Puerto Montt, Chile

Monday we are at anchor outside of Puerto Montt, Chile.  Yesterday was a sea day.  But because the seas have a large swell, the pool is kept closed.  We have asked them to heat the water a bit.  But we don't know if they have done it or not.  The sea days are all pretty much the same.  Needlepoint, lectures, tea, etc.

Our tour today is "The Nature and Culture of Ayaltue Park."  We had a small breakfast in La Veranda and then returned to the suite to get ready for our tour.  Since we need to tender, we all gather in the theater and wait for our turn.  Once on the tender, we sat up on the roof.  The weather is cool but not too bad.

On the cruise into the port, this is what I saw.

More of the view.

This is a view of the town.  Not much to see or do.

The following pictures were what we saw on our tour.  This was an area that the owner decided to make it into a park.  The cut trails through the entire land and then made boats, campfires, homes, etc. to make it look like the place where the local indians lived.  At least he tried.

The name of the park.

And the trail we took.  On paper it looks great.  But in reality - not so much.

This is one of the homes he built on the land.  Tried to make it look like it used to be.

All through the park there are these signs explaining what we might be seeing.  And the guide just really read the signs.

So this is the camp fire that they used to cook the food.

This is a moss that is seen throughout the area.  It is very absorbent.  Organic diapers use this stuff (after it is dried) because it is so absorbent.

More signs.

This is the inside of a hut he built.

Another hut.

Part of our trail.

This is where we had lunch.

This is Ginny and Steve.  They are from Kansas City, Kansas.  She is a needlepoint friend and he is a retired Colonel from the Marines.

And our menu.  The potato was a little different.  But the wine was good.

And then he made these figures throughout the woods.

I wrote this yesterday and then today I added the pictures.  And it is so hard to move the pictures after I have posted them.  So the following is about the tour.

We boarded the bus, not too many on this tour.  So we each had a seat to ourselves and I did my knitting during the ride to the park.  What a joke.  This is an area that a man has decided to clear and try and tell the story of the people from an area island.  But at least it was a good time to walk.  Did about two miles in total.  But the two guides were poor.  One fellow was from Chile and the other was from Philadelphia.  Graduated from Temple and is living in Chile for one year.  Not a tour guide but a nice young fellow.  What he did was lead us around this area and read the signs to us.

Half way we stopped and had some salmon and potato dish and a glass on local wine.  Only good part of the entire tour.

Back to the ship via tender where we spoke with Charlie.  Charlie is the butler that Jean and Harry had and who served us dinner the night we ate in their suite.  A real nice guy.  Back on the ship, Bob took a nap and I read and did some needlepoint on the balcony.

Bob went up to swim but I elected to stay back in the suite.  Enough exercise for one day for me.  Plus it had started to rain.

Dinner will be in Compass Rose with cocktails in Mariner Lounge first.  There is a lecture before dinner but I will watch it on the TV later.

Last night they played to Super Bowl as the entertainment.  We stopped by after dinner but they were also showing in the suites so we got some popcorn and came up to the suite and got ready for bed but did watch the first half.  We are two hours ahead of the east coast of the USA.  So the game did not start until 8:30pm our time.  And we did not get any commercials.  Seems the feed they get does not include them.  But we heard from people at home that they were not as good as in the past.  And most of the folks here did not like the half time show.   Guess we are showing our ages.

As we were getting ready for cocktails, the Captain announced that another passenger was being taken off the ship due to illness.  This makes about 7 we have lost.  Not sure I would want to be a patient in this part of the world.  So we were late leaving and will be late getting to the next port.

Valparaiso, Chile - Updated

Saturday we docked here in Valparaiso, Chile.  Valparaiso was named in 1536 by Juan de Saavedra in honor of his native Valparaiso de Cuenca in Seville.  Until the Panama Canal opened in 1914, Valparaiso was one of the busiest ports in the eastern Pacific Ocean.   There are about 200,000 people living in this city.

The city is actually a series of neighborhoods that cling delicately to the hills, that rise abruptly just a drew hundred yards from the shore.  Each hill is like an individual city laced with twisted streets.  There are 16 operating funicular railways, known as as censors, scaling the steep hills to the various cliff side districts.  Some are so inclined that they are more like elevators than funiculars.

This is an example of the way these people live on the hills of the city.

This is the elevator that take the people to the level of their homes.

Just another view.

We are taking the tour "Panoramic Valparaiso, Vina del Mar & Winery".  We realized we took this tour before but it was a nice bus ride.  The first stop was at the William Cole Winery.  Here we got to see the grape vines and the processing plant.  Then to the barrel room and then a tasting.

The pictures are out of order but this is the barrel room.  This vineyard also houses barrels of other local vineyard that do not produce enough wine to have their own room.

When the grapes are first brought in, they are cleaned and separated and then they are place in these large bins to first begin the process.

