Argentina & Uruguay 

After breakfast at our Buenos Aires hotel we took a taxi to the cruise ship terminal.  At 11:15 am the rush to check-in had not yet begun and we are processed with only a little waiting.  Cabin 2654 will house us for the next 21 days.  We are on the port side of the Zaandam towards the stern of the boat.  Our room stewards are Pande and Hanie.  Pande is from Bali.  He says, "it is hot there".  We spent our time getting settled and learning the lay of the ship.  A bit later than scheduled we left Buenos Aires to sail overnight to Montevideo, Uruguay.  The captain warned us that this was a busy channel and he was right!  Once we were docked, David and I joined the throng of people heading to shore.  There was a free van that took us to the leather factory just off Independence Square.  We enjoyed the smell of all that new leather, but there is no room in our luggage for such treats.  The free wifi was a bonus, so we caught up on email as others around us shopped.  We stretched our legs with a nice stroll around town and then it was back to the boat for a nice BBQ dinner and sunset.

The skyline of Montevideo - a busy working waterfront

The statue in Independence Square

Plaza Constitution where we people watched

Sunset from on board the Zaandam

2/1/2014

A late departure from Montevido led to a late arrival in Punte del Este 60 miles away.  It didn't matter to us as our day ashore was unstructured.  We took a tender to shore and walked the boardwalk along the beach .  As we walked dark clouds threatened with a chance of showers.  Our path took us from the Rio de la Plata side of the peninsula to the Alantic Ocean side.  An increase in wind and waves was immediately obvious.   The main part of town offered us the opportunity of free wifi in Burger King.  As we caught up on email, the clouds opened and boy did it pour.  A lessening in intensity of the rain prompted us to put on our rain jackets and make a bee line to the tender.   Ask us about our footwear for that first formal dinner that night.

Locals enjoying a Saturday at the beach

The Parrish church opposite the lighthouse

The Atlantic Ocean side

Buenos Aires to Montevideo to Punta del Este

Sunday and Monday are spent at sea as we make our way to Port Stanley in the Falklands.  Lecturers have been informing us on Antarctica research, birds, wildlife, etc.  

Today (Feb 3rd) had us all walking as if slightly drunk.  They drained the pools as the water was sloshing out.  This is only 2.5-3 meter seas.  I can't wait to see what Drakes Channel will feel like.