SOUTH AMERICA and the CHILEAN FJORDS. From the mighty Andes, to glorious glaciers, ending in the home of the Tango. That's a 'YES' from me!
- Mandy Watson
- 2 days ago
- 27 min read
And that's exactly what I said, pretty sure without hesitation,
when Trev found this itinerary pop up on his phone
as we were casually sitting on our deck at home in Australia.
You see, Trev has an 'MO' when it comes to looking at holidays online...
When I hear him say "Ooh!" I know he's found a deal,
or something exciting - sometimes both!
I don't think we've NOT booked one that he has said 'Ooh', to.
Bless.
And especially this one is on our favourite cruise line, Viking.
With its great pricing for the distance covered and quality offered, it was a no brainer.
Problem is when we see the next leg of this cruise, and he say's OOOOHHHH...
...look out bank balance!
But seriously, we're not going to fly all this way only for 18 days, are we?
But I'll save that for the next blog...😉
A Transatlantic Crossing deserves its own chapter for sure!
Oh and then a week in Spain!
Lots to come.
Olé!
Walking through the arrival gates of Chile's capital, Santiago,
we were met by a horde of young fans cheering for us...
Let me explain, it's hilarious.
You see there was a huge concert in town, and all the groupies were waiting with anticipation at the airport with signs, banners and even flowers, for glimpses of their idols.
So when we walked through and Trev saw this enormous welcoming committee,
he couldn't help himself and without missing a best, he just threw both his hands up
and exclaimed: "HELLLLOOOOOOOO"!
To which the entire mob echoed back "HELLLLOOOOOO!" whilst waving joyfully at us.
They were excited, maybe they thought we were connected somehow.
🫢
We were famous, for like 2 seconds.
Then promptly reverted back to being invisible middle aged travellers.
But what a funny start to our trip!
Viking reps were there to meet us instead, and we hopped onto our transfer coach
for the 90 minute drive via glorious vineyards lining the highway,
until finally arriving at the colourful, yet hilly coastal city of Valparaiso,
to where our ship was docked for the night for us.
Yes, we are fortunate to be spending the night here onboard,
which not always happens with cruise itineraries.
If it was a 'sail away day', we would have arrived a couple days earlier, to allow for delays, and to also shake the jet lag whilst checking out a new destination.
This time we had a leisurely boarding procedure, and were thrilled to be back on board another Viking ocean ship, this time the 'Jupiter,'
which is about to head off on it's relocation cruise from its season here in South America, back up to the Mediterranean.
Which is where we'll eventually disembark - Barcelona.
But for now, this particular cruise is destined for Buenos Aires,
and we are looking forward to new adventures, mixed in with some familiar sights.
You see, back in 2019, in those glorious pre Covid days,
we spent a few days in one of my favourite cities, Buenos Aires,
before heading south to tackle the famous Drake Passage to Antarctica.
That was a WOW trip for certain, (and an earlier blog.)
No Antarctica this time, just 'rounding The Horn', and heading back north,
then eventually eastbound onto the next sector.
We have a couple scenic sailing days navigating through the Chilean Fjords, as well as a few sea days getting the nautical miles under our belts between ports, and we couldn't be on any better cruise ship for those 'quiet days' at sea.
No kids. No casinos. No art auctions. Love it.
There's so much here to do, or not do.
Totally up to you as the individual.
I'll get to that later!
---
Day 2 is still in Port, and as per usual, Viking provides a free shore excursion,
which we utilised and enjoyed without any effort whatsoever.
A four hour combined bus/walking tour which pretty much covered the place for half a day,
and getting us back to the ship an hour before our scheduled departure.
Perfect.
Valparaiso is a very steep coastal city, known for its historic funiculars,
vibrant street art and colourful hilltop houses.
I was thinking it might be the 'Cinque Terra' of South America,
but this portion of colourful houses really was only in one tiny district.
They have embraced street art in a HUGE way here, and these celebrated artists are highly sought after and charge a fair whack of money if you commission them
to paint an external wall for you.
Some are on private houses, alot are on public buildings and to be honest,
any wall is a canvas.
The city also has a deep connection to Easter Island, which is still part of Chile officially, (despite being 3750 kms away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean) -
with a wonderful museum here with loads of historical artefacts and there's even one of the few original Moai's that are from the Island, standing sentinel at the entrance. I believe there are only 12 that were ever removed.
