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Our cruising itinerary, from Buenos Aires to Santiago
Buenos Aires - December 17 and 18
We flew from Orlando to Buenos Aires via Miami, landing in the morning. After taking a taxi to our hotel located in central Buenos Aires we spent the afternoon shopping for electronics and exploring the area around the hotel. In the evening, we walked to the El Querandi Tango show.
The show included dinner, with one of the best steaks I have ever had
Next day, we were supposed to take a city tour before joining the ship. To cut a long story short, the bus never turned up. The tour guide arranged for another bus and we did eventually get a tour. We started at the Plaza de Mayo, the main square. The police were expecting a demonstration so there were barriers everywhere.
The Casa Rosada or "Government House".
Historically significant, it is famous for the balconies where Juan and Eva Perón addressed the masses.
We had time to take a quick look inside the cathedral
Next stop was the Caminito in La Boca. The area is home to many artists and their work is on display in the street and the surrounding galleries and cafes.
After our tour, we went back to the hotel to collect our luggage and took an Uber to the ship. We had a LONG wait before we could board.
Waiting to board the ship. Probably the most inefficient boarding we have ever experienced.
On board the Oosterdam - December 18
The ship stayed in port the next day and we enjoyed doing nothing except lazing around.
The Holland America ship, Oosterdam
Day 1 - waiting for the ship to sail
We took the opportunity to explore the ship. (These pictures were taken later in the cruise).
Buenos Aires from the ship
The upper sundeck. Quiet but exposed and windy
The crew celebrating - something.
The Crows Nest - a forward facing lounge with a bar and board games
Very decorative elevator doors
The buffet restaurant
The upper level of the main restaurant, where we ate dinner every night
The main theatre
Guest services - almost always busy
The covered pool area, which could be opened to the sky on nice days
The ceiling of the main lobby
The hot tub - very popular, There were several
The main pool area at the rear of the ship
In the evening we went to a show on board the ship - The Emile Valle Rockstars.
Montevideo, Uruguay - December 20
We took a guided tour of Montevideo.
The tour started in the main square, the Plaza Independencia.
Monument to La Carreta, an epic sculpture depicting a wagon and straining oxen
Then on to a market, Market Ferrando, which is primarily a food court rather than a market.
And a final stop at the Parliament Building, The Palacio Legislativo
The Palacio Legislativo
Punta del Este, Uruguay - December 21
The day started with an impressive sunrise from our balcony
Once we were docked, we took a sightseeing tour of Punta del Este. Our first stop was a sculpture of giant fingers located at Playa Brava, apparently a warning not to drown in the strong currents at the beach! Created in 1982 by Mario Irarrazabal, made from concrete, iron and steel.
Then on to the crooked bridge or Puente de la Barra, as it is known.
The original bridge was a single span opened in 1965. A second span was added in 1998.
Next stop was the Museo Ralli, which has an extensive collection of sculptures by Henry Moore and paintings by a variety of artists.
Our last stop was the Casapueblo Museum, built over many years by Carlos Páez Vilaró .Originally his home, it is now a museum and hotel.
At Sea -December 22
We spent the day relaxing and learning about The Great Southern Ocean and Antarctica. In the evening we dressed for dinner served by our waiter Bagas
Puerto Madryn, Argentina - December 23
We didn't take a tour in Puerto Madryn, but we did get off the ship and walked around the downtown area.
There wasn't a lot to see, so we headed back to the ship. Somewhere along the way, Paul lost his driving license and was wondering how he would get back onto the ship without it. Miraculously, when we got to security on the ship, his driving license was sitting on the desk of the security officer. Someone had found it and turned it in. Amazing luck!
At Sea - December 24
Stanley, Falkland Islands - December 25 (Christmas Day)
There was always some doubt if we would be able to land in Stanley, as the weather can be very unpredictable. We couldn't dock, so we had to tender in. However, we made it! It was very windy, but it stayed sunny all day.
The view from our balcony as we arrived in The Falkland Islands.
Lowering the tenders from below our cabin. The winches were very noisy but we were glad they were able to launch
Of course there was an old fashioned British telephone box!
We took a tour of various locations where the Falkland War took place in 1982. The landscape is very rugged and after 43 years, there isn't a lot left from the battles, so you have to use your imagination. Our tour guide was living on The Falklands at the time, so he had some personal stories to tell.
This bay where the main British force landed
This hill overlooks Stanley and was fiercely defended by the Argentinians, but was finally taken by the british forces
We retuned to Stanley and went to see the war memorial and a statue of Margaret Thatcher.
There was even a Dobson memorialized here and in the navy, no less.
No relation, as far as I know.
Mrs Thatcher - very much a local hero.
The town is quite small with not a lot to see, so we went into the Cathedral and the supermarket.
Our final stop was a british pub, where we had a drink before heading back to the ship.
Next stop - Antarctica
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