Cruising 2019

Where to begin! When we checked into the hotel on the morning of the 3rd, the concierge suggested we take in the craft fair out in the district of San Telmo.   Also there was a very good Parilla - the Argentines' answer to BBQ . . . and more meat than one can eat.         The fair was a disappointment in that all of the crafts were very crude and though very inexpensive, there wasn't much that we would have purchased, even had we the room to pack it in our luggage!  While hesitant to post the next photo, this bar stood out in the craft fair area.      We walked about 6 blocks of the fair and then headed for the restaurant.   There would be a 40 minute wait and there was nowhere to wait.   We decided to walk down the block and have a drink.   Though it's not Brazil, (just next door) - we ordered Caipirihnas, the national drink of Brazil.    It took forever for them to come and when they finally did arrive, the waitress lost her grip on the tray and one drink topp

      Cruising into Buenos Aires The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires' European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city's oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America's shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards. This paragraph above is a very  romantic description taken off the internet.   Was I to describe this city today, not too many of these descriptive words would be used.  Buenos Aires is a very large city, and when cruising into port, one is reminded of Miami.   Old building mingle with lots of skyscrapers, some really architecturally creative.   But once on the ground and driving to the hotel, one re

Once again, Drake's Passage had treated us pretty well during the last two days - not quite as calm as on our way to Antarctica, but nowhere near as rough as it can be. This morning we arrived in Punta del Este,  a resort on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay.  Although the city has a year-round population of about 9,280, the summer tourist boom adds to this a very large number of non-residents.  Punta del Este is also the name of the municipality to which the city belongs.  It includes Punta del Este proper and Peninsula areas.   The city is referred to as "the Monaco of the South",  "The Pearl of the Atlantic", "The Hamptons of South America", and "The St. Tropez of South America", being also compared to Miami and Cannes.   (Places down here have too many names!).   Punta del Este is well known for organizing the summit in which the WTO was created. The Formula E has hosted several races, broadcast wor

I love days at sea - they are my favorite - wonderful, lazy, no schedule (except for Team Trivia).  First day and night was uneventful except for Team Trivia preparation. February 1 was to be the last day of Team Trivia.   The tradition on this ship is that teams come in costume.    Have you ever tried to figure out a costume (something for the whole team - 11 of us - when you don't have any resources?  It was also the day for the Galley Lunch, where all guests are invited into the Galley to partake of a huge buffet - any and all food that you could possibly imagine.  Having been to so many in the past, Adolfo and I had begun giving these a "pass".   But knowing John and Sandi hadn't had this experience, we decided to attend, and then just give dinner a pass, or if we got hungry then we'd order room service later.    The most beautiful display of food was the dessert area and I didn't take photo!!! While enjoying the food and once again drinking

Stanley is the capital and only true city in the Falkland Islands.  Stanley was occupied by Argentine troops for about ten weeks during the Falklands War in 1982.  The Argentines renamed the town Puerto Argentino, and although Spanish names for places in the Falklands were historically acceptor as alternatives, this one is considered to e extremely offensive by many islanders, demanding as it does that the city is Argentine.   It has however gained some support in Spanish speaking countries.   Stanley suffered considerable damage during the during the war, from both the Argentine occupation and the British naval shelling of the town, which killed three civilians.  After the British secured the high ground around the town the Argentines surrendered with no fighting in the town itself.  The beaches and land around it were heavily mined and some areas remain marked mine fields.  Since the Falklands War, Stanley has benefited from the growth of the fishing and tourism industries ion the Is