Some of the grapes on the vines.  William Cole is an American who sold his business in Denver and then decided to buy this acreage here in Chile and makes really good wines.  I am not sure we can buy them in the USA.

Just a view of the vineyard here in the William Cole Vineyard.

I thought this was great idea of what to do with the extra corks.

A view of this area of Chile.

Part of the William Cole Vineyards.  Very pleasant place to visit.

Next was just a bus ride around the coastline.  Vina del Mar is on the coast and a very expensive place to live.  It is a lovely seaside resort city.  Today being Saturday, lots of people were walking about.  The stores close from 2 - 5 pm on Saturday.  They still siesta here.

Back to the ship for lunch.  Yesterday, the Captain announced that there were 2% of the passengers and crew sick with GI symptoms.  So now we no longer can serve ourselves at the buffet.  And the doors to the public restrooms are kept open.  Just the outside doors.  Not to the individual stall.  They want you to use your own bathroom.  You can still use them but they don't encourage it.

Bob took a nap and I sat on the balcony to read and needlepoint.  Then we went up to the pool to exercise.  Today the water was cold.  I only wanted to do half hour but I stuck it out and did the entire hour.  We will talk to the desk and ask to warm it up a bit.

While we were docked, we took on fuel and extra supplies.

The ship with the fuel tied up to our side of the ship.  They had some problems at first but were able to fill us up.

And extra supplies are always welcomed.  I think they added some local wines.

Dressed for dinner in Compass Rose.  Last night we did go to the show.  It was the comedian Stevie Jo.  He was funny and we enjoyed the show.  Will probably not go tonight.

Will post pictures later.  Watch for the title stating update.

Iquique, Chile - Update with Pictures

Wednesday we will be tendering in Iquique, Chile.  The morning is a sea day but due to the motion of the ocean, they are not opening up the pool.  So no swimming this morning.

Breakfast in Compass Rose.  I had eggs Benedict and Bob had baby lamb chops.  I tend to eat too much there.  Then back to the suite to read.  Sandy, next door, gave me a book that she had finished.  Split Second by Catherine Coulter.  I am enjoying it.  I did not go to the lecture as it is on "The Golden Age of Movies".  Not of interest to me.

Lunch in Compass Rose and then we watched them getting the tender dock ready for the afternoon.  Well, long story short, can't tender as swell is too much.  But one tender did make it into shore.  They called them back and we were to leave but two passengers who were not on a shore excursion are not to be found.  They actually have until 8:30 pm for the last tender so we may sit here for a while.

The vista is pretty much the same here as in Peru.  Stark.

This is really a working port.  One of these ships tried to tie up and the lines broke.  We learned later that they closed the port completely.  Winds and surf too much for them to handle.  Dangerous.

The local pilot boat would escort our tenders into the actual port.

This shows you how difficult it was to board the tender.  They only allowed two people on the stairs at one time.  This lady had to really step high.

Another view of the harbor.

Needlepoint at 3:30 and then tea and trivia.  Virginia is a new lady and she wanted to play so I stayed and we did not do very well.  7 right out of 15.  We can only go up.

Dressed for dinner.  Had our cocktail at the bar where we sat with Eddie and Lyn.  Another couple, Charles and Nancy, joined us so all 6 of us got a table for dinner.  It was interesting conversation.  We elected not to go to the show.  Two local guitar players.

I am posting this out of order.  Sorry.  Did not realize I had not posted it but only after I posted the next entry.

Coquimbo, Chile

Yesterday was a full sea day.  So our routine was sort of the same.  Here in this part of the Pacific Ocean, seas have fairly large swells so the pool is kept closed.  So no swimming for us.  A very quiet day.

Breakfast in La Veranda where I found the cronut.  This is a combination of a croissant and a donut.  Very sweet.  Will not get another one as one is enough for me.  Just needed to try it.

Worked on the needlepoint and finished the book I was reading.  Lunch in Compass Rose where I had the Canyon Ranch selection of Cashew Chicken Salad.  Not what I expected but it was good.

Went to needlepoint and tea and trivia.  This time we got 10 correct.  We are getting better.

Dinner in Signatures.  Tonight was the Block Party but we elected to have our drink in the Mariner Lounge.  Sandy and Dana from next door to us said someone was looking for us.  We have no idea who it could be.  Hope we find out soon.

Dinner was good.  No dessert.  Returned to the suite and watched the first half of "The Martian".  Interesting movie.  Will finish watching maybe tonight.

Now today we are scheduled to dock in Coquimbo at noon.  The last port we visited was a tender port. They took one tender in and decided it was too dangerous so cancelled the port of call.  Brought those folks back but two passengers were not on the tour so had left the dock area so we could not leave until everyone was back on board and all the paper work was completed.  Due to the height of the swells, we are not sure we will be able to dock.  Time will tell.

During the night we rocked and rolled.  The pool is not open again.  I do not remember the seas being this rough the last time we came here.  Will let you know how it goes later.

