Puerto Vallarta

Today was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Day 43). This day’s tour was the best yet, we were with Jake and Shirley again. It was a 4×4 tropical safari. We started off being taken by boat to the main office of Vallarta Adventures. Ten of us got into the back of a truck with our guide. He told us this truck could go 45 degrees up, down and tilted on either side, we would find out he was right. The truck took the highway for a bit and we ended up in a small village where we visited a church. Our guide, Juan Carlos, was very knowledgeable about the history of his country. We were given a few minutes to walk around and then got back on the truck. We buckled our seat belts and off we went. There were dirt roads, rivers, dry river beds, all crossed by this truck while we hung on overhead straps. Then it got really bumpy as we went into the woods. The truck stopped in a clearing and we got out for a hike through the forest. We learned about plants and trees and animals. Our guide showed us a small pod that had a seed inside that tasted just like coconut, he even rubbed some on our hands to feel the nice oil it released. JC (Juan Carlos) then took some different pod seeds and crushed them, mixed then with water and painted our faces yellow. These are the same seeds that give cheddar cheese its orange colour. We went back to the truck and drove to a little place where we tried cactus and saw how tortillas were made a long time ago. The woman of the house (Dona Pachita) had made us fresh tortillas, cactus salad, fresh salsa and guacamole so we each got a taco for a snack. There was also papaya, plantain, guava and tamarind cut up for us to try. It was now on to lunch via another bumpy ride in the truck. Lunch was on a beach, a wonderful buffet with salad, salsa, fresh fruit, sausage, chicken and meat. It was an idyllic setting for a wonderful meal. The meal was followed by a dip in the ocean. The way back to the ship presented us with the opportunity to try tequila (my first time) and I even had Happy Birthday sung to me in advance. The ride was bumpy and windy and loud and a lot of fun. We were tired when we got back but it was a wonderful day.

 

    

Acapulco

Today was Acapulco, Mexico (Day 41). This was an amazing tour. We had never been to Acapulco before and it just looked a like a big city. The bus took us on a highway passing by all the big fancy hotels and condos while the guide pointed out different stars’ homes. We ended up at a lagoon and into little boats. Each boat held ten people. The lagoon had many birds, mostly big white cranes, and even some crabs crawling along tree roots. We went through mangrove tunnels and ended up at a river, all of it fresh water. When we got to the river, the boat driver, (a little girl who ended up being 28 years old with a child), got out to push us around. She reached down into the water and came up with a handful of mud which she spread on her face. It is apparently how she stays looking so young. There was a lady with two ziplock bags on our boat so we each got some mud to take with us so we could do mud face packs. The boat then turned around and took us back to our starting point. The tour continued to a turtle reserve. We sat down and we explained all about this program for turtle preservation. We were told that we would each release a turtle into the ocean, turtles that had hatched that morning. They showed us how to hold them and what to do. We all went down to the shore and lined up at the line. They passed the little turtles around and told us to wait while they gave the signal. Our turtles were named Adrian and Bronson and we patiently waited. When the signal was given, we gently put our turtles on the beach and watched them scramble to the ocean. There were about forty of us and some turtles needed help but they all made it. The organizers gave us a snack and then it was back to the ship (after sitting in traffic for a while). We had lunch and then joined Shirley and Jake (new friends) and visited Fort San Diego that was right at the pier. It was a very interesting Fort with many rooms of displays and explanations of Acapulco history. The four of us explored and then had to get back to the ship before it left.

Manta

Today was Manta, Ecuador (Day 37). Manta’s main industry is tuna. There is a Starkist canning factory there. We watched the tuna boats unload they catch into big trucks. We started watching when we docked in the morning and they were still unloading way after we got back from our tour. Our tour was in the afternoon so we went to walk around town in the morning. It was HOT and HUMID. My sunscreen did not stand a chance. We walked along the beach to the only nice hotel in town, the Oro Verde. We then walked a little more to discover nothing else, there is nothing much to see. We ended up on the beach again in a little restaurant and had a Sprite Zero and a mulberry milkshake. Then we went back to ship for a quick lunch and our tour. There was not much to this tour. We went to a small village where they make Panama Hats. This is the birth place of Panama Hats but they somehow ended up with that name so they are called Ecadorian Hats. The bus then drove us to a chorilla (small village) where they make things from a cactus fiber that looks loke jute. They showed us how they boil it, dry it, comb it and then spin it into a thread. They then make bags and shower gloves and back scrubbers. T    he next place was a Tagua nut factor. The nut is actually vegetal ivory and is used to make buttons. They used to sell a lot but things have changed since plastic. They showed us the nut, how they slice it, bore a hole to get a button, make the thread hole with laser, polish it and colour it. It was all quite fascinating. I bought a bunch of stuff. That was about it for Manta.