We are really kicking ourselves now for not adding a visit to Easter Island before the cruise.
We seriously considered it.
I have always wanted to go, and we honestly would never be closer, but alas,
money factored into our decision and we decided not to go.
I can tell you though, it is still on our list, and hopefully we'll be there in 2028 when we return to South America to finish off a few more bucket list wishes!
Our next visit was to a former private residence, and now museum, Palacio Baburizza, featuring many original oil paintings from Europe as well as Chile.
A very eclectic but well maintained and presented collection,
even the residence was really fascinating to wander through.
Then from here, it was only a short walk to experience one of their famous funiculars,
to transport us down this incredibly steep hill and give us views to the very busy port below.
A little more street walking to savour the last of this colourful and vibrant city,
as now our ship awaits patiently for its next excited group of passengers to board,
all eagerly anticipating a fabulous journey around the
most southern tip of South America and beyond.
Mainly what I heard people talking about was how much they were looking forward to seeing penguins!
🐧
So, its "Adios Valparaiso",
as we sail away for further explorations and adventures!
---
Day 3
Quite often when you depart on a long'ish' cruise,
you get to enjoy your first day relaxing at sea,
and I find this a great way to acquaint ourselves with our new ship.
Although, having sailed on Viking ocean ships previously, we pretty much knew our way around, however, that being said, it is always a new crew,
so its nice to get to know them,
and vice versa...
"Another lemon drop martini, Miss Amanda?"
"Ooh, yes please."
Wait, did she already say 'another'?
Oops.
🥴
🍸
The cute and very talented Maricar was never far away, especially when I was doing some blogging on one of these sea days.
Always there with a smile, like all the crew, they honestly couldn't do enough for you.
Though, whilst it often looks the contrary... I was VERY GOOD on this trip!
I did go to the gym most mornings,
as well as indulging in the sauna, snow grotto and cold plunge.
Pictured below, you can see the snow grotto and the main indoor pool with spa,
it even had a full length gas fireplace at the end.
Oh, and a steam room!
I actually loved enjoying (enduring 😉) the chill of the snow grotto first,
as I always went straight in there first thing after the gym,
then the heated pool, sauna, cold plunge, and repeat!
We often had the place to ourselves!
❤️
It wouldn't be a true Nordic spa experience without the cold water bucket over your head!
My whole morning was pretty much spent doing this on sea days,
and from there it was trivia then lunch.
Easy living!
Our most recent holiday was pretty hectic, so this pace is a refreshing change.
All of these amazing facilities are included in your fare.
And another reason why it's hard to ever be bored on this cruise line on those sea days, when you can indulge like this.
⬇️
I even took my own protein powder and creatine so I could have my shake every morning.
Nothing like taking bags of white powder through South American airports...😉
The barista at the coffee lounge was happy to throw everything in the blender for me.
But then, this is us by the afternoon...
What can you say when they bring you high tea?
Or perhaps it was espresso martini time whilst trying to keep the brain active...
We're allowed, we're on 'olidays!
Tomorrow we go ashore, phew!
---
Day 4
I had always felt the urge to explore at least a part of the Patagonia region,
it sounded and looked so ruggedly incredible - and today we get the chance!
Patagonia, not being a country but rather a region of both Chile and Argentina,
includes some of the most majestic scenery in all of South America.
As we are cruising, of course we can't venture too far inland, but over the following days
we certainly get a decent crack at the stunning snow capped volcanoes,
glass-like fjords that cast amazing reflections,
and the towering glaciers that created them looming over from high above.
Today, it's PUERTO MONTT, CHILE.
Before this trip, I did do my research on all our ports of call, and realised that most of Viking's included excursions actually ticked our boxes for sightseeing, today included.
Puerto Varas is a gorgeous seaside village not too far from Puerto Montt,
with a relaxed atmosphere, and the fabulous snow capped volcano known as Osorno, being the centrepiece, was peaking out behind a misty curtain of low sea cloud.
We had plenty of free time to nosey around the shoreline, as well as maybe a little window shopping. I found out that the blue stone, Lapis Lazuli, is very prevalent here,
and a wonderful piece nearly came home with us...but we have a saying...
"Love it?" Buy it (if plausible)..."Like it?" Pass. You can live without it.
So we passed.
Same goes when Trev chooses gelato.
However he loves it every time!
Frutillar is a quaint town nearby,
with a strong German heritage with their architecture and cuisine.