Matarani, Peru

Today is Tuesday the 2nd of February - the 18th birthday of our granddaughter Kyrstin.  Happy birthday to you Kyrstin.  Hope it is a wonderful day for you.

This morning is a sea day but the seas are such that the pool is not going to be opened.  So we will wait and swim in the afternoon.  So we had breakfast in Compass Rose,  I like to eat there as it is very quiet and they serve you and you are not tempted to eat too much.

I attended the lecture by Terry Breen on Chile.  I have heard this lecture before but always enjoy listening to her speak.  She is so knowledgable.  And speaks for one hour with no notes.  But she has given these lectures for many years.

Lunch in Compass Rose and then we docked here in Matarani.  The landscape is dramatic.

Thought you might like to see some of the sites we are having.  This is the breaker which makes the water in the port area calm.  You drive through the opening to get to the port.

Along the way we spotted some of these rock formations.  This is a fishing boat in the foreground.

The tug was close by to aid us if we needed help.  The winds were such that the Captain had a hard time getting to the dock and tying up.  But we made it finally.

Some local folks out on the rocks to wave to us as we sailed by.

There looked like a grain elevator on the dock.

Lots of fishing boats in the harbor area.

More dramatic coastline.

Again, the dramatic coastline.

Not what one expects when sailing to Peru.

More of the same.

We did not go into town as the ride did not seem to be what we were used to.  Not much right here at the dock area.  

We did go up to swim in the afternoon.  There is one couple onboard with an 18 month child with them.  He screamed during the muster drill.  And they decided to put him in the pool with the dad but he screamed again.  So the mother got in her suit and got in the pool with the child.  We did not think this was allowed as he is not potty trained.  Need to speak to someone about this.  Not good.   We did swim for one hour and then came back to the cabin to dress for dinner.  While we were swimming, the comedian for the show came in and he had me laughing so the time went by quickly.

Dinner in Compass Rose.  Then to bed as we had to set the clocks forward two, yes two, hours.  

I am not able to write under the next picture so it is just more landscape.

Pisco, Peru

We docked in Pisco, Peru.  The landscape here is desert. Most of the coast line of Peru is desert.  People are surprised about this but it is due to the Humble Current.  We have been in Pisco before so today our tour is The Paracas National Reserve.

This is the dock area.  Not much here.  No terminal or the like.  Another ship is also docked here.

The local people do bring some of their shops to the dock area.  But it is arid.

The area around the dock.

And a look back at our ship.

Pisco itself is inland a bit.  In 2007, an earthquake destroyed much of its infrastructure.  It is a town on the rebound.  Pisco shares its name with the national drink, the Pisco Sour.  They were serving the Pisco Sours at the sail away party yesterday.

The area is of historical and archaeological interest, having hosted one of the most highly developed pre-Inca civilizations - the Paracas culture from 700 BC to 400 AD.

We boarded our bus and headed to the Paracas National Reserve.  This included four different stops in the desert.  The landscape is very dramatic.  High cliffs that reach down to the sea.  We only saw some birds and nothing else.  It was an interesting trip but I would have like to have seen some wild life.  I did get to see two sea lions as we were leaving the port.

The first stop was to see the "red" beach.

You could see some fishing boats here.

Again, the high cliffs reaching down to the sea.

Did not wear the correct shoes to be walking in the sand and rocks.  But I did wear a long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off.

We did spot a few brave souls to swim in the water.

We stopped for a bathroom break and could spot the city of Pisco (at least I think it is Pisco) in the distance.

The road we traveled on to get from one stop to another.

The third stop was to see the fossils of the cone shaped snails from 36 million years ago.  I did not get off the bus to see them.

The final stop was to visit the cathedral.  This was partly destroyed by the earthquake.

One of the many birds flying around the area.

A view of the dramatic landscape.  You did not want to get too close to the edge.  At this site, they have a barrier so you cannot get too close.

Some of the birds nest on the side of the cliffs.

This is part of what is left of the cathedral.

Just another view of the landscape.  I was really impressed with the entire area.

More birds.

And more birds.  Not sure what kind they are.

Back to the ship for lunch in Compass Rose and then a nap for Bob.  Needlepoint in the afternoon where I met a new lady named Dinny from Connecticut.  We did not swim in the afternoon as we were scheduled for an early dinner.  As we were leaving Compass Rose I asked the Head Waiter for a print out of our dining reservations as we did not get one yesterday.  So he did this and said there was room in Signatures tonight, did we want to dine there.  We said yes and so we did.  I had the veal and Bob had the lamb.  All very good.

Before dinner, they had the Captain's Reception which we skipped.  Cocktails at the bar in Mariner Lounge where they had our olives.  Spoke with the bartender and then dinner.

Did not go to the show because we had too much time until it started so we finished watching "The Mission".  Quite a violent film.  But they were violent times in history.

Tomorrow we do not arrive in Matarani until 1PM.