Well, it was supposed to be day one of the cruise. We all arrived at the Dazzler! lobby for our 2 pm bus transfer to the boat. We had a little city tour on the way. Nothing that I remember, I was so eager to get on the boat and get going!
She is actually very nice but very quiet. Her name is Julie. Amy and I staked out our beds and sat on them to wait. We didn't do anything so aggressive as get under the covers but we were sitting on them. She arrived. We sized her up, tall, young, nimble. Do you mind taking the top bunk. No, no problem. Yay! And then we left her to unpack as we explored the ship a bit.
It is a converted car ferry. And while it is very nice, the windows remind us totally of the BC Ferries, it is a bit disconcerting. I actually beelined straight to the library. One other lady beat me there. We both scooped a couple of novels and scurried back to our rooms to hide our hoard. I did put one book I had finished back so I feel somewhat less guilty. I don't even remember what I took but it wasn't a German translation of a 1987 Daniel Steele so I consider it a win.
Our room is not overly cramped. Amy, pulled the 'you got the better bed in Buenos Aires' card and took the solo bed. I got the bottom bunk. It is fine. I can sit up under the top bunk so it is pretty much the same either way. And Amy did definitely get the crappy bed in Palermo Alto.
(Julie just arrived back and we have just informed her that we snore. Her sweet face almost broke for a split second but she recovered quickly and took our offer of ear plugs - poor girl)
We started making friends at the hotel waiting for the bus. Remember back when I mentioned that we had seen another single woman checking in and I wondered if she might be our thruple. She was standing alone so I forced some eye contact on her and started talking to her. I could tell she wasn't one to engage on her own. Her name is Deborah.
We had a welcome meeting at 4:30. We all sat in the lounge. The Hotel Manager (in charge of all inside boat activities) and the Expedition Leader (all activities outside of the boat) gave us a littlle welcome speech. We got introduced to all of expedition team members and what they do (mammal specialist, geologist, photography guy, etc.). Joe, you will be excited to hear that there is an onboard musician. Shane from Ontario. He is currently playing in the bar but we have already hit the hay.
In our welcome meeting, the Expedition Leader, Jonathan, let us know that we won't be leaving tonight. There is a fuel shortage in Uruguay and we have to wait until tomorrow to get enough fuel to get to Falklands to fill up for the next leg. Big groan from the crowd. But they said they would be able to make up the time and we won't lose any time on our landing days. Plus, to keep us occupied until we leave at 4pm, they are taking us on a winery tour.
It's been a long day so I am going to sign off for now. Just a last thought. Dinner was nice. We sat with Deborah and she is a traveler too so we get along great.
(next day). I won't bore you each day with the menu. Let's just say that there is no shortage of food. I think dinner was four courses. We had a person with a birthday at our table so we got free champagne. But normally, if we want wine or beverages of any sort (except coffee and tea), we will have to pay extra. Wine is only $6 and beer is $4 so it's not unreasonable. But you know me, free is better.
Monday, October 24 (Day two/one of the cruise).
We were supposed to be having a sea day today but as I mentioned yesterday, we had to wait for fuel. It is almost 6pm and we still haven't left but we've been told it is imminent. I am in the lounge at the moment, camera and binoculars at the ready for when we leave port. Oh, something is happening with the ropes!! Engines are starting!!! This is happening.
9:46 pm. We are at sea.
But before we get to that, let me finish up today. We had a 6:30 am announcement from the Expedition Leader just as our alarm went off. 7 am breakfast and 8:15 on the buses to go to the city tour and lunch at a winery. The city tour was 2 hours. Our tour guide was a bit drone-y so Amy kept falling asleep. He was a retired Electrical guy so we would be driving by interesting buildings or somesuch and he would be telling us about the cables running in front of it. I am exaggerating (a bit) but he was not riveting. I remember nothing we learned but my pictures may help.
The main square of Montevideo
There was some sort of official ceremony going on for the United Nations anniversary (77?) that involved soldiers and dignitaries etc.
Highlight, we stopped at a sculpture of some cows that apparently Mussolini wanted to take away from Uruguay (?) but the interesting thing was the hummingbird on the tree beside the cows. Hopefully the pictures I took are good enough for identification when I have access to my S. America bird book.
Then we finally got to the winery after driving through some slums and industrial area and finally farmland. More food. So much food. Another four course meal. With wine pairing for each. Lord help me. I met a dog named Luna who was so sweet. She is in my backpack now (I wish). We had wifi at the winery so I got a FB post and an email to my mom out before we left.
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| This picture is for Robynne |
Back to the boat. But first through Uruguay border security to give us our exit stamps.
Then we boarded and had our safety drill. We all met in the lounge. And then we had to go back to our rooms to get our life vests. And then a video and a lesson on how to put on the life vest although by then most people already had them on. Then we mustered and got signed in. It took so long to get everyone organized, we would have all been Jack trying to knock Rose off her door by then. Then up to our life raft to see what a tiny space 51 of us would have to cram into. That was probably enough to convince at least 5 or 6 people it would be better to go down with the boat.
We left the harbour without event. I took a Bonine anti-motion sickness pill right away.
All of the passengers rushed to the deck to watch. But, we've all been on boats leaving a harbour, there isn't that much too it. But, it was exciting none the less, to be on our way for our big Antarctic Adventure. Then it was back to the lounge for a meeting about the Falklands excursions. We had to decide which excursion. The short walk, the medium walk, or the treacherous long hike. We went with the middle one. That's the one with the best birding. We will be walked to gypsy cove.
Leaving the harbour
Dinner. I could barely face it. I think a combo of too much already, the dining room was so hot and some motion sickness. I ate soup and then picked at my meal. I left before dessert, which as flan so you know whatever I have is probably fatal, I love flan! I should mention that so far, the boat is very hot. The AC is not keeping up with all of the bodies and the external heat.
So, of course, next thing, as I am lying in my bed, there is an announcement that it's time to come to the lounge to get our parkas. I went back up and put on a parka over my sweaty, quasi-nauseous self. That took about an hour for everyone to get their coats and sign them out.
Now I am back in bed writing all of this down. There are like four talks tomorrow. It's the first of three sea days so hopefully I will have time to add some pictures. But not tonight. it is time to sleep.
Update two minutes later. I closed my computer, drank a mouthful of water and puked. So, it's not too much food or the heat. It's motion sickness. Damn.
Sorry to hear about the sea-sickness despite your Bonnie. I hope it's temporary!
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