The pier was a popular spot for tourists trying to capture a good shot of yet another snow capped volcano in the distance.
(Not much snow in summer, but I believe its a sight to behold in winter!)
I for one, chose other spots to capture my shots.
The local children were adorable, enjoying the freedom of a 'warmish' summer's day
to frolic in the probably quite freezing water.
Anyone for a tune?
What a random sight to see at the water's edge!
Certainly plenty to capture one's eye in these small villages.
Love them.
Another easy going day. What's not to enjoy?
And what better way to be welcomed back to the ship,
than the officer's hamming it up for us on the dock!
Once back onboard, we always gravitate to the rear deck,
where the infinity pool and lounges are.
This is always our go to place, especially for a sail away,
and today we started a bit of a ritual,
one that I'm afraid we still do at home...charcuterie time!!!
They have such a wonderful array of cheeses, relishes and meats, that we occasionally pigged out sufficiently that we didn't need dinner.
The staff even gave us blankies...bless.
A great day.
Entertainment is always somewhere onboard, and on this cruise we landed the jackpot with our Cruise Director, Graham, and his Assistant Cruise Director, Harry.
Both true entertainers in their own rights, they honestly both took this cruise experience,
in our opinion, to the next level.
Funny, kind, gracious, generous to a fault - all of it, and let me say that Harry was so fabulous with our team trivia, we had some priceless moments of laughter that will never be forgotten.
And of course the Viking singers were there for the production shows on certain nights.
These awesome photos of Graham, Harry, and the Viking Singers, are thanks to fellow Viking enthusiast and excellent photographer, Steve Rhodes.
And I must add our Hotel Manager, Ronald. What a character he is!
Someone Trev and I had plenty of time for, he was always up for a fun chat,
as well as hosting really entertaining 'Back of Ship' tours.
---
Days 5-6
THE CHILEAN FJORDS, and the AMALIA GLACIER.
Known for their stunning landscapes and ancient glaciers, the Chilean Fjords are right up there on many people's 'to-see' list when visiting South America.
And rightly so.
We are fortunate to have previously witnessed the beauty of the
Norwegian and Alaskan Fjords,
as well as the stunning Sounds of New Zealand,
so these ones had a lot to live up to.
And live up, that they did.
As we were cruising this gorgeous scenery from first light,
Viking, as per usual, put on a huge pre-breakfast pastry spread, complete with fruit smoothies and champagne, and hot chocolate for anyone braving the early and cold conditions if you dared to venture outside.
The Amalia Glacier.
Now this last photo comes with a story...
You see - behind my smile, lies a very fragile lass, who was down in Medical the previous night due to an anaphylactic reaction to, wait for it - too much lobster!
"Haha" I hear you mutter, poor me, right?
Well, at the time, it really was 'poor me'!
You see, on every Viking ocean cruise, they put on a Lobster night.
Like seriously, it's all you can eat!
😱🦞
Of course every other morsel was there too - king crab legs, mussels, prawns, scallops -
you name it, as well as all the usual meats etc.
Well, little did I know that there can be a thing as too much lobster!
Says who?
Apparently it's the iodine in them, and if you're not used to it, it can affect you.
I was fine during the meal, but later on, when we were in the lounge watching the band with our little posse of new friends, is when I felt my face really starting to itch.
Then I felt the welts starting to rise.
THEN my lips started to swell, and that's when I lisped to Trev that I think I have a problem.
Once back at our room and under the bathroom lights, I was shocked at my appearance.
And noooo, I'm NOT posting those pics! 😱
I called the medical centre and they told me to come down immediately.
The nurse took one look at me, and upon hearing I ate 3 (small-ish) lobsters,
agreed with what I thought was happening and gave me a couple of injections:
a steroid for the swelling, and an antihistamine for the itchy hives all over my face and chest.
She was worried my throat may close up during the night.
Yikes!
Well, obviously I survived the night, and my slightly 'bee-stung' lips
which lasted the next day, I thought was a mild improvement, truth be told!
I was warned off shellfish for a while, and advised to only reintroduce them slowly.
The ship's doctor did follow up with me the next day to see how I was going,
and couldn't have been more helpful.
So that's my 'oops' story for the trip!
---
Day 7
PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE.
This port really must've taken my eye, as I honestly can't believe
how many photos I took here!