Lima

Today was Lima (Day 35). Lima has 9 million inhabitants and blends in with the port town of Calleo where the ship was docked. I could have spent a lot of time in the museum w went to see on our tour. It was big and had artifacts from the Inca period and periods way before that. The guide was good and very knowledgeable and took us to most of the rooms in the museum. Many of the artifacts were real, not reproductions; even the gold chest plates and jewelry from the Inca people. The bus then drove a while to the Pachacamac Ruins where we got to walk around on one of the temples. We then drove about an hour to the Tres Canas ranch for lunch and a horse show. The lunch started with Pisco Sours (drinks) and some fruity sangria, non alcoholic, made with purple corn and Inca popcorn. Inca popcorn is large kernels of corn that are roasted but not popped and salted. The rest of lunch was not very interesting and dessert was a purple gooey blob with stuff in it. The horse show followed lunch. They explained all about the horses and the strange way they walk and run. They don’t really run, they trot or prance. It will be more visible on the pictures and little videos. We all went back to the bus and back to the ship.

Arica, Chile

Today was Arica (Day 35). Arica, Chile is the driest place on earth with 0.76 mm (0.03 inches) of rainfall per year. We got into Arica late but we were still able to get an afternoon tour. Unfortunately the bus was not air conditioned and it was extremely hot. We started off at the church (there is always a church) and then got to run through the little market. We had no time to really look so we will wander the city later. Arica has silver and lapis lazuli as well as alpaca stuff. We then went to El Morro which is the place where the War of the Pacific ended and Arica became part of Chile instead of Peru. It took the Chilean Army 55 minutes to walk 30 kilometers and defeat the Peruvian Army. We visited the little museum and took pictures of the amazing views. This place is so dry there is really nothing but dirt and dust. The tour then took us to the Archaeological Museum where they have the oldest mummies in the world (over 5,000 years old). The tour buses all got there at the same time so it was like the tower of Babel, we walked through quickly taking in as much as we could. There were a few little stands selling souvenirs which we visited. This was in a valley and while the ground looked dry there were lots of olive trees everywhere and the ground actually very fertile. Olives are exported all around the world from here. Our last stop was the Geoglyphs, drawings on the hills in the desert. They are maintained by the university and were quite something. They were used for directions much like the innukshuks (spelling) the Eskimos used. Llamas represented water and the way they faced was the direction where water could be found. There was a little stand there too that sold olives and t-shirts. We were then taken back to t he original church so we could wander around town. The shawl I had seen earlier was gone but I did buy a lapis lazuli necklace and earrings. We wandered some more and found helados (ice cream), it was very good and then we found a delightful pedestrian street that we explored. They had interesting stuff but we did not buy anything. There are Hari Krishnas here, they sell bread(in French iti is pain integral). We went back to the ship to do our usual snack, dress for dinner, dinner, show, coffee and bed.

Missing man

Today is the second day after Santiago (34). The day started out with the purser paging a passenger over and over again. We went down to the Lido deck for breakfast and could feel the ship changing course, going around in circles. The Cruise Director (Goose) then came on to say it was just a way to check guidance systems. The ship then started to pick up speed and the purser was still paging. Goose came on again to say that a man had apparently gone overboard and we had turned around and were heading back to where he was last seen. The ship then started to really go (22 knots, 40 km) heading south. Well we headed south for 5 hours and then we were told we were at the coordinates were this person was last seen. The Chilean Navy had been alerted, search planes were out and boats in the area had been alerted as well. Here we sit, the Navy and the Splendor have coordinated search grids, the search plane is flying back and forth and people are out on decks with binoculars searching for this person who could not possibly have survived 10 hours floating around in the ocean. We are all wondering what will happen now. Are we going to miss our next port of call which is Arica, which is where all the people going overland to Machu Picchu were disembarking. These people were all going to fly to Cusco, take a train to Machu Picchu and meet up with the ship in Lima, Peru, a two day trip. Here is an update, the man jumped off his 6^th storey balcony. He apparently left a note. We searched until almost dark (7:45) and then started back on our way north. We did not make it to Arica until 1pm so all our tours were cancelled but we were able to get one for just the afternoon. Tonight at dinner, our friend Jane told us that the man who jumped off was an Asian/American man who got on in Santiago. The note he left was typed and the signature does not appear to be his. It was said that he was travelling with his wife and brother. It turns out the man supposed to be the brother is not a family member and his wife was out dancing last night, the night he died. I will update when I find more; I am still upset over this stupid man screwing up three thousand peoples’ vacation.

Puerto Montt

Today was Puerto Montt (Day 29). The day started out cloudy and raining and the ship could not dock so the tenders were used to get to the town. There are rude people the world over and this is no exception but the tender ride was generally smooth. The tour bus took us for a ride to Lake Esmerelda which is a beautiful lake with very green water. The sun came out just as we were boarding the catamaran for our tour around the lake. This gave us a chance to see the snow capped Osorno Volcano, what a gorgeous sight. This lake also has a campground and many little beaches. The catamaran docked and the bus took us to Petrohue Falls. There is a lot of constructions on the roads around here which proved a challenge to the bus driver but he got us there. It was a short walk to the falls with little stands along the way, I bought a lovely alpaca cape that was calling to me and Peter got cookies. The Falls were lovely but crowded so nobody wasted any time. It was now time for lunch so the bus took us to a “local restaurant”. It was a lovely place with small cabins on a hill with amazing views. There were llamas and rias (a cousin to the emu). There was of course a woman who would not leave the llama alone so it got mad and spit in her face! Good for the llama, I say! Lunch was salmon and veggies and dessert was a sort of cake with a layer of fruit topped with custard. I bought a jar of MURTA jelly, which is a local berry. Pictures, pictures, pictures, a ride on the bus and a walk back to the tender, a ride back to the ship.

