2/20/2024 Thursday Puerto Madryn, Argentina 83/55
Back into Argentina from the UK as we enter Puerto Madryn and find warmer temperatures. There's a long muella from the shore to the cruise docking place, almost 700 meters. I hope shuttles are provided, else we'll be a little tired just getting to the shore and back.
We haven't booked a tour here. It appears they all take you 100 km or more to look at penguins, so something like four hours are devoted just to transportation.
D had a rough night again last night, with lots of coughing. She declines to go ashore and wishes to stay in bed.
Cloudy, 74*f. Feels good to have warmth outside. We're berthed where the black ship is berthed in the photo at right; but we're bow toward the shore.
O went ashore on the shuttle to the head of the pier. He hiked two blocks south and a block inland looking in shops for gifts. He found suitable things but probably spent more than needed due to the funny Argentine currency. Said it was hot in the sun.
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Back at the ship, D looked at the things and pronounced them adequate. O went off to get a salad and sandwich, then returned to do these notes and a laundry load. Then he packed all his heavy stuff to avoid doing it later.
Tonight is Azamara's White Night where all the crew are appreciated, the buffet is set up on the pool deck, and tables are set all over the pool deck and the track. Everyone dresses in white. We're going to try to avoid it as much as possible - we're just not into it tonight. O is much better, D is still coughing.
We phoned in our order for hamburgers and fries to eat on the verandah - temperature 81*. But the ship got underway and headed into the wind so we ate inside.
As the ship was backing away from the pier we saw a bunch of birds on that stand-alone dock structure at right. We took a quick picture (below) that shows five or six penguins in the mix. They jumped into the water after the picture and surface-paddled away just like those farther south.
20250221 At Sea Friday Underway all day today and during the day-time hours tomorrow.
Up, D still coughing. Pot of coffee in cabin while looking at various news sources.
Nice weather for a change, mid 70's with lightly breaking waves but no swells. We've gone to tee-shirts and shorts.
Progressive Trivia is still insane. We're in first place still, with a couple of million points on the second place team. Tomorrow we get extra points for wearing formal attire. Our plan is to wear bathrobe belts formed into ties. Should be insane enough for Stephen & Justin.
Went to lunch in Windows.
D felt a little better. But then her sputum came up with a green tinge, so we went to the Doctor. He diagnosed Bronchitis and gave her antibiotics and super cough medicine, with instructions. So now we know.
The Loyalty event for those who have taken multiple cruises opened at 1700 in the Cabaret. Seemed like everyone was there. Most-traveled were a couple from NJ who had 737 nights on Azamara. D stayed in cabin.
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And that's about it.
Now we're on a side trip into Montivideo. We'll arrive about 1800 local time and proceed to Teatro Solis for the AzAmazing Night of this voyage. Then back aboard for a nightcap.
Up, pot of coffee. D had a hard night.
Finally went to Progressive Trivia - as insane as ever. We dropped to sixth place at the start; by the end we regained third place and thus won a bag of Azamara stress balls. We grabbed three for the crowd at home.
Lunch was taken in Patio, our favorite. Now that it's warm lots of people have found it. Bratwurst's and fries.
D's coughing would upset the patrons at tonight's AzAmazing presentation so we're staying on board.
We went to the cabin to take in easy while the ship made its way into the Montevideo harbor. At the entry to the harbor is a collection (L) of trash ships, some sunk, some listing, some with their stern in the mud. O has no idea why that stuff is there just lying around.
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A small patch of ground near the ship contains things from the past - the anchor and range-finder from Graf Spee and a couple of old cranes. We'll get pictures tomorrow.
20250223 Sunday
Breakfast in Windows for a change. They still don't have the concept of "over hard".
Silver Ray entered port early on, and docked off our starboard bow, on the Muella A.
D still sick, no energy, so she's staying aboard. O doing another (last) laundry, then will take a short hike through the Mercado del Puerto, a large shopping center near the pier.
The Mercado turned out to be the old train station, now filled with restaurants and booths selling goods to tourists. Nice enough. O bought himself a tee-shirt and D her location pin.
The day turned hot, now 87*f. D wouldn't tolerate that tomorrow so we canceled tomorrow's tour.
At the ship we found that the group of sunken or unmaintained ships at the harbor entrance are a museum - Museo Barca. No idea what the criteria is for entry but it's certainly striking.
We watched getting underway at 180 then went to the Patio for dinner. We could watch the remainder of exiting and sunset. Fish were great - salmon for D, sea bass for O.
The entertainers did their last show of the trip. Good show. Sample video here. Big file.
Then back to the cabin to catch up on the day's news.
