This time we went to an interior cabin. With no natural light, we got up when we felt like it

Although the Tekila Bar and Senor Frogs enticed us, we settled on Wizzle’s Bar as one of our tablemates suggested it. 

As alcohol on the ship is at least double the shore price, Alberta had 2 Corona Light and I had 3 XXX beer (all with lime). We also sampled Damiana. Besides enjoying the scenery of the inner harbor from the second floor, we enjoyed tasting a nacho platter.  We watched the pirate ship enter the marina via the inner harbor. 

With the high cost of internet, it has free Wifi

Cabo San Lucas

We had to walk the full length of the dock and find our tour company Odyssey Tours. As the air conditioning on our Mercedes Benz 15 passenger van was not working properly and the day was hot and humid we were not happy campers.

Our tour guide Ronald Leon and driver Bennin made our 10 in 1 adventure experience a delight. Our first stop was to see the howler monkeys in the trees. We then drove up a mountain that overlooked the bays near Punta Arenas. On the way down we stopped at an area that was staged as "Old Village" with housing and an outdoor church that was 200 years prior.  Our guide took us to an area were wild macaws were in the trees before going to lunch. We enjoyed a tasty lunch at Vista Mar while watching a 20 minute tropical shower. We then walked under the highway through 6 foot concrete sewer connectors to the ocean. We walked through the dark volcanic sand down to the ocean.

One of the highlights of this tour was the crocodile tour at Pura Vida. Close to where we loaded we saw our first crocodile. It was a juvenile. Our next stop was in the middle of the river where one of the tour guides got out on a sand bar and started slapping the water. This attracted a larger crocodile whom he enticed with chicken. Going further down the river the same performance with the second largest crocodile, but the other guide on the boat maneuvered the tail of the crocodile for people to touch. When we headed back we saw the largest crocodile swimming in the river. 

The bus drove the group of us to look for souvenirs. But they were expensive. The group of us decided to not to go back to the ocean again so we went to "look-out" point where watched the sunset from a restaurant. It was such a shame as we had to sample the local cold Imperial beer with parched throats.  My wife and I also shared a calamari dish with rice.

 As the Star Princess is berthed in a commercial container port, access is limited. Luckily the tour buses for Princess depart by the ship so 41 of us boarded the same bus. Our driver's name was Junior and the 76 year old guide's name was Hernando.

Hernando said that when he arrived from the mountains in 1952 the population of Lima was 1 million and now it is 11 million. Similarly Callao in 1952 was separate from Lima and now with urban sprawl they are joined and that is why 43 municipalities (each with a separate mayor) form the Lima conglomerate.

When driving it seems like one continuous city with traffic and lights every 4 blocks. As our tour was City Drive and Indian Market we only had two stops. The first stop was the square in front of the presidential palace. We were too early for the changing of the guards.We bought a selection of Manu Picchu postcards.

The next stop was the Indian Market. Our mission was to get your Mom some alpaca socks because at night she sometimes has cold feet. We found that the further away from the center of the market the cheaper the socks. We bought 3 pairs.  My wife also bought a pair of alpaca slippers.

The bus travelled on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the ocean and "Love Pair" statute. We saw them surfing on the ocean. Then we drove to the Avenue Costamera along the bottom of the cliffs and got a closer look at the ocean. This allowed us to miss a lot of bumper to bumper driving to get back to Callao. However, we had to wait about 1/2 hour at the checkpoint getting into the container port as one security guard checked that each passenger on each bus had their room key. 8 buses arrived at the same time. We did watch a toddler take a bucket bath on the street while waiting.

We also checked out the wares of about 12 kiosks before going onboard.

Our private tour through Puerto Montt excursion required us to get the first tender. 

With our tour guide Gloria and driver Victoria we headed out of the port terminal at 8:00 am. At our first pee stop along Lake Llanquihue, the second largest lake in Chile we were able to pictures of Llamas.

We stopped a couple of times alongside the Petrohue River for photo opportunities, especially of the Volcano Osorno - the Fujiyama of South America. Then we stopped at Esmerelda Lake & Chile's Lake Louise. We took a few more pictures and watched two eagles go into a tree close to us. We also saw two other active volcanoes -- Tronador & Puntiagudo

One of the tours actually took the tram up the side of the Osorno volcano and saw ice craters as this was one of the few days you could see anything (Your Mom really wanted to do that). We each paid $6 to see the Petrohue Falls. They were nothing special.

We stopped at the Verde Laguana. It was a green pool of water. I took a picture of a big rainbow trout near the water's surface

On the way back we stopped in Puerto Varas which was settled by the Germans. Besides Bavarian shapes they had colorful homes. We stopped at their downtown square for a 40 minute walk-around. Our guide said she takes her Mom and 8 year old son to the Cassis restaurant for their ice cream. When we walked inside two of the assistant cruise directors, Gabi and Veronika, were just paying their bill. We ordered carmello flan ice cream and a cake with a 7 minute meringue icing (looked like toasted marshmallows). The freshness and taste were outstanding. 

Our last stop was the fish market (Angelmo Market) in Puerto Montt. It was also a vegetable market. We watched a vendor feed salmon leftovers to the sea lions. 


We walked 4 blocks east along the Avenue beside the ocean in Puntarenas Chile. Then We walked 4 blocks east along the Avenue beside the ocean in Puntarenas Chile. Then we headed North along Monsenor Jose Fagneno Street before stopping in a souvenir shop that was open. Most stores are closed on Christmas Day. We bought a penguin fridge magnet. 

