We Board!

An early Santiago morning boarding our shuttle bus to the airport at 7:00 a.m.

Then a 9:30 charter flight with everyone on our ship to Punta Arenas, arriving around 1:30.

On arrival, we feel a change in the weather with the short windy walk from plane to tiny terminal to wait to board smaller planes and a 45 minutes flight that will take us to Puerto Williams.

(Two hundred of us will be on the ship. We're divided into three groups on three separate planes.)

So exciting to see hundreds of islands that make up the Tierra del Fuego region

of both Argentina and Chile.

I'm so curious what the rust color is surrounding many lakes.

And captivated by the huge mountains.

The Andes in Santiago were over 20,000 feet (and began at only 1500 above sea level) and were obviously so much higher than ours in Salt Lake and Colorado.

The mountains here at the end of the world are just as majestic.

Can't get over that this is where we are!

Puerto Williams is just east of Ushaia, even though most of Chile is west of Argentina.

We arrive to rain and wind, but the short walk from the plane to the shuttle bus didn't necessitate me bringing my rain jacket. (I hate overpacking, so I put it on over my coat anyway. Ha ha!)

A fifteen minute shuttle bus ride brought us to our ship and I was very disappointed that they didn't stop at the sign that read "Fin Del Mundo" so we could take pictures. Or have a sign where we boarded the ship.

But, even without photo documentation, we are here.

Black and white photos in all the halls and in every room of Shackleton's expedition.

I'm SO glad I read the book before we came!

We also watched the documentary the night before we left too.

Yay for Christmas decorations!

With only 200 people on the ship, check in was a breeze:

showed our passports, turned in our "we're not sick" forms,

got our room keys and took our photos for on and off the ship.

We're on the lowest deck (4) in the most basic rooms, but they are super nice and spacious

 with a king size bed and full-size couch and chair in the sitting area. 

New 3-in-1 parkas, backpacks and reusable water bottles were waiting for us.

(As well as our waterproof gear we rented -- Bogs boots, light-weight pants, and trekking poles.)

The fridge is stocked with sodas and water and a complementary bottle of champagne

(Sorry, we don't drink.)

Also the best part is a walk in closet!

(Suitcases fit under the bed.)

Plenty of hanging space and drawers for storage, as well as lots of hooks.

The bathroom is really nice too. Only complaint is the European shower door.

Do you think its intentional so when we get back from our freezing Antarctic

expeditions we don't use too much water trying to warm up in the shower?

We watched our safety video, then met at our muster station (the Panorama lounge, an indoor space surrounded by windows on the 8th (top) floor where you can see 360 views, walk outside and order drinks or table service)

to get our names crossed off the list and verification we watched the video.

Then the three of us toured the ship from top to bottom.

A couple of libraries, La Dame and La Terrazzo, the reservations restaurants,

The Restaurant is the main restaurant for all meals (anytime seating).

And The Grill, which is outside. 

A spa, small gym (a couple treadmills, bike and stairmaster; free weights and a couple of machines),

 and also sauna and steam room--which make Dan and Chris very happy.

Christmas trees and gingerbread houses are found in many lobbies, 

as well as cookies and a bowl of candy.

We had our first welcome aboard and daily "recap" meeting

in the Explorer Theater--theater seating for all 200 cruisers where all meetings and lectures are held.

We learned we're waiting for a tour who didn't make the shuttle, so moved away fron the pier but are staying at anchor until they arrive.

We unpacked then at 6:30 when the restaurant opened, headed to our first dinner. 

And the giddiness of being on a cruise sunk in. 

First class service and food. No driving or navigating. All adventures and plans organized by someone else. All we do is show up. So excited for this adventure!

The food was excellent.

(Chris ordered lobster tail, I got the scallops and Dan the lemongrass beef.)

 Smaller portions (not small, just not oversized) which we agreed was better, so we could order two of something if we wanted to try a few things.

We're still in awe that at 8:30 p.m. the sun is high in the sky.

Back at the room we got in our Christmas pajamas and watched another Christmas movie.

The rest of Harry Potter 5 and half of Harry Potter 6,

which did have a Christmas scene, so Chris felt vindicated.

And now I'm invested, so totally on board watching them.

We went to bed by midnight and we still haven't set sail. 

Last Day of "Summer"

Relaxing pool afternoon.

Early Asada at La Hacienda

We walked the beautiful temple grounds in the early evening.

Uber'd to Bicentenario Parque -- the largest park in Santiago.

Bike paths, Koi ponds with black geese, sculptures, playgrounds. 

Lots of people lounging, playing, kicking a soccer ball, riding bikes, feeding the geese.

Muy tranquilo and a lovely summer evening.

