Punta Arenas

I’ve started to run out of titles! Sometime overnight we arrived in Punta Arenas, however as we didn’t wake up until 0900 I have no idea what time that was! I say we didn’t wake up, we were actually woken up by a repair crew who told us our shower was leaking! First we had heard about it! Although we can set a “Do not disturb sign” on the panel at the door it seems crew members are not instructed in its meaning, we have been disturbed a few times.

Obviously we (our ship) are either special or dangerous as we looked out to see a Navy vessel not too far away.

Below are a few more pictures from where we are moored. Some how the view is constantly changing, as though the boat is rotating around its anchor cable.

Around lunch time we headed down to the bowels of the ship to catch the tender to go ashore. We had and afternoon trip around Punta Arenas. The temperature climbed up to 14C / 58F. So far we have had dry weather for our shore excursions, which has been a little unusual according to the locals.

Once on land we boarded our coach and off we went. Our first stop was a lookout point with a view out to sea and over the town. On the way there we passed a few murals and colourful houses

Next stop was the city square, unfortunately when it came to Spanish names and words, she fired them off at breakneck speed, so I wasn’t able to catch them. Around the square were a number of buildings owned by prominent members of early settlers, beyond that I am lost!!

The centre of the square has a statue honouring Hernando Magallanes, a Spanish / Portuguese explore of the 1500’s who sailed around the southern tip of south America, discovering the Magellan straight in the process.

Note the foot to the left of centre on the statue.

We visited a museum which showed the history of Punta Arenas from its inception to the preent day, but filming was not allowed.

Out next stop, believe it or not, was a cemetery! Not just your ordinary church cemetery but a LARGE one. It encompasses 4 hectares / 40,00 sq. metres / 430,000 sq feet / 10 acres! It has many mausoleums as well as conventional plots in a well maintained area.

Our final stop was a “pioneer” style village, dating back to the late 1800’s, displaying original equipment and dwellings.

Of course we had to see some penguins!!

Tomorrow, we are off to Ushuaia in Argentina.