another (my fourth) trek into city center. I know this place so well now I was giving directions.
Beverly:
They did not have a tour for me today. I elected to stay aboard and have a relaxing morning as we planned to go to town when Michael arrived back from his tour. Again, the “alarm clock” sounded at 7am and lasted for about an hour. Sigh… it would have been nice to sleep in. I spent the morning visiting and reading in the 7th deck lounge until Michael finally showed up, one hour later than he thought. Apparently they added some stops to his tour. In hind sight, he should have given the tour to me as he visited most of these places twice and I never did get to see them. I’m not much of a museum person and old mansions are old mansions as far as I am concerned. Seen one, seen them all. Old stuff, yawn. I did catch a glimpse of the cemetery from the bus, so I guess you could say I saw it. I’m real good at rationalization.
We went to town and noticed that it looked like a ghost town. There were very few cars or people on the street. There was a little mall and everything was locked up tight and closed. It was 2:45pm and in this town, they take siesta time seriously. The stores reopen between 3pm and 3:15pm. I made it to another yarn store. This one had a larger selection of yarns and accessories, but most of the yarn was imported. There was nothing worth my time here.
One thing I must mention is the wind. The wind is ferocious here. I was having a great hair day until I stepped outside. Whoosh. This wind just dries you out, and the cold on top of it is a killer to my knees. Even Michael was complaining about his knees. My bones just ache here. Michael mentioned the nice waterfront where they are trying to grow trees, but it just ain’t happening.
Here is an interesting fact I learned at dinner tonight: in Uruguay, you are not allowed to wear a religious symbol in public, such as a necklace with a cross or star.
Remember the chocolate chips cookies? We are still receiving them every night! Last night there were 18, tonight just 10. We are going on a great big diet as soon as we get home. I am ready for P&J.
A very unusual occurrence happened tonight. The ship was scheduled to leave from the Puenta Arenas pier at 8pm. We did leave, but only to anchor in the harbor. An excursion to Antarctica was due to arrive by then, but due to fog, the airplane could not leave. So the ship lays at anchor to wait for their return. We had to leave the pier because another ship was scheduled to dock where we were. According to the captain, we will weigh anchor at midnight (which means a lot of noise for us – bye bye sleepy time). If the folks on the excursion do not return by midnight, I don’t know what the plan is. I heard that the excursion director has booked some hotel rooms.
Wait ------ I hear the “alarm clock!” Just now, 10:09pm, the bow thrusters have come to life and the anchor is being pulled up. We did see a tender head for shore as we were heading back to our room so I assume all passengers have been accounted for. The noise is deafening, the room is vibrating. It sounds like a big powerful drill. At least we get the noise over with so we will be able to sleep tonight.
They did not have a tour for me today. I elected to stay aboard and have a relaxing morning as we planned to go to town when Michael arrived back from his tour. Again, the “alarm clock” sounded at 7am and lasted for about an hour. Sigh… it would have been nice to sleep in. I spent the morning visiting and reading in the 7th deck lounge until Michael finally showed up, one hour later than he thought. Apparently they added some stops to his tour. In hind sight, he should have given the tour to me as he visited most of these places twice and I never did get to see them. I’m not much of a museum person and old mansions are old mansions as far as I am concerned. Seen one, seen them all. Old stuff, yawn. I did catch a glimpse of the cemetery from the bus, so I guess you could say I saw it. I’m real good at rationalization.
We went to town and noticed that it looked like a ghost town. There were very few cars or people on the street. There was a little mall and everything was locked up tight and closed. It was 2:45pm and in this town, they take siesta time seriously. The stores reopen between 3pm and 3:15pm. I made it to another yarn store. This one had a larger selection of yarns and accessories, but most of the yarn was imported. There was nothing worth my time here.
One thing I must mention is the wind. The wind is ferocious here. I was having a great hair day until I stepped outside. Whoosh. This wind just dries you out, and the cold on top of it is a killer to my knees. Even Michael was complaining about his knees. My bones just ache here. Michael mentioned the nice waterfront where they are trying to grow trees, but it just ain’t happening.
Here is an interesting fact I learned at dinner tonight: in Uruguay, you are not allowed to wear a religious symbol in public, such as a necklace with a cross or star.
Remember the chocolate chips cookies? We are still receiving them every night! Last night there were 18, tonight just 10. We are going on a great big diet as soon as we get home. I am ready for P&J.
A very unusual occurrence happened tonight. The ship was scheduled to leave from the Puenta Arenas pier at 8pm. We did leave, but only to anchor in the harbor. An excursion to Antarctica was due to arrive by then, but due to fog, the airplane could not leave. So the ship lays at anchor to wait for their return. We had to leave the pier because another ship was scheduled to dock where we were. According to the captain, we will weigh anchor at midnight (which means a lot of noise for us – bye bye sleepy time). If the folks on the excursion do not return by midnight, I don’t know what the plan is. I heard that the excursion director has booked some hotel rooms.
Wait ------ I hear the “alarm clock!” Just now, 10:09pm, the bow thrusters have come to life and the anchor is being pulled up. We did see a tender head for shore as we were heading back to our room so I assume all passengers have been accounted for. The noise is deafening, the room is vibrating. It sounds like a big powerful drill. At least we get the noise over with so we will be able to sleep tonight.
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