Author: innisma

Fort Lauderdale

Going to Fort Lauderdale a few days before our cruise departed was a great idea. Gail used her expiring United Mileage to upgrade us to First Class. As we had two extra suitcases for bridge this saved us a lot. We stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott which was a birthday present from Gail.

It was a trip back in time for me as I previously spent many memorable weeks there while cruising. We visited all the old haunts and took a water taxi tour of the inland waterway. On our last night we went to Coconuts to celebrate Gail’s birthday with lobster.

 

115-Day Grand World Voyage

WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Truly an epic voyage, this global circumnavigation encompasses five continents, four oceans, two legendary canals and more than 45 ports.  Gail Hanson and I are Bridge Instructors on this cruise aboard Holland America’s MS Amsterdam,  January 5th through April 30th, 2016. Continue reading “115-Day Grand World Voyage”

Day 14: Buenos Aries, Argentina

Sunday, December 5th
Arrival 08:00
Docked, Starboard side to
Sunny skies, Good visibility
28ºC/82.4ºF.  Wind: North-Westerly 7 knots

Buenos Aries, Argentina’s huge, vibrant, capital is several cities in one, and one of the cultural and commercial capitals of South America.  Current day Buenos Aries has the reputation of being the “Paris of the South”.  It is a city of contrasts. The downtown represents a city with class, its streets are among the most beautiful and elegant on the continent.
Continue reading “Day 14: Buenos Aries, Argentina”

Day 13: Montevideo, Uruguay

Thursday-Friday, December 3-4
Arrival 18:00 Dec 3   Overnight
Docked, Starboard side to
Sunny skies with  good visibility
19ºC/66.2ºF.  Wind North-Westerly 14 knots

The sail into Montevideo was wonderful.  We were invited by a pair of British bridge players to have cocktails on their veranda, then go to dinner.  While in the channel approaching the harbor, we saw a pilot whale following a small ship and performing tail flaps and jumps. Continue reading “Day 13: Montevideo, Uruguay”

Day 9: Rounding Cape Horn, Chile

Monday, November 30th
Latitude 55 degrees 59 minutes South
Longitude 067 degrees 16 minutes West
Seas calm, Winds light, Cold and cloudy

The Horn was discovered by the two sons of the Dutch explorer Isaac LaMaire and the Schouten brothers.  This quartet organized the expedition that consisted of two ships that searched for a sea route to the Pacific, south of the Magellan Straits.   Continue reading “Day 9: Rounding Cape Horn, Chile”

Day 8: Ushuaia, Argentina

Sunday, November 29
Arrival 12:46, Departure 20:03
Cloudy skies, Good visibility
6ºC/42.8ºF.  Wind:  South-Westerly 28 knots

Ushuaia was founded in 1816 and the first permanent residents were Anglican missionaries who established an outpost in 1869.  Located on the Beagle Channel over 3,000 km south of Buenos Aires, Ushuaia is also known as Fin del Mundo – end of the world – because it is the world’s southernmost city. Continue reading “Day 8: Ushuaia, Argentina”

Day 7: Punta Arenas, Chile

Saturday, November 27
Arrival 06:40, Departure 18:01
Cloudy skies, Good visibility
14ºC/57ºF,  Wind:  North-Westerly 20 knots

Punta Arenas is rich with Patagonian history through artifacts of the Braun-Mendez family, copies of which are sold in local shops.  The city can easily be seen afoot and offers panoramic views over the big island of Tierra del Fuego across the cold windy Strait of Magellan.   Continue reading “Day 7: Punta Arenas, Chile”

Day 4: Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Wednesday, November 25
Arrival 09:20, Departure 17:50
At Anchor
Clear skies with showers, moderate disability
12ºC/50ºF. Wind: South-Westerly 22 knots

Puerto Chacabuco is the main port of call for Patagonia and one of only a few towns along the Chilean fjords.  The town itself has little to offer and Gail and I decided to stay aboard. Continue reading “Day 4: Puerto Chacabuco, Chile”

Day 3: Puerto Montt, Chile

Tuesday,  November 24
Arrival 07:50, Departure 17:09
Partly Cloudy, 17ºC/62ºF Wind: Westerly 17knots

Puerto Montt, a fishing village dedicated to farming salmon, presides over a region rich in natural attractions;  there are 11 volcanos, several recreational areas in temperate rain forests amid the volcanos and many lakes nearby.   Continue reading “Day 3: Puerto Montt, Chile”