Days after Ushuaia

Today is the day after Ushuaia (Day 26.) It was confirmed that apparently the weather would not permit us to tender in Ushuaia so we would spend two days in the Chilean Flords. I was so disappointed and upset that I came 6,000 nautical miles to see penguins and was not able to see any. So we spent the day in the Chilean Fjords . We arrived at Punta Arenas where we sat in the bay while boats went back and forth but we were not able to leave the ship. There went my last chance to see penguins. SIGH! We left shortly after and were on our way to more fjords.

The second day of fjords (Day 27) was relatively sunny and bright and we saw glaciers and a cross which sits at the most southern tip of the continent. The weather turned in the evening as we exited the fjords and entered the Pacific Ocean. It was a very bumpy night.

The third day out (day 28) we were still in the Pacific and the ship was rocking and rolling a lot. It was cold and foggy and raining. I took a pill and ended up sleeping most of the day. We did not think we would make it to dinner but by that time things had calmed down and I was feeling better, still a little drugged but better.

Ushuaia

Today was Ushuaia, Argentina (Day 25). Today we took two tours. This morning we left from the most southern city in the world and went to the National Park at Tierra del Fuego, the most southern park in the world and stopped at the most southern post office in the world and saw the most southern everything in the world. We took the train to the end of the world. Ushuaia was at one time a prison colony like Australia and this train ride followed the route they took to gather materials to build the prison. The ride was very scenic with lots of peat bogs. We stopped off at a station to walk around and look at waterfalls and flora in general. The train ride ended and we hopped back on the bus to head back into town. We stopped at the visitors’ center and got our certificate that says we were there; ‘there’ being, for all intents and purposes, the end of the world. There was very little time for us to get back on the ship, dumps our stuff, eat lunch and then get back to the lounge for the afternoon tour. The tour this afternoon took us into the Beagle Channel. The Channel got its name from the ship that discovered it, The Beagle. The Beagle at one time had Darwin on as a passenger. The catamaran took us out to the different rock formations that are home for sea lions, king cormorants, Geese and Petrols (spelling may be wrong) as well as the lighthouse that signals the end of the Channel. The sea lions are adorable. The birds poop all over the rocks they live on so the rocks are white and it smells absolutely awful. The mountains surrounding us are the Andes. The catamaran turned around and took us back to the ship. The wind started picking up while we waited to board this ship and the sky did not look friendly. All the people at our table have a reservation to go to eat at the supper club tonight for seafood night so we went up to the room to relax and get ready. Then the announcements started; we would we leaving late due to the high winds, we would be leaving later than late, we would maybe stay there all night…..Finally well into dinner (around 9:00) we started moving out but then came more announcements: we would not be able to stop at our next port (Punto Arenas) where we were supposed to see penguins. I was so disappointed but still a little hopeful.

Puerto Madryn

Today was Puerto Madryn (MA dryn) in Argentina. Everyone was dressed for very cold weather, foolish people, it turned out to be a lovely day full of sunshine and a little breezy. I saw sea lions just off the pier at breakfast. There are many derelict ships close to shore which seems to be normal around here. The main industry is aluminum and there are ingots piled up here and there. We did a 7 hour tour at this stop. It was the Patagonia Experience. We first visited a Paleontology Museum which was very nice they had authentic as well as replicas of dinosaur bones both big and small from millions of years back. The guide was very informed which made the tour great. The tour then took us to a sea lion colony. There were only females and pups because the males were all gone out to sea. They were all sunning themselves on the beach and occasionally going for a swim. The public all gather on a hilltop to observe the sea lions so they are not disturbed. It was time for lunch after that so we headed to the Estancia (ranch) San Guillermo (William). The bus took us down a dirt path and a steep hill that was a little scary. It is a working sheep ranch with about 500 sheep. We all sat down at long tables. The food was skewered and cooking over fires in the next room. There was carrot salad and regular salad to start along with bread and something that tasted like doughnuts, then came chicken and sausage which were delicious and then came lamb which was even better. They offered us more food but we just couldn’t eat anymore. Lunch was followed by a sheep shearing demonstration. They certainly knew what they were doing. Unfortunately because of the economic crisis, they cannot sell the wool this year so they stockpile it. We managed to make it back up the hill and head back into town and the pier. We got to the ship a little after 4:30. There was a folkloric show at 5:00, our regular show at 7:00, dinner at 8:00, a long chat with another couple and then bed.