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We started and ended our journey in Los Angeles.
The high point was a 16 day cruise on the Star Princess:
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We stayed at the Hotel Panamerico in the El Centro distict on 9 de Julio Avenue. The location was excellent! They upgraded us to the Presidential Suite. We spent the next two days there getting over our jet lag.
The Obelisk on 9 de Julio Avenue
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Teatro Colon on 9 de Julio Avenue
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A colorful "Couriosity Shop" next to a stately building
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George beside the Monument to San Martin, the "Geore Washington" of
Argentina
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The Falkland Islands is home to several different types of penguins. Since ALL shore tours were sold out before we boarded the ship, we took a local bus ride to Gypsy Cove ($10 round trip per person) to see the Magellanic penguins. We saw hundreds!
Penguin guarding a burrow with two fuzzy chicks inside
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George inspecting a gun from World War II. The Star Princess is
in the background.
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A Penguin Party
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Penguin taking a walk
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Antarctica is so beautiful. The sun sets after midnight and is up by 4:30 am at 65 degrees south. The temperature ranges from 29 to 34 degrees F, both day and night. It has rained and snowed, but overall has been quite pleasant. Our 5 days in Antarctica followed this route:
- Elephant Island, where Shackleton spent the winter in 1917.
- Antarctic Sound (AKA Iceberg Alley). 40+ mph winds forced the ship to back out and skip Esperanza Station.
- Arctowski Station in Admiralty Bay. The Polish scientists boarded our vessel and gave talks about their work.
- Bransfield Strait to Gerlache Strait. The ship turned at Capstan rock into the Bismark Strait then into the Newmaier Channel.
- Deception Island. A volcano that last erupted in 1969. The center of the island is a submerged caldera and a hidden bay.
King George Island, South Shetlands
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Antarctica Mainland
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Icebergs
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Penguin colony at 48x zoom.
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Sky at Midnight -- 65 degrees South
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Sunrise 4:30 am Sunset 12:03 am Sky still bright at 1:30 am |
Ushuaia is the souternmost settlement in South America. Its slogan is "Ushuaia -- the end of the world and the beginning of life."
The End of the World Sign
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Lots of Penguin Souvineers here
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Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas is the souternmost city in South America (population 140K). We went to the Plaza de Armas, saw the flea market and the Magellan statue, and kissed the toe of the Indian. This ensures we will return here (and to Antarctica as well). In the afternoon, we went out to the Magellanic penguin colony where we saw hundreds of penguins.
Ask me about my penguin photos! I have lots more!
Ferdinand Magellan
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The Penguin Colony
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Penguins going for a walk
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Montevideo, Uruguay
We walked around the picturesque old town.
A building near Plaza Zabala
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Trash pickup is by donkey cart
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Buenos, Aires
We disembarked from the Star Princess when it returned to Buenos Aires. That afternoon we took a bus tour of the city that included a huge steak lunch at a Tango Hall, followed by an excellent show. The next day, we flew home to Los Angeles.
The Casa Rosada (Argentina's White House)
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The Tango Show
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This is just a summary of our incredible vacation. For George Schreyer's complete trip log, follow this link.