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Wed. 2/27
Another sea day, cool, windy and sunny. Lots of leisure interspersed with a biography film on Evita Peron,
lectures on pirates, wonderful classical concert with pianist Konstantin and interview with captain and officers.
Evening entertainment features Mitchell and Minervini.
Thurs. 2/28
We almost had to abort our next stop. PUERTO MADRYN. That harbor had been closed for 2 days due to extremely
high winds. However, the report was reopened this morning and in we sailed. The winds were still powerful
making it almost impossible to walk in town as the dust swirled around u. We visited the pretty little
cathedral that boasted beautiful religious paintings on its walls. We bussed to the new modern ECOCENTRO
high on a promontary overlooking the bay. It houses exhibits of the terrain and wildlife of Patagonia.
Too bad we couldn't read the Spanish inscriptions. In the afternoon, a local folkloric group entertained
us on the Dream with Argentinian folk dances. We are supposed to sail from PUERTO MADRYN at 4PM. However.
Our captain has told us over the PA system that authorities have once again closed the harbor because of the
strong winds and heavy seas and that we will sail ASAP after the port is reopened. 7PM and we've been given
the "go ahead" to travel north. Elvy Rose entertained again tonight.
Fri. 3/1
Today we are bucking head winds so we cannot make up the time lost yesterday, and therefore we expect to
dock in Montevideo late. Today is sunny and warm bringing out all the sun worshipers. Lecture on stars,
amateur talent show, and evening's entertainment of a lively spectacular production show filled the day.
Sat. 3/2
We arrived in the beautiful city of MONTEVIDEO at 11AM under beautiful sunny skies. We spent the afternoon
in town, ambling in the many leather shops, along the riverfront Rambla, crowded Plaza Indepencia with its
al fresco entertainers, the huge flea market in Plaza Matritz, and the very beautiful cathedral. We stopped
for a beer in a club with live entertainment. The sun was hot, quite a contrast with the biting winds several
days past, so we hurried back to the ship to save our skins from burning. Variety showtime this evening.
Sun. 3/3
Disembarkation is a nightmare. Our passports were returned at a certain hour and a stampede erupted.
Somehow, the disembarking order did not follow the rules causing still more anguish. Nevertheless, we met
our BUENOS AIRES guide, Monica, and were eventually settled into the proper bus to begin our "city tour".
Buenos Aires appears to be a charming city with a definite European flavor. Spanish and Italian influences
are everywhere in the massive public buildings, the many parks and squares.
We stopped at a lively flea
market in the SAN TELMO district, the Plaza de Mayo lined with impressive buildings and the CEMENTARIO DE LA RECOLETA
where Evita lay buried, completely preserved, under 30' of earth, amid the garish masoleums of the very rich.
We attended 6PM mass at the neo classical Cathedral of the city, not even vaguely resembling a church on the
outside, but stunningly beautiful with lavish use of gold inside. Our room at the Intercontinental turned
out to be a huge mini-suite, elegantly appointed, when we were the almost last to register, and they had
run out of the more moderate accomodations. We have marvelous views from our 14th floor balcony, reached
by a glass wall and doors.
Mon. 3/4
Very warm and muggy this morning giving way to heavy rains that continued on and off all day. We bussed to
FIESTA GAUCHA SANTA SUSANA, an ESTACION about 50 mi. n/o the city for a barbecue lunch, entertainment and
horse show. Very enjoyable, including a horse drawn buggy ride, and (for Ed) horseback ride. Later, we
relaxed in our hotel pool, glass enclosed on the 23rd floor. The water was bathtub warm and delightful,
as we watched the city lights come on at dusk.
Tues. 3/5
The delta section n/o Buenos Aires is an interesting area of 21,000 sq. km. Made up of over 5,000
interconnecting waterways and inhabited by 3,000 residents. It is a city all to itself with the waterways
the streets and boats the only mode of transportation. It was especially interesting today because of the
affect of strong northwesterly winds that drove waters from the mouth of the Rio de la Plata river upstream,
inundating the area to a depth of 2 meters above normal. Hence many of the homes and most of the docks were
flooded, and trees and vegetation were left standing in the water. We had bussed there thru Buenos Aires'
most elegant neighborhoods and San Ysidro, with its huge gothic cathedral, then sailed the beautiful
waterways in special motor boats, and lunched at the lovely (above water) seaside restaurant "Gato Blanco".
Tonight is our farewall dinner at a restaurant adjacent to our hotel.
Wed. 3/6
D Day for returning home. Due to our evening departure, we have much of a free day. The opera house across
the street from our hotel offers tours, and we spent a pleasant hour in the grandeur of the opulent old
historic building. Later, we mingled with the street mobs to enjoy our last hours in this fascinating city.
It is very distressing to see so many liquidation sales and closed shops and for sale signs in this once
vibrant city due to the terrible economic crisis that Argentina is suffering at present.
Back to start...
This trip to cruise the Straits of Magellan was made Feb. 14 - Mar. 8, 2002 by a New York State couple.
Your comments are welcome.
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