Puerto Chacabuco and Coyhaique

This was one of the many Chilean glaciers we passed after leaving Punta Arenas and the sunset was looking wistfully towards home - a spectacular view!

On Valentine's day I came across this lovely lady and gave her some flowers and dinner.

Puerto Chacabuco was the entry port to Coyhaique, which was at the end of a spectacular drive into the Chilean countryside.

After leaving Puerto Chacabuco we travelled up through the Chilean fjords and came across this "tropical" beach, complete with golden sand and a beach hut. Pity that the temperature was only 11 degrees!

Punta Arenas, Chile

Today we visited Punta Arenas, in Chile.

It was a very interesting town, settled by various immigrant groups from Europe in the mid 19th century. Obviously a very wealthy place in its heyday, as evidenced by the very elaborate tombs in the local cemetery.

The current people thinks of themselves as Magallanicos, not Chilean, to the extent that they have their own flag. Not hard to understand why, when the area has been developed by a diverse group of people far removed from Santiago - which is 2,200 kms to the north.

They are a very proud group and very clear about their separate identity.

The other interesting point about this area is that the entire southern tip of Sth America is a vast network of islands. Punta Arenas is on the last part of the continent, with all the other portion to the south being a network of islands - including Cape Horn, which is 400 kms to the south..

Cape Horn and Ushuaia

We made the crossing from Antarctica to Cape Horn and Ushuaia with a very, very calm trip. The weather so far has been unbelievably good. Today we went to the National Park which is at the end of the Pan-American Highway, which runs from Alaska to Ushuaia. The southern end is the most southerly road in the world!

Today in Ushuaia was outstanding - just look at the clear skies. The day before had been raining cats and dogs and most of the recent cruise ship arrivals had been unable to dock due to the high winds. Today it was like a mill pond.

This evening we cruised up Glacier Alley - the scenery was stunning.

Antarctica - The land of snow and ice!!

Well, we finally made it to Antarctica - 33 years after trying in 1979. What can I say about the place - where we spent 3 days cruising the area around the Antarctica Peninsula?

I have tried to give you some sense of what the place is like - which is one reason why I have inserted so many photos. There is just so much to see, both wildlife and scenery.

We have almost perfect weather with some periods of almost calm seas and sunny breaks. Incredible!

We saw whales, seals, penguins, orcas, birds - they were everywhere.






Just look at the reflection in the shot below!

This was the most southerly point that we reached!