South America - part 13

Sunday 25 January

Up for 7am sailing in the shoals and Samiento Canal. The weather was grey but dry. We passed a large wrecked ship at the entrance to the canal.

I spotted some South American Fur Seals, lots of Giant Petrels and Black-browed Albatross and well as a Dark-bellied Cinclodes. After the spectacular scenery of Antarctica and Glacier Alley, I found this quite an anti-climax.

 

Southern Giant Petrel

Impressions of HAL. Nice to see stewards going round the prom deck with warm croissants and hot chocolate today so we could stay out and watch the scenery. They were also happy to get me a coffee in lieu of hot chocolate. They freely replemish toiletries and nibbles and found goldfish biscuits instead of nuts for me. Happy hour good value at buy one drink, get second for $1. Elemis toiletries, bed fabulous. there is an illuminated adjustable magnifying mirror at the dressing table. Sofa, height-adjustable table so you can eat fat the sofa, a DVD player with huge list of free dvds available. Best of all, it is lovely to be able to talk to such a diverse group of passengers. I have met people from Spain, Finland, Sweden, Guatemala, Argentina, Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, France, Turkey and Austria.

Showered and went to dinner - had nice table by a side window with a Canadian couple and couple from Wisconsin.

Monday 26 January

Awake at 8pm so got dressed and out on deck 6 for our journey up a Chilean fjord to the magnificent Tempanos Glacier. We saw little wildlife. It appeared to me to be much like the Norwegian fjords with the addition of many small islands, not so high and covered with beech trees. We sailed along the glacier face first one way, then the other, finally leaving it and retracing our route.

 

The weather was grey with outbreaks of blue sky and occasional showers. Lunched in Lido so we could see out. Had a much-needed lazy afternoon before coming second in the team trivia again. Then it was time for an early dinner on a table of ten. After dinner we watched an excellent show with two English singers before heading to the Officers Ball in the Crow's Nest, where I got one dance with the Hotel Director.