BTimmer's Almost Live Grand South America 10/7/23 -12/19/2023

[Btimmer]

Since we missed the port stop, the Pinnacle Grill was opened for lunch so we enjoyed a birthday lunch with Bill & Solange.

 

[cruisin'teach]

Sorry you missed the Falklands, Many were disappointed passengers on our cruise last Dec. when it was cancelled for us. Thankful to have been there on 3 previous cruises to see the penguins! We encourage those who missed out on this cruise to try again. The Falklands are an amazing area!

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, cruisin'teach said:

Sorry you missed the Falklands, Many were disappointed passengers on our cruise last Dec. when it was cancelled for us. Thankful to have been there on 3 previous cruises to see the penguins! We encourage those who missed out on this cruise to try again. The Falklands are an amazing area!

We, too, have been to the Falklands previously but didn't do the Penguin tour.

[cruisin'teach]

Next time you need to go to Volunteer Point!

[Btimmer]

15 minutes ago, cruisin'teach said:

Next time you need to go to Volunteer Point!

You're preaching to the choir! 😉. We certainly will plan to do that.

[USN59-79]

Tim, nice to see you and your DW wearing Seahawks shirts today.  Not sure if you got the news, but they won today against the Commanders, 29 to 26.

Ray

[Btimmer]

4 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

Tim, nice to see you and your DW wearing Seahawks shirts today.  Not sure if you got the news, but they won today against the Commanders, 29 to 26.

Ray

Thanks.  We did follow the game via game casts on our phone.

[scubacruiserx2]

 If anybody else would like to see more photos of the Falkland Islands and Antarctica , our photos have been moved to South America at this link below . I just posted Gentoos and their chicks there .

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

On 11/1/2023 at 2:23 PM, Btimmer said:

The Mountain is actually Corcovado based upon further research by my wife.

 

We are thrilled that you will be returning to SA and Antarctica as you will also get to go to Puerto Madryn on the next trip which was our favorite place to see Magellanic Penguins and their babies . You will also see Guanaco and their babies ( Chulengo ) if you get there before the busses arrive and scare them away at Punta Tumbo . Thus we would suggest a private tour and go early if you can . And you may even see a dinosaur along the way . Please double click on the photos if you wish to enlarge them .

 

 

Punto Tumbo

 

 

 

 

Braying like a Jacka**

 

 

 Your wife was right about Volcano Corcovado . It is 7500' tall and in our photo it appeared to be hovering above the water .

 

 

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

 

If you are craving grilled meat in Montevideo we would recommend the Mercado del Puerto . It's a bit overcooked to our taste . We like the restaurant straight behind , past the grill with the stools in front . The early bird gets the tables and it gets very busy at lunch time . The photo is not mine , I found it on the net .

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[Btimmer]

14 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

We are thrilled that you will be returning to SA and Antarctica as you will also get to go to Puerto Madryn on the next trip which was our favorite place to see Magellanic Penguins and their babies . You will also see Guanaco and their babies ( Chulengo ) if you get there before the busses arrive and scare them away at Punta Tumbo . Thus we would suggest a private tour and go early if you can . And you may even see a dinosaur along the way . Please double click on the photos if you wish to enlarge them .

 

 

Punto Tumbo

 

 

 

 

Braying like a Jacka**

 

 

 Your wife was right about Volcano Corcovado . It is 7500' tall and in our photo it appeared to be hovering above the water .

 

 

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

 

If you are craving grilled meat in Montevideo we would recommend the Mercado del Puerto . It's a bit overcooked to our taste . We like the restaurant straight behind , past the grill with the stools in front . The early bird gets the tables and it gets very busy at lunch time . The photo is not mine , I found it on the net .

 

We've been to the colony previously off the Zaandam in 2016.  Our private tour van got us there before the HAL buses and it was wonderful.

 

All of the pieces are falling into place!

