Sandy's Travels 2016

Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Buenos Aires - January 3 - February 6, 2018

This is the longest cruise I have taken, 34 days, aboard the new Silversea Silver Muse. This is the second time that I have been on that ship, and I hope to take many more.

January 5, 2018 - Cozumel, Mexico

There really wasn’t much to see at the port, so I was back on the ship after my 3 mile walk.

January 6, 2018 - Belize City, Belize

The only other time I was in Belize was when my plane stopped on the way from New Orleans to Panama. Everything was closed. I guess our ship was too small to bother.

January 7, 2018 - Roatan Island, Honduras

Another poor, poor country. Everyone was begging for money and offering to take you on a tour of the island. I opted for my walk and then lunch on the ship.

How can you tell one from another?

The Silversea Silver Muse

January 10, 2018 - Transit the Panama Canal

I’ve crossed the Panama Canal many times and it still amazes me that the technology from over 100 years ago still works today. I hope one day to transit the new canal.

January 12, 2018 - Manta, Ecuador

Manta is the tuna capital of the world. While in port we docked next to a tuna boat that unloaded tuna the entire day. There must have been 1000s of tuna. I wonder where they all went? I walked to the center of town but was unable to find a Panama hat store, so I bought a cheap one on the way back to the ship.

1000s of frozen tuna

January 15, 2018 - Callao (Lima), Peru

Since I was in Lima a few months ago, I skipped the hour long bus ride into town.

January 16, 2018 - Paracas, Peru

Today I did a little shopping, trying to get rid of the Peruvian soles I had left from my previous visit.

My first penguin of the trip

January 18, 2018 - Arica, Chile

I wandered the shopping district, but purchased nothing. I did not make it to the top of the hill to visit the giant flag.

January 21-22, 2018 - Valparaiso, Chile

I had a great time walking downtown and then up the hill in Valparaiso. On the second day I walked along the sea.

Artwork in Valparaiso hills

January 24, 2018 - Castro, Chile

This small town is know for its wooden huts built on stilts over the water.

Stilted houses

January 25, 2018 - Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Today I joined a group of Norwegian guests and took a local bus to Aisen. The city had just purchased 7 new CSI vehicles and we saw part of the ceremony. Why would such a small town need that many CSI vehicles?

Seven new CSI vehicles

Jnuary 26, 2018 - Laguna San Rafael, Chile

Today’s excursion was an hour boat ride to see a small glacier. The ones in Alaska, Norway and New Zealand are much larger and more magnificant.

Me with glacier in background

January 29, 2018 - Puerto Arenas, Chile

I walked into the small town today and saw some whales on the way. Julie, they are real.

Julie - this was real

My second penguin

February 1, 2018 - Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Today was amazing. We were lucky to be able to tender in Port Stanley. The odds are about 50/50 that you can tender. I signed up for the Elephant Beach penguin tour. After two hours in a van, and another in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, we saw hundreds of penguins. I took over 100 pictures and videos. They were so cute that I wanted to take one home, but I'll settle for my stuffed penguin. On the way home, I got to drive the 4 wheel drive vehicle off road through many ups, downs and giant holes.

We were lucky to see on King Penguin.

Me with real Magellan penguins

The sole king penguin

February 3, 2018 - Puerto Mardyn, Argentina

After another 90 minute drive (or was it 90 hours) on unpaved roads, we finally got to see more penguins. I was going to wear my tux, but it was 80 degrees and I would have melted. It is so amazing to get so close to these beautiful animals. I can't wait until my Antarctic cruise in December.

Don't miss the video below.