Punta Arenas, Chile. Excursion: Kayaking the Strait of Magellan.

I have had a wonderful day, doing something different for a change.  Kayaking.

The small group of us headed on a drive towards Agua Fresca, stopping off at the kayaking office headquarters to get our kitted.  We looked quite a sight with over-trousers (toes to waist), wind jacket, kayak ‘skirt’, water bootees and finally, a life jacket.  All in the name of keeping warm, dry and afloat.

After getting kitted up we were taken on a short drive to a beach on the edge of the strait of Magellan.  The usual information was given to us - how to paddle and steer the kayaks.  The weather was good, the water smooth and calm; dolphins were spotted as we kayaked.

We were joined from start by a pregnant dog (husky-cross) who ran alongside our mini-bus to the beach and then along the beach as we kayaked.  She swam out to us when we formed a pontoon with our kayaks, just happy to paddle around and make sure the humans were ok.

While the kayaks were being stashed away I asked the guides if I could take a quick dip in the water.  Yes!  So I stripped out of my gear down to my swim suit and had a very brief dip.  It was exhilarating.  In the meantime one of the guides, Ricardo, went into the water fully kitted up in his kayaking suit – he wasn’t brave enough to swim in his swimming trunks.  (Well… it was icy cold).  Yes, my skin turned a mottled purple colour but I enjoyed the swim even though everyone else thought I was completely nuts.  It will be the last swim for a while - we are heading further south and it's getting colder.

After packing up we headed back to the kayak office headquarters, got out of our gear and had a nice snack at a nearby restaurant on the site.  Hot tea or coffee went down a treat to warm everyone up.  I had to make do with hot water - because I don't drink tea or coffee ☹️.  Our friendly dog friend wagged her tail at us as we said goodbye to her.  What interesting visitors she gets to meet and greet!

Then there is the story of the eternal search for shoes!  Ha ha, Lorna and myself (this is written by me, Paul, her lesser half) went ashore in the afternoon in Punta Arenas, shopping, exciting, even more exciting than it was supposed to be shoe shopping...!

Walking into the not too exciting town it appeared the shopping mall was close to the dock, ...., where we used to dock, on the edge of town while today we were docked right downtown.  Oh well, so we explored the centre a bit, across a square where despite the rain they were watering the grass of the square!

It appeared that most shops were actually closed in the afternoon. Looking at some of the signs it seemed regular shops were mostly on siesta time, not open till about 16.00.  This made finding shoes of course not the most easy task of the day.

We had nevertheless a good walk around town and were nearly back at the ship when we decided to go into a shop that had a name like "China mall" or so, clearly something with "made in China" stuff.  It was actually open and had shoes, ladies shoes!

We first had a browse around the mini warehouse being amazed by the "made in China" quality wares on offer.  We had a good laugh at the formal wear that looked nice, from a distance, but on closer inspection they just looked tacky with plain unfinished backs. The underwear section was also interesting and there was enough that would put blushing cheeks on some of the shoppers!  Anyway Lorna did find some underwear to her liking and me, as a bloke (ha ha) had some fun browsing all the mini female bottom wear on sale as well.  If not, why not, have a laugh!

In the end we visited the shoe section again and Lorna found a nice shoe she liked, the left shoe being on display.  Bear in mind Lorna has tiny feet (US 3-4/UK 1-2 or EU 32-34) so she was trying her luck in this Chinese shop.  Any way, the attending sales rep went in the back storage only to come back 10 minutes later without the left shoe which was nowhere to be found!  Bummer.  So the next best model chosen, same ritual, also no right shoe!  Now you would think that is a coincidence but, guess what??  the 3rd model was chosen and exactly the same thing happened!  One might wonder why have shoes on display if you can't even make a complete pair with them. Or is the sales rep just having a smoke in the back and not actually interested in finding the shoe?!   Anyway, with the 4th shoe - bingo.  Although that at first also was a no right shoe but the rep did a 2nd search and it did surface.  Although it was not the first choice I actually liked it, very modern but also very stylish, red, and, sorry Dutch, cheap as well - so happy faces good hour later, a good laugh and success!

So, what did we actually do in Punta Arenas Chile? Uh, left shoe shopping!

The Prinsendam's next destination is around Cape Horn!

PHOTOGRAPHS

Instruction time.

Our guides

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile. Excursion: Northern Patagonia & Coyhaique City

The tour group had a nice scenic drive from port to Simpson River National Reserve, with snow-capped mountains & waterfalls in the distance; rivers and valleys.

At Simpson Reserve Visitor’s Centre we had time to find out more about the reserve.  Unfortunately the information was in Spanish but Patricia, our guide, was able to give us an overview of it.  We had time to stretch our legs and take a walk along the river.  It was pretty, and very peaceful.

Our next stop was at Coyhaique to visit the village square and handicraft market.  The square was pretty with its fountains and trees – it had a park-like feel to it, more so with many families out and about relaxing.  A few handicraft shops were open but most places were closed because of today being a Sunday.

Lunch at Fogon Restaurant was buffet-style with a nice selection of empanadas, fruit and liquids.  Over and above the soft drinks wine and Pisco Sour went down a treat for the guests.

Scenic drive back to port with brief photo stop (from bus window) to see Cascade of the Virgin which was a pretty waterfall.

As always, it has been good to get out and about.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Simpson River National Reserve

 

 

Cascade of the Virgin

Coyhaique 

Anchored, Castro, Chile. Excursion: Cucao Chiloé National Park

Having had a sea day yesterday it was good to get off the ship for a while.  Even if it meant having to travel in tender to get to shore!

It's been a nice day out with a visit to the Cucao Chiloé National Park.  On the way to the park in the hills we passed by fishing harbours with shellfish farming & salmon farming, past lakes & through beautiful countryside.

Once at the national park we made our way to the visitor’s centre.  Unfortunately another tour group was inside the visitor centre with their guide.  Our guide, Juna, found it difficult to compete above the voice of the other guide so we started our walk through the park earlier and we would come back to the visitor centre on our way back.

Lovely walk along paths and boardwalks, over marshland/wetlands, through forest and scrub.  We stopped at the open air museum (wooden house) on our way back to the park entrance and our guide described what life used to be like, living inside the wooden house.

We had refreshments at Cocineria Tradicionel Morelia, a traditional Chilean restaurant.  A variety of empanadas were served and a type of small dessert.  Also fruit juice and/or Pisco Sour served as well.  The Pisco Sour went down a treat.

On the way back to Castro pier we stopped briefly to see the wooden stilt houses built above the incoming tide waterline.  I got the feeling that some people have never seen stilt houses before, but that is to be expected.

I caught the tender back to the ship but others decided to stay in town for a while.  The weather was good so - if not, why not.

Overall it has been a nice day, beautiful scenery, lovely walk and good weather.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cucao Chiloé National Park

Cocineria Tradicionel Morelia

En-route To The Ship

Views of Castro from the Prinsendam