From the waterfront sculptures, to more vibrant street art, the town square, bars, restaurants, shops and street markets, there certainly was plenty to see on our included walking tour of this town.
From the waterfront we meandered through town with our guided tour,
(another included Viking excursion) and made our way up the hill for a vantage point.
Although 'town' isn't always unicorns and rainbows -
It's certainly nice to see our ship waiting for us in the harbour!
There's always a place these days for travellers to leave their 'Lovelocks' ...
... and to see if your home city makes the cut on one of those signposts:
Yeah, nah - that's a negative for us! 😉
Back into town we had some spare time in the main square,
enjoying some of the local dancers in their native cultural costumes,
show off their dance moves, and happy for a photo or two.
Loving those boots and spurs!
From there we enjoyed and indulged in an underground speakeasy styled tavern -
...where we were all treated to my favourite South American cocktail: Pisco sour... I may have enjoyed Trev's!
He wasn't a fan.
Too delicious to waste I say!
The shops were actually begging for our attention on the way back to the ship,
despite us doing the usual 'fancy dress ups' with local hats!
As I add the next photo, I'm not sure if Trev will want me to keep it in...
If you're reading this - he has been a good sport! 👍
I pretty sure we parted with some Pesos for some souvenir t-shirts and a cap or two.
(We don't buy many trinkets these days.)
Look out for me wearing my new favourite Patagonia cap in upcoming photos!
And its not the white fluffy one...
Walking back to the ship after what was a very casual yet still educational day,
I took this next shot, which I absolutley love.
I have been learning a lot on a iphone photo editing course,
and I really like how it came out.
Very 'moody'.
I'll post the original shot I took, below my edited version.
See what you think!
We have another pre-dawn start tomorrow, as we have some more scenic sailing to enjoy,
the last of these gorgeous Chilean Fjords, before we arrive in Ushuaia,
the town literally at the
'End of the Earth'!
---
DAY 8
And THIS is why you get up early!!!!
🌄
Scenic cruising means exactly that.
❤️
Love this next image, as it is reflected in the front windows of the ship as well.
More glaciers!
The pink hues of dawn over the snow capped peaks was fleeting, yet stunning,
casting a magical glow across the rugged landscape.
Time to now say goodbye to these picture postcard views,
as we reach the very bottom of South America,
and really only have one last day to enjoy the spectacle of the
longest continental mountain range in the world, The Andes.
USHUAIA, ARGENTINA.
I love how Viking show you how to ask how to get back to the ship in the local language!
Trev and I were last here 7 years ago, so we recreated a photo we took back then.
I'm actually super proud that at this stage, I have lost 30+ kilos (66 pounds) since then! 💪
Last time versus this time!
I don't think Trev has aged a bit!
Today we had booked a private tour to Tierra Del Fuego National Park,
as we had plenty of time up our sleeve, with a fairly late departure for a change, yeay!
This spot right here, marks the actual end of the famous No. 3 Route that takes drivers/riders from the very top of Alaska, all the way through North, Central and South America, to the very bottom of the continent.
What a feat that would be, and huge kudos to all who achieve this incredible achievement.
One scenic stop alongside the Beagle Channel, is where the sadly 'now closed'
Unidad Postal Fin del Mundo
which translates to 'Post Office at the End of the World.'
It used to get a lot of visitors, enough to form queues so you could get a stamp, post a letter or even get a stamp in your passport from this very unique address. I think they probably closed it now as the pier itself may be unsafe.
Cute still, for a photo!
Some free time to wander around the spectacular waterfront,
and read about the original inhabitants of the area.
We had a break for a bite to eat,
and it was about time we indulged in a true Argentinian delight:
Dulce de leche!
A thick caramel slab coated in chocolate, with a bit of a soft biscuit base.
This one was apparently quite traditional, extremely rich and sweet,
and I'm sure it went straight to my ass!
😋
Even more mountains and lakes to follow and bask in this incredible weather.
We have been truly fortunate so far, I don't think we've seen any rain at all yet.
Like my new cap?
🧢
Towards the end of this tour we were taken to a prairie like spot
where this local steam train passes through.
It's a bit of a gimmick really, and I think it ropes a lot of tourists in,
and then they get disappointed when it's more of a kiddy's ride.
But it was fun to photograph!
Wasn't a steam locomotive, but it did go 'toot-toot!'
🚂. 😂
Time to depart Tierra Del Fuego National Park now, and head back into Ushuaia,
as we had plenty of opportunity to check out the town, and all the scenery that this gorgeous 'End of The World' port has to offer.