[Btimmer]

After 10 days at sea we finally reached land at Montevideo, Uruguay.  We did a private 6 hour tour with stops all over the city.  Below are a few pictures (primarily birds). When we return in January, we'll walk the city on our own since it will be the third time there for us..

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable display

 

 

MAM market

 

 

Mariana, our guide, & Angela

war memorial

 

Uruguay's national bird

 

 

 

Carnival museum

 

Edited November 16, 2023 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

 

 

 

 

We've had an excellent couple days in Buenos Aires including horseback riding and a small boat ride up the river system that feeds this very large bay.

 

Me on a horse

 

Cultural show last night 

 

Local hawk

 

horsemanship demo

[AryMay]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Having done the shorter 22-day SA/Antarctica itinerary your reports are bringing back many special memories!

 

We are booked on a B2B cruise on the Zaandam this spring. Can you tell me if the key cards are pre-punched? 

 

Thanks!!

 

 

[Btimmer]

2 minutes ago, AryMay said:

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Having done the shorter 22-day SA/Antarctica itinerary your reports are bringing back many special memories!

 

We are booked on a B2B cruise on the Zaandam this spring. Can you tell me if the key cards are pre-punched? 

 

Thanks!!

 

 

Ours were prepunched. But the front desk will punch them for you.  Are you following my daily blog or just this thread?

 

We're redoing the 22 day section starting 1/7/24, two weeks after this cruise ends.

[AryMay]

42 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Ours were prepunched. But the front desk will punch them for you.  Are you following my daily blog or just this thread?

 

We're redoing the 22 day section starting 1/7/24, two weeks after this cruise ends.

 

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

I did see that you are doing the 22 day itinerary next  year. Fingers crossed that this time you will be able to stop in the Falklands! We were very fortunate to be able to make this port and go to Volunteer Point to see the penguins! 

 

I was so paranoid about missing out on the penguins that we booked tours in three different ports...and made it to all of them! (Our only missed port was Puerto Montt.) I don't think you visit Puerto Madryn on your next cruise, but if you do, our tour with El Pedral was outstanding for seeing penguins up close and personal! 

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

Tonight was Carnival night with all sorts of games in the Lido pool area.  Winners received tickets which were entered into a drawing for prizes throughout the night.  The Ocean Bar band played and great fun was had by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ticket muliplier

our stash

[Btimmer]

I don't have many things in my bucket list, but visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio was one of them.  Today I ticked it off my list. Here are a few pictures.

 

It was cloudy, so photography was challenging.

 

A little visitor

 

 

Trying for a closeup photo 

 

 

Taken at sunset from the ship

 

The evening entertainment was an Oi Brasil production show.

 

 

 

[Lenliner]

Rio is just Fabulous! How is everyone onboard enjoying it? 

[alibabacruisers]

I have finally caught up with this thread!  It is wonderful, so thank you very much.

 

We are currently on QE Barcelona to Melbourne and wanted to catch up.  We are doing our first S.A. cruise in 2025 on QV and your information will be so useful!  I wish we could afford HAL S.A. 

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, Lenliner said:

Rio is just Fabulous! How is everyone onboard enjoying it? 

I don't know about everyone, but this is a fabulous stop!  I wish it were 3 days.  We'll hit the major tourist stops over these two days and a day to just wander would be nice.

[Btimmer]

Here's some photos from the famous stairs and the Municipal Theater.

 

 

it's a tough life for a plant

 

Find our Seattle sticker

 

 

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Glad you are enjoying. We have been blessed to take similar cruises with similar ports and were fortunate to visit the Falklands although my parents took a similar cruise and the stop was cancelled.  All the best!

[Btimmer]

We had a wonderful time in Armação dos Búzios, Brazil.  Here are a few pictures from today.

 

[Btimmer]

Here are some photos from day 2 in Rio where Sugarloaf was the key excursion item.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here are some Black Boobie Bird pictures from this morning off the Brazilian coast. They were searching for flying fish disturbed by our bow wake.