We continued walking uphill to Plaza Munoz Gamero where there is a monument honoring Ferdinard Magellan. I started looking for a toque as it is only 7C or 45F. 

Then we headed back to the Port of Entry. We took a couple of maritime clock pictures at the entrance. Once inside the port terminal we tried contacting more family to wish them a Merry Christmas because of the free Wi-Fi. 



Punta Arenas

Ushuaia's temperature does not vary that much 3 C during June (their winter) and 15 C during December (their summer). It reminded us of Canmore and Banff with the mountains in the back and their narrow city streets. Their ski hill is 24 km away. The town is located on the West side of the Andes which are higher than the Rockies. 

We headed off the ship down the pier to the double decker buses. We paid $10 USD and were the first ones on the bus. We went to the upper deck, got the best seats in the house, and waited until 1:15 for the first one hour tour. 

When we got to shore we were met by Derek Pettersson, our private tour guide and owner of Horizon tours. At his suggestion all the members of our four person group went to the bathroom . The 4 x 4 ride is bumpy and over peat bogs

On the way to Volunteer Point, Derek showed us remnants of Argentinian helicopters shot down during their war versus  the UK in 1982. Derek and his wife Trudy are the wardens at Volunteer Point and regulate the number of people who can view the King, Gentoo, and Magellan penguins. They also ensure that the penguins are not disturbed too much by tourists.

The 80 km trip took 1 h 50 min over peat bogs and through sheep ranches.
Luckily Derek has his own path to Volunteer Point and knew the groups stopped for a toilet break at Johnson Farm. Thus we could walk amongst the penguins without disturbing them by walking slow. By the time 55 jeeps with tourists arrived, the Magellan penguins had retreated inside their dens and the Gentoo and King Penguins stayed within their circle of white rocks.

We had a bag lunch before returning to Port Stanley. Derek showed us the fields that Tanzanians were still combing to ensure that the land mines the Argentinians left behind in 1982 were removed. He also took us on a quick city tour before dropping us off the catch our tender.


We were happy with our driver Jose and guide Carolina. 

Normally the streets are bustling but according to Carolina New Years revelers party until 7 am so the streets are dead on January 1st. 

As we approached Plaza Zahala, our first stop. The streets were still littered with some paper from calendars that are thrown from the windows in the business district and then washed away. It is part of their traditions. The statue in the middle of the square represents the liberation of Uruguay form Brazil and separates the old town from the new town. The Canadian embassy faces the square. The architecture of the different buildings is vibrant and mostly French.

Our next stop was the Plaza Independencia along the Avenue 18 de Julio. Their legislative building has a statue on each of the 4 corners. We saw Science and Labor.

We passed by their soccer stadium which holds 80 000 people before arriving at our next stop. It was the El Gaucho monument. Your Mom bought a fridge magnet at one of the kiosks.

When we traveled along the Rambia Sur along the beach we noticed that many families were enjoying their day on the beach. Lots of beach umbrellas were in the sand and lawn chairs were under them. It is their summer. 


Our bus driver, Luciano, had to deal with slow traffic around the cruise as a new freeway is being designed (3 years to complete). He drove us through many park areas and it seemed they all had historic monuments with statues.

Our guide Lucrecia gave us some information about Eva Peron who ruled with her husband Juan Peron in the form of dictatorship. After she died her husband got displaced. When the new dictator got into power their place was burned to the ground. 

When you see Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Don't cry for me Argentina" you will get the sense of Eva Peron's love for her people before her death at the young age of 32. So the people have a monument of her on the place that was burned to the ground

When Juan Peron got back into power, he wanted to build a special mausoleum for her. But his current wife said no. So Eva Peron is buried in her family plot, Descartes, in the Recoleta cemetery.


Argentina is known for tango, wine, and beef. We felt we were blessed when our tour stopped at La Ventana. The meal was fantastic. The baby 386 g steak was about 1 &ldquo; thick and cooked to perfection. The Malbec and Chardonnay flowed freely. Then we were entertained with tango dancing and singing.

Buenos Aires has 48 neighborhoods. We drove along Liberator Avenue for 21 km into the San Isidro to visit one of its cathedral  (St Isidore is the patron saint of farmers and Madrid).  The magnificent stone structure was completed in 1896 compared to the adobe hut of 1706 founded by Spanish captain Domingo de Acassuso. In the same plaza there is a statue of Bartolome Mitre who is credited with unifying Argentina.

Our last stop was in Tigre. It is the starting point for the Parana Delta. So we boarded a passenger boat and traveled its many interlocking rivers. We first went by rowing clubs and marinas. It reminded of a Louisiana swamp but the houses and mansions are closer. Each house usually has a pier. The houses are on stilts to prevent rising water damage. Children attend school from 10 - 2. 

Groceries come by boat. Landowners usually put out a flag for grocery boat to stop. Most houses have propane. A significant landowner made a "crystal house" which is encased in glass and is now a museum.


We stopped for 15 minutes at the La Serena market and stopped for 15 minutes at the Lighthouse monument

SAN ANTONIO - CHILE

We booked the City Drive tour through Princess.COQUIMBO – CHILE (La Serena)

We took a private tour through Mayorista tours.

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A quick snapshot of western Latin America & Argentina

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Cabo San Lucas

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