Then we walked to South America's tallest building,

past the US Embassy.

The Gran Torre Costanero

Sunset views from 62 stores high.

Not sure why Batman was here?!

Guess what "Christmas" movie we're watching tonight.

That's right, Harry Potter Five.

Santiago, Chile

 Bienvenidos! 

On Monday we traveled all day from SLC to ATL to SCL, arriving in Santiago, Chile at 6:30 a.m.

(2:30 a.m. Utah time.) We waited for an hour and a half at customs, but were in good spirits after sleeping well on the plane.

We checked into the hotel, ate breakfast at the hotel buffet overlooking the most gorgeous pool and waterfall area and then up to our rooms to sleep.

Unfortunately one of our rooms was under construction!

So back down to the check-in desk Dan went and they were very apologetic and assigned us different rooms. 

Slept from 10:30 to 12:30. Dan had a board meeting and I asked him to take it in the room and open the curtains to help me wake up. Time changes are such a pain—I find myself worrying about them way ahead of time.

For this trip, plane tickets were cheaper if we came a day early and I discovered it really eases my mind to have a day where we can do whatever we want… sleep if we want, tour if we want etc. with no set schedule.

Once we were awake and going, 

we walked non-stop and saw so much. 

It was an amazing day!

We had a great itinerary thanks to Michael (who served his mission in Santiago)

and ChatGPT. Also lots of Michael’s food recommendations. He’s much more adventurous about trying local foods than I am. But having his list of what to try and what it tasted like, went a long way in us seeking out all the new things. 

First stop, The Mercado Central.

Lots and lots of seafood as well as restaurants serving said seafood.

Outside we followed the souvenir shops and ended up in Plaza de Armas.

This was the opposite way of where we intended to go based on our itinerary, so we pivoted and did tomorrow’s today. 

Plaza de Armas is a beautiful, lively square surrounded by the Cathedral Metropolitana, Post Office (more beautiful than it sounds), and Royal Court Building.

Many artisans painting and I'm wishing I had room to bring something home.

Sadly, our luggage weight on the charter flight to Puerto Williams is restricted and we are max'd out.

Happily, decorated Christmas trees are everywhere.

La Moneda Palace (White House equivalent)

We spotted a street vendor selling Mote con Huesillo--

dehydrated and reconstituted peach juice with barley.

A favorite drink of the missionaries and Chileans and recommended by Michael. 

Extra sweet… and chewy.

We're so glad he gave us a list of things to try, because otherwise I probably wouldn't.

We also enjoyed sopapillas, Chilean version. 

Served with salsa (pebre), or plain, not honey. 

We wandered through Barrio Paris-Londres with its wandering cobblestone streets and found the Santa Lucia Craft Fair, a large artisan market with leather goods, jewelry, knit sweaters and more. And I found a charm made from green stone like my dad’s ring. Chris suggested I get the clover since Grandpa loved St. Patrick’s Day. 

Now it will remind of my dad and Chris. 

Across the street we climbed to

 Cerro Santa Lucia, 

A small hill with beautiful gardens and fountains and views of the city. 

Bellas Artes and Barrio Brasil featured many professional murals and street art. 

At one time we looked at the time and it was 4:00. When next we checked it was 6:30. With so much to see on every street, the time was melting away. 

La Choscana was closed (Pablo Nerudas home which is now part of an arts school). The exterior is supposed to look like a ship. With that in mind, we squinted and might have seen it. 

We’ve also seen many “Dutch”-looking homes. 

Around the corner from La Choscana was the funicular to San Cristobal Hill with the Virgin Mary statue overlooking Santiago. 

The city views were spectacular. 

I was especially moved by the prayer book and wall with handwritten notes from those seeking blessings. 

We found a nearby restaurant with a beautiful outdoor garden, and because we were eating dinner at the extra early hour of 8:00, only a few other couples were there. 

One couple, in their fifties, were really canoodling which made us laugh and another were working on Connections. 

I tried another Michael rec, a traditional Chilean dish, pastel de choclo. Similar to shepherds pie, but instead of mashed potatoes, sweet corn masa. It was very tasty, but more meat heavy (ground beef and chicken and eggs) than I usually like. 

Back at the hotel, Chris and Dan ran to Oxxo, (think 7-11) on the corner, for treats. Chris wanted the South American/Mexican equivalent of ding dongs that he loved on his mission. 

Dan was able to plug his computer into the TV and the three of us cozied in our big bed to watch a Christmas movie, which turned out to be Harry Potter 4. Harry Potter is always entertaining, but tonight I’m going to insist on a real Christmas movie! 

We had such a good day we were able to see much of tomorrow’s itinerary. So tomorrow we’re going to enjoy sleeping in and a pool day in the afternoon!