Loved it last time, loved it again.
And for those of you who are die hard Breaking Bad fans (like we are),
you'll understand why we had to take this photo!
😉🐓
Leaving Ushuaia, we are now sailing towards the legendary Cape Horn,
where over 800 ships have been wrecked, and well over 10,000 lives
have been lost since the 16th century.
It is one of the largest underwater cemeteries in the world.
Wowsas.
---
DAY 9
Back in the days before the Panama Canal, vessels of all shapes and sizes had no choice but to take on this often very treacherous sector of the world's oceans - it literally is where the entire Southern Pacific Ocean funnels through a very narrow channel,
known as the Drake Passage,
and into what becomes the Atlantic Ocean.
Add to that the freezing, howling Antarctica winds, powerful currents and sometimes giant waves - It often gets referred to as 'The Perfect Storm' ... you could only imagine how horrendous it was back in the days of wooden sail boats,
let alone enduring the difficult and primitive conditions onboard.
And now it's own turn to navigate it!
Yippee!
Thank goodness we are on a Viking cruise ship.
Safe has a house. 😃
We won't however be dipping our toes into the Drake Passage -
more like hugging the coastline, as closely and safely as possible,
to try to make it as smooth and safe a sailing for all onboard.
We first had to 'round The Horn', and whilst cold and extremely windy,
fortunately for us the water wasn't that rough, but it made for some fun photos,
as we tried to get a good look at the southernmost lighthouse in the world.
Another one for my ever growing collection?
Probably not, when you see that we didn't get very close, for my phone photo anyway.
Here's what it looks like, on the internet, versus what I could capture.
We did pass this little bad boy, in the Beagle Channel on the way to the Horn. This is the 'Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse', which sometimes gets mistaken as the
End of the World Lighthouse.
It's actually inaccessible to the public, but can be reached via a tour operated catamaran.
Back at the rear of the ship, I was having some fun with some other passengers,
who were also braving the wind to get some shots.
Did someone say 'bad hair day'?
Notice my typical Aussie disregard for adequate footwear...
With the legendary 'Horn' behind me in these pics, we are now on our way northeast,
apparently for the Falkland Islands.
Apparently.
That was until our Captain received a less than satisfactory weather forecast!
We were supposed to have a couple days at sea, sailing to our highly anticipated next stop of Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.
However, as it happens, sometimes when you sail, Mother Nature has different plans and consequently affects itineraries.
Ours included unfortunately.
The expected 50 knot winds meant anchoring and tendering passengers ashore was completely out of the question.
😭
Everyone was gutted, especially those who had left their 'penguin experience' to the Falklands, as there are SOOOO many there.
Trev and I were fortunate to have visited the Falklands back in 2019 on our way back from Antarctica, and we too, had a great 'penguin day' planned this visit as well,
and were really sad to miss it.
I adore these gorgeous creatures.
So now we had three sea days to amuse ourselves, until our next stop of Puerto Madryn.
(No problem!)
According to our daily planner, there is a ceremony onboard to attend!
---
DAYS 10 & 11.
Another cruise milestone, another ceremony and another certificate.
They like to do these on every cruise line, and who are we not to enjoy the celebrations?
This time it was sailing around The Horn.
When we crossed the Arctic Circle Meridian back in 2024,
I joined in the onboard tradition of submerging myself into the main deck spa,
which had been turned completely into an ice bath.
The trick was to fully immerse yourself, head and all, then you get rewarded with a dab of blue cream on your nose, and a shot of the Norwegian spirit, Aquavit.
Today's ceremony had been toned down to just have ice water poured over
the back of your neck.
Much tamer, but where's the fun in that?
You get a choice between a half ladle of ice, or the whole deal.
Of course you know what I went for!
Anyway, this is us doing what we do best - getting involved!
My motto is tattooed on my arm to keep reminding me:
"Just say yes!"
Even our dear sweet new friends and trivia partners - Norbert and Pam from Pennsylvania,
are enjoying the festivities with us.
Another easy going sea day followed, and this time the seas were a little rougher,
and where better to enjoy that action?
In a pool of course!
Again, we had the place to ourselves. 👍
No one in the infinity pool either!
Getting those nautical miles under our belt now!
---
DAY 12
PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA.
Surprisingly, Puerto Madryn was settled by the Welsh!
