Little Lolly's Small Adventures: lighthouse

Yesterday the Prinsendam did a bit of scenic cruising through the Cockburn Channel and Beagle Channel. Today we went through Glacier Alley and on to Cape Horn. Glacier Alley did live up to its name even though it is the southern hemisphere summer and some of the glaciers are melting.

Going through Glacier Alley

The sea was calm around Cape Horn and so the Captain gave the go-ahead for a small crew group to go ashore in a rescue boat. Paul was one of the first people to volunteer! It has been 28 or 29 years since Paul had the opportunity to step ashore on Cape Horn however the last time that opportunity was cancelled due to very poor weather. So now you can understand why Paul wanted to go ashore!

Paul also asked the Captain if I could go with him even though I am not a crew member. Fortunately he gave me permission to do so. In the end the security officer, a photographer, the future cruise consultant, the guest relations manager, an engineer, Paul and I went. First we had to kit up in survival suits. It was very funny trying to put the bulky 'onesies' on, bearing in mind that one size fits all - er, not quite! There weren't quite enough survival suits so I ended up putting on a hazardous spillage suit which would at least protect me enough from the elements and keep me warm enough for a short while if I did happen to fall into the water - which didn't happen of course.

We got into the rescue boat and were piloted across to Cape Horn which is in actual fact an island. Once at the stony shoreline Paul hopped out and held the boat steady while we all climbed out and headed towards the staircase going up the cliff face. It was then that I discovered that my hazardous spillage suite was not entirely liquid-proof. It had leakalitis and I was soon soaking wet up to my knees when I entered the water. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be - it was probably as cold as when I swam in the Straits of Magellan two days ago. Fortunately I had taken my boots off before getting into the suit otherwise they would have been swimming.

Once at the stairs, and the bottom of a funicular which takes groceries and stores up to the lighthouse, we stripped back down to our warm day clothes and headed up the cliff stairs where we were warmly greeted by the lighthouse keeper. He had a huge smile on his face - watching us huff and puff up the stairs while he looked on! At the top Paul presented the lighthouse keeper with commemorative plates from the Prinsendam (bearing in mind this is the last time that the Prinsendam sails around Cape Horn under that name and under a Dutch flag). Paul and I had also brought along two rather nice bottles of wine which he handed over to the lighthouse keeper. We thought he could do with it during the next 10 months that lay ahead for the poor chap and his family!

While the rest of the staff from the Prinsendam went to the viewpoints on the island, Paul and I headed up to the lighthouse. There is a small chapel next to the lighthouse so the lighthouse keeper kindly unlocked the door so that I could go inside and have a few moments of contemplation. He quietly looked on until I was finished and then closed the door after I left. He then invited us inside the lighthouse in order to sign the visitors book and also introduced us to wife and 2 children - the third child was too shy to come and say 'hello'. The children are home-schooled for now.

Trying to get the suits off!

Paul and I then headed to the viewpoints, passing the other staff members on the way. We had to be quick because it was getting dark and also we had to get back to the ship which, in the meantime, had been sailing around Cape Horn. Well, we hoped that we could get back to the ship. The rescue boat had left us at the shore and sailed out of the bay but unfortunately the person who piloted it decided to sail through seaweed rather than going via a clear area of water. Needless to say the engine was not too happy about it and died. So, during the time that we were on Cape Horn the lads were desperately trying to clear the seaweed and get the rescue boat's engine going again. Fortunately it spluttered to life and they were able to get back to the shoreline as we arrived back. The ship also came into view, her lights twinkling in the distance through the black night. She put her searchlights on as we headed back towards her, giving us a nice lighted path over the sea.

We arrived back at the ship safe and sound and very happy! It is the memories that matter the most and hopefully we can call upon them as the years go by.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Glacier Alley

Small section of the Glacier Alley in Fast Forward

Cape Horn

Unfortunately it turned out to be one of thooose days .... Read on.

The tour started off with a panoramic drive of Cadiz as we headed out to Vejer de la Frontera. As we drove through the old city of Caidiz we could see ancient fortifications, the cathedral, newly excavated old roman ruins, castle and a light house. We then passed through and out of the new city of Cadiz and continued on, past marshes which are a sanctuary for migratory birds, salt mines, and past La Caraca where filming of “The Crown’ is taking place.

At Vejer de la Frontera we had a walking tour but before setting off our guide gave guests the option to wander around the village at their own pace or sit in a café. Some of the roads would get quite steep so some people did opt out and went to a café or had a wander. The town is very beautiful and would have been more so if the sun was out. I loved the narrow, winding cobbled stone streets. The town has a lot of character to it.

After the walking tour we had a bit of free time to explore. For those who wanted to wanted to buy souvenirs - there were hardly any shops open. I later discovered that they opened at around 11am during the non-tourist season. Unfortunately it started to rain so that was the end of my trying to explore the town - I didn't have an umbrella with me. I had left it on the bus. 😕 Of course no sooner I had boarded the bus - the rain stopped! I overheard our poor guide apologising for the weather and that she can't control mother nature. Methinks someone was complaining about the weather.

Our next part of the tour was a scenic drive via La Brena Nature Park to Cape Trafalgar Lighthouse which was built in 1805. We didn't go up to the lighthouse but we were able to view it from a boardwalk that led down to a beach. There was a chilly wind blowing so we didn't stay out of the bus for too long.

Our drive continued through the national park, passing a protected pine forest, on to Conil de la Frontera where we were set down for a bit of free time to explore the village or taste the local specialities.

Conil de la Frontera is a village between forests of pine groves and the sea. It is a typical Andalusian town where Arabian influence is evident in the narrow streets and low white houses. Its beaches attract visitors during the summer months.

Having visited Vejer de la Frontera and Conil de la Frontera, I would say that both villages would be best visited either later in the day when shops are open, or during the summer months so that one can feel the ambience of the villages.

When I got back to the Prinsendam Paul was very busy. It turns out that the Prinsendam has sprung a small leak in the ballast tank which needs to be fixed. At this rate it won't be fixed by departure time, and the departure time has already been extended.

Cadiz from the Prinsendam

Update: The welders have worked all afternoon and still can't fix the hull. It is now after 11pm and an announcement has just been made over the intercom that we will not be leaving for Casablanca. We will be staying overnight in Cadiz so that work can continue through the night with fixing the leak. With a bit of luck the hole will be fixed by morning.

On speaking to Paul, the hole has, so far, been difficult to fix. The hull is curved, the welding plates are straight. Go figure.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cadiz