February 24

Today's post will cover Puerto Madryn, Port Stanley on East Falkland Island and Cruising Cape Horn.


Puerto Madryn, Argentina - February 16

Puerto Madryn is a very windy, arid city. Puerto Madryn has an aluminum factory, sheep and is 40 km from Peninsula Valdes, a wildlife reserve. From March to December, many tourists come to see the southern right whales who feed, mate, give birth & nurse their offspring here. In non-whale season, you can still see the elephant seals (which are molting right now) and the sea lions. I had a Signature tour here, and Fernanda drove what seemed like forever to see the elephant seals and sea lions. It was nice to get away from the bigger cities and I had a great walk along the beach to see the elephant seals.



Gaucho Herding Sheep




Find the Hare




Lighthouse at Punta Delgada



Punta Delgada (elephant seals in background)




Sea Otter



Elephant Seals (molting - there's fur all over the beach!)



Sea Lions (the babies are the little black guys



New Gulf - Puerto Madryn



Port Stanley, East Falkland Island - February 18

We were so lucky to be able to anchor off Port Stanley since the day before we arrived they had 90 mile an hour winds. If we had that weather, we would not have been able to stop. Here I went on a Regent Tour to Sparrow Cove to see the Gentoo penguins. We took a boat from the ship to the shore where we were transported to 4-wheel drive vehicles to travel 3 miles (took 25 minutes) to get to the penguins. Very bumpy - had to hang on for dear life.

After visiting the penguins, we took the tender into Port Stanley and looked around the town. Very fun day.



Yes, we're in the Falkland Islands.




Christ Church Cathedral


Penguins at Sparrow Cove



Couldn't catch what he was saying.



Me & Penguin



Penguin Poop


Cruising Cape Horn - February 19

We were also very fortunate to have very calm seas while we cruised around Cape Horn. There is an Albatross Monument on Cape Horn (picture below). Here is what is engraved on the monument:

I, the albatross that awaits you at the end of the world…..

I, the forgotten soul of the lost sailors that crossed Cape Horn from all the seas of the world.

But die they did not in the fierce waves,
For today towards eternity in my wings they soar
In the last embrace of the Antarctic winds.

Sara Vial - Dec. - 1992




First Look at Cape Horn



Patiently waiting for dolphin to reappear - no luck.



Evidence I was there.



More Cape Horn - Lighthouse, home & chapel on hill in front.


Another view of Cape Horn.


Another view of lighthouse, home & chapel.



Albatross Monument



Another view...



To be continued....................