Whilst there aren't many reminders here in town, the townships further afield definitely embrace the Welsh heritage and traditions.
Probably, their most significant statue to commemorate the landing -
is of one of a solo woman, with the Welsh Griffin flag by her side,
her back to the sea; its said she is looking towards Patagonia and embracing her future.
Trev and I had a free morning, so we ambled along the boardwalk ...
... browsing through a few pop up street market stalls that were making the most of a bunch of cruise ship passengers enjoying getting their land legs back again!
We actually bought something that Trev wears every single day now.
A new wedding ring!
You see, Trev has a history one might say, of losing his ring...!
So we now make a mission to collect a cheap one on our journeys, as a fun memento.
And it doesn't matter if they get 'lost'.
His proper one, with a stone and an engraving (which was once lost for a couple of years) remains safely tucked away in my jewellery box at home.
He famously lost a cheap ring over the edge of Victoria Falls in Africa!
I think this new one cost 10USD.
Deal.
The afternoon saw us on the free Viking excursion which included a drive out to the rugged cliffs of Punta Loma which were home to hundreds fat sea lions.
Returning from the cliffs via a museum/ecocentre, which gave us a great insight
into the vast marine life of the area, which is a mecca for divers,
who travel from around the world to experience the incredible array of marine life here.
Did you know that the Orca, which is the world's largest dolphin, earned its nickname of Killer Whale, because it was known as a killer OF whales?
Interesting!
Eventually we headed back to ship for bevvies on the rear deck and charcuterie time!
But not too much, 'cause look what's offering - Beef Wellington and King Crab, YUM!
Yes, I've been cautious with the shellfish.
Small amounts have been fine so far. 👍
Can you spot Trev's new ring? 😉
A fun night of Dancing under the Stars with our friends,
and a few bevvies was a great way to spend the evening.
---
With a few further sea days ahead now as we sail our way a lot further north now to Uruguay, it was time to hit the gym again, and check out what entertained us lucky enough to be watching out the window...
Only yesterday I was mesmerised by a playful seal swimming right in front of the gym.
Today, as we looked towards the horizon,
we could see batches of small splashes heading our way.
Pods of dusky dolphins were racing to get to the bow of the ship to surf the waves.
Whilst I couldn't get those shots, I thought the speed of the dolphins underwater looked very much like a torpedo!
Life was chill onboard during sea days, but Trev did manage to join a team
which included a couple of new friends, Martin and Phil from Manchester,
for a ship Treasure Hunt...of course they won, didn't they? 😂
So we continued to settle back into sea life, until our surprise next stop!
---
DAY 15
Today's stop is at a port that wasn't part of our original itinerary.
Viking has made up for us missing out on the Falkland Islands by including a second stop in the small country of Uruguay, and we couldn't be happier!
Welcome to the awesome stop of;
PUNTA DEL ESTE.
And wow, what a sunrise to arrive in on!
I took this shot from our stateroom balcony,
and this is one of the tallest lighthouses in South America;
the Isla de Lobas Lighthouse stands at whopping 194 feet on a rocky outcrop
that is a home to hordes of sealions.
It can't be an easy feat by any means, for a cruise ship to suddenly have a new port made available, plus organise a whole bunch of excursions for the passengers to head out on.
I have nothing but admiration for the effort that must've gone into this.
And yeay, I get a new lighthouse for my collection. One I can walk to this time.
This actually ended up being a surprisingly brilliant day!
What an interesting place, and a stop that Viking should definitely
consider adding to their itineraries.
Viking had organised a scenic bus tour, and seeing that there was a triathlon currently running around the city, the driver took us here, there and everywhere, it was awesome!
We even got to go over the famous 'Wavy Bridges'!
Originally built as a natural speed bump, it was designed to slow traffic down heading into the next suburb.
(Sounds like more of a challenge to go faster if you ask me!)
😬
Leonel Viera designed this bridge in 1965,
and he had no formal training in civil engineering or architecture.
Classic!
A second 'twin bridge' was built right next to it in 1998,
to help cope with the increasing demand in traffic.
Probably the highlight was the drive way out to a stunning vantage point, where the renowned artist, Carlos Páez had built his enormous white washed, Gaudi styled mansion, 'Casapueblo'.
We even ran into Pam and Norbert!
There is an INCREDIBLE story here that NEEDS to be told.
Bear with me, it's worth it.
