The South American and Antarctic experience on the Zaandam

[scubacruiserx2]

We used Patagonia Adventure Tours . Here's a map of the harbor tour from their web site .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We had entered the murky waters of the Rio dela Plata en route to Buenos Aires on a warm overcast day .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ferry to Montevideo was clearing it's throat

 

 

Coming in for a landing

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Thanks, I think I found them.

[scubacruiserx2]

5 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Thanks, I think I found them.

 

Great !

[scubacruiserx2]

Moving out

 

 

 

 

We were docked next to these containers

 

 

 

Going in or out requires a bus ride 

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Great !

I think I posted too soon, cannot come up with their web site, just the Trip Advisor posts which do not seem to include your tour.  Anyway, looking forward to our cruise and love your review.  I am only on page 8 but have more than enough time.  I love watching the container ships.  Sat on our balcony in one port and watched them for 2 hours.  Thanks for all the great pictures and descriptions.

Edited March 24, 2019 by CHEZMARYLOU

[scubacruiserx2]

20 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

I think I posted too soon, cannot come up with their web site, just the Trip Advisor posts which do not seem to include your tour.  Anyway, looking forward to our cruise and love your review.  I am only on page 8 but have more than enough time.  I love watching the container ships.  Sat on our balcony in one port and watched them for 2 hours.  Thanks for all the great pictures and descriptions.

 

Maybe this link will work :

 

http://www.patagoniaadvent.com.ar/recorridos_i.php

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Thank you, this is perfect.  I just book marked it. Getting more and more excited with every post I read.

Edited March 24, 2019 by CHEZMARYLOU

[scubacruiserx2]

On 3/22/2019 at 11:33 AM, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Really enjoying your review.  We are doing Buenos Aires to Antarctica on Silhouette in 2021.  What tour company did you use in Ushuaia for the harbor tour?

 

We almost did the cruise on the Eclipse but we didn't want to miss Chile .

[scubacruiserx2]

On our first day in BA we left the ship on the bus . At the terminal we met our guide  Elizabet from Tours by Locals and our driver .

 

 

There was a lot of traffic but we didn't go far . There was a photo op with perhaps Argentina's most famous soccer star Lionel Messi .

 

 

Not far away was a HUGE  Ficus tree that needed a little support with it's branches

 

 

 

We were headed to this church the Basilica Nuestra Senora del Pilar

 

 

A screen shot from Google Maps

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our next stop was next to the church at  the famous La Recoleta Cemetery

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Recoleta_Cemetery

 

 

 

The Dorrego - Ortiz Basualdo Family

 

 

 

Admiral Guillermo Brown was considered to be the father of the Argentine Navy . He was born in Ireland and his tomb is painted green remembering his Irish roots .

 

 

 

 

Another amazing structure

 

 

 

[teacherman]

We are planning to depart the ship on the day it arrives in BA, as we are flying to Iguazu Falls on the next morning.  We prefer to spend the BA arrival night in a hotel, which will keep part of our luggage for us until we return to BA.  Did you see any of your ship's passengers do this?  Also, since we will walk off with our luggage, I assume the port bus will also take our luggage to the exit.  Can you confirm this thought for me?  Any information on this topic is welcome from anyone who has experience with this at BA.

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, teacherman said:

We are planning to depart the ship on the day it arrives in BA, as we are flying to Iguazu Falls on the next morning.  We prefer to spend the BA arrival night in a hotel, which will keep part of our luggage for us until we return to BA.  Did you see any of your ship's passengers do this?  Also, since we will walk off with our luggage, I assume the port bus will also take our luggage to the exit.  Can you confirm this thought for me?  Any information on this topic is welcome from anyone who has experience with this at BA.

 

We didn't see anyone do this on this trip . On our previous trip we did request from the Captain to disembark a day early and carry our luggage on the bus . We were not the only ones that did it .

[teacherman]

Thank you.  

[scubacruiserx2]

Most of the cemetery wasn't crowded but this is the one grave that most people come to see .

 

 

 

 

Evita Peron

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There are a number of interesting graves here with beautiful stained glass

 

 

 

You have to peek through the doors to see some

 

 

 

This cross was on the ceiling of a former President's grave .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

More interesting graves

 

 

 

 

 

Pat and Elisabet were looking inside and this is what they saw

 

 

[TayanaLorna]

6 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

More interesting graves

 

 

 

 

 

Pat and Elisabet were looking inside and this is what they saw

 

 

Wow this last one is stunning.  Even down to the texture and creases in the mattress and pillows.

[scubacruiserx2]

10 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Wow this last one is stunning.  Even down to the texture and creases in the mattress and pillows.

 

They had some nice art work  there . Our guide told us that it was the most expensive property in BA . $ 1,000,000 per plot !

 

[scubacruiserx2]

More of Recoleta Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TayanaLorna]

18 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

More of Recoleta Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like an amazing place.  Going on the list to visit.  Is it safe to wander alone or as a couple there?

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

Looks like an amazing place.  Going on the list to visit.  Is it safe to wander alone or as a couple there?

 

It is amazing and it would probably be safe in the day but you may encounter people offering to be you guide there . Our guide warned us not to walk around BA at night . We opted for a guide to try to cover more ground and translate for us .

[scubacruiserx2]

Some more tombs

 

This man's wife quit talking to him and she made sure that their statues were facing in opposite directions after burying her husband

 

 

 

 

Boxer Luis Angel Firpo

 

 

This lady was  pronounced dead then accidentally buried alive

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Just a few more sites before we move on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TayanaLorna]

21 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

It is amazing and it would probably be safe in the day but you may encounter people offering to be you guide there . Our guide warned us not to walk around BA at night . We opted for a guide to try to cover more ground and translate for us .

Did you find your guide at the entrance to the cemetery or arrange for one ahead of time for the day?