Do you recall news of that famous plane crash into the
Andes mountains during the early 1970's?
Where a young rugby team and their families and supporters were stranded alone,
survived the freezing cold, avalanches
and had to resort to cannibalism of the dead to survive...
They all came from this town.
And the artist, who built this mansion, Carlos Páez,
was the father of one of the boys who miraculously survived.
He had continued funding the search as the authorities called it off after 8 days.
16 out of the original passenger and crew list of 45,
survived 72 days after 2 of them finally made the extraordinary effort
to walk themselves out to seek help for the others who remained behind.
All this and they were at over 12,000 feet in altitude!!!!!
The movie 'Alive' tells the story and is epic, heroic and truly frightening.
You can learn more about this phenomenal event if you click the above link,
its an incredible read.
Ok, breathe, moving on.
Back towards town and we drove past a very famous sculpture in the area...one of giants fingers sticking out of the sand!
There are a few different versions of hand sculptures around the world,
and this little town must be proud to have one too.
Unfortunately, with the triathlon still going, it was impossible to stop and park so we could get a closer look, so I had to resort to a photo from the internet.
But I did get to my lighthouse once the tour ended and we strolled around town ourselves.
Time for some local lunch and a bevvy,
and raise a glass to all these fit people running past us!
Although I did find a way to do a little exercise...😉
Back to this ship for Surf and Turf night.
But first, its sail away cocktail time!
5 o'clock somewhere?
Must be time for me to take a chance and reacquaint myself with lobster... 🦞🙏
And thankfully, no anaphylactic shock to shellfish this time, thank goodness!
We did have a brilliant night on the pool deck, with ample lobsters, champagne,
and our lovely friends, Pam and Norbert, getting asked up on stage to do their best
'I'm King of the World' impression,
and bringing the house down with their sense of fun and quaintness.
An awesome day.
---
DAY 16
Our last stop before this cruise finishes in the amazing Buenos Aires,
is the capitol of Uruguay,
MONTEVIDEO.
Having visited here 7 years earlier, Trev and I were happy to leave the ship early and find our way to the famous Mercado Ferrando food markets, an historical building crammed with vendors all offering various kinds of BBQ meats and vegetables, often on rotating grills over hot coals, for all to see, and SMELL!
YUM!!!
We had time for a stroll and a proper Uruguayan feed before our afternoon city tour.
Perfect!
We always choose to eat the local cuisine anytime possible.
Afterwards, it was fun to walk past the myriad of art galleries alongside the
usual souvenir stores.
I found a piece that would be perfect near my stables -
an Arabian foal made of steel and spare parts.
One of a kind, that's for certain!
LOVED IT!
But alas, it didn't come home with us. 😢
From here we hopped on our city tour, which cruised passed the main square and Government House, something that Trev truly found riveting..😴
To be fair, it's the only sleeping pic I've nailed him with. 😜
There are many more...
Bless.
The man can sleep anywhere, anytime.
Things improved slightly for Trev when we toured the theatre district to see the incredible collection of 'Carnival' costumes, after which we were treated to a mini concert,
which was certainly very colourful and full of joy, with plenty of crowd participation.
We are actually returning here in a few days, as our 'back to back cruise' will leave Buenos Aires, and first stop will be, you guessed it; Montevideo, before heading north to Brazil.
Tonight we are going to enjoy a group dinner with the lovely posse of friends we have made during this cruise, as the very last night can be hectic with people busy packing.
Not us, we'll be waiting for the next onslaught of passengers.
Out of about 750 on board this cruise, there are only 39 of us continuing on to Barcelona.
(Happy 50th btw, Phil. 🥳)
---
DAY 17
The FABULOUS
BUENOS AIRES!
Have I mentioned I like this place?
Nope.
I love it.
And seeing that this cruise is overnighting in Port, we actually have 3 days here,
which will include Day 1 of the next cruise.
Got that? 🧐
Three fun filled days, and we still ran out of time to see all we wanted!
You could easily spend a solid 5 days here, if not a week, and still be left wanting more.
In my opinion anyway.
Buenos Aires.
Birthplace of the Tango.
Resting place of Eva 'Evita' Peron.
Just don't mention the 2026 World Cup...😬
A melting pot of European and South American culture all rolled into one enormous city.
Don't expect to see it all in one day on a Hop On/Hop Off bus, as we were to discover.
But I did have a plan,
with four great activities booked in.
Not from the ship this time, all on our onesies,
well, aside from one free tour we have. 👍
First things first, is always to start off at the main square; Plaza de Mayo.
The centrepiece being the Pink Government House, former home and now the office of the President of Argentina, it was also made famous as this is where Eva Peron famously addressed the crowds back in her day, from the second storey balcony.
It's our second visit here, and we still haven't managed to get a tour inside.
Just lack of timing, to be honest.
One place we did poke our heads into, was the Metropolitan Cathedral.
WELL worth it.
The was the base of the former Pope, Pope Francis, when he was the Archbishop here.
This is where he would hold his masses.
It also holds a tomb that is very important to Argentinians,
that of General José de San Martin -
The Hero of Argentine Independence.
His Memorial is sacred, and under constant guard.
From the Plaza, we boarded our Viking free tour,
and the first stop was a place that truly enthralled us.
El Zanjon
El Zanjón (The Ravine) is located in Buenos Aires’ colonial San Telmo district. The city was founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza in the 16th century, and this is the area where anything started. So the houses here are actually the oldest in the city, built and destroyed between 1730 and 1865. The El Zanjón de Granados museum is located in the underground cellars of a mansion which was erected in 1830. Below the mansion the remains of human habitation since the 16th century were buried. Originally it was a luxury 23-room mansion of a wealthy family with six slaves. In 1890, it was converted into a tenement. In the 1970s it was abandoned and used as a dump by the locals.
It was purchased by Jorge Eckstein, a businessman and graduate in Chemistry, in 1985. He intended to turn it into a restaurant, but when he started to clear out the garbage, he accidentally broke through the floor and discovered 2 km of tunnel. It was a storm drain which flowed into the Río de la Plata. He understood the historical value of the space and spent 20 years restoring the building and its underground, turning it into a museum. He finally opened it for the public, showing the numerous remains which were discovered, like a slave cell, a water cistern and various other remnants. On display are African pipes, English china and French tiles, as well historic coins, ceramics, hairbrushes and other items. During the 1 h tour you will see the restored mansion’s guest rooms, the kitchen, three patios, an enormous reception hall, and the underground tunnels.
And we were honoured to meet the owner, Jorge!
He actually wandered over to us specifically to chat,
as he believed we showed a true interest in all the work he has done.
We mentioned that having built a couple of houses
over many years as 'owner/builders' ourselves,
we could really appreciate the work involved here, and the glory of the original brickwork was still in perfect condition.
A fascinating story, and a place we would never have thought to visit ourselves.
Back on the coach and it was time to head to probably what is one of my favourite places in Buenos Aires, and that is the very colourful, originally shanty town but now tourist mecca, known as La Boca.
THIS TRUELY is the birthplace of;
The Tango.
With odes everywhere to the sensual dance, as well making sure you remember who are the most famous Argentinian football players in history,
everywhere you look is an utter feast for the eyes.
If you ever get down here, allow yourself time to really immerse yourself in the culture.
Have a drink.
Have a meal.
Do some shopping.
People watch.
It's wonderful.
❤️💚💛💙💜
This ended up being quite a full day, but it wasn't over yet, as Viking had invited some local dancers onboard to give us a fabulous exhibition of the Tango,
as a final farewell for people who are disembarking tomorrow!
How sad for them.
But not us Baby, we have the next chapter to start:
BUENOS AIRES to BARCELONA,
A Transatlantic Crossing!
HOW EXCITING!!!
So whilst I still have a couple more days here in Buenos Aires to write about,
I will save them for the beginning of the next blog,
as that really is the official start of the next cruise.
We have a wonderfully fun local cooking lesson where we learn how to make empanadas; we climb to the top of a lighthouse - in the middle of the city,
and have tickets to the most famous Tango show in town -
SO LOTS MORE!
You'll have to head over to that blog, once it's up ... I'm yet to write it !!!
But I'm on to it, won't be long!
We have thoroughly enjoyed this South American and Chilean Fjords adventure,
more than we have ever had dreamt.
And the added bonus of including some fantastic new friends to our
'Travel Family Tree.'
I hope our stories inspires some of you guys out there to check out this
glorious continent for yourselves.
Until then, I usually say
CIAO,
but this time, its
ADIOS!
Just for now.
See you soon.
M x
Love your description of Viking cruise line …food crew experience just sounds a perfect way to see the world. Looking forward to the next part of your back to back cruise.