30. Leaving BA

Leaving BA    25C (77F),    

Sailing South              Saturday, Feb. 17. 2018

Our next port is Puerto Madryn, Argentina. But we have 2 sea days coming up.

BA Skyline and Fishing Pier

We watched the ship leave Buenos Aires, we got up early and sat on our balcony to see the sun creep over the horizon and had a cup of coffee. The sky line of BA receded slowly behind us. The ship channel here is very narrow and we can see a long pier where people fish. We are off towards cooler areas and much less traffic on the ocean. Going south is like going north for me. I am prepared for windier, cooler weather, each day the temperatures will drop from here on in. I love it.

BA is on the dividing line between Tropical and Southern Climates.

BA Is a Major Shipping Port

While BA is a busy harbor and most of S. America’s shipping goes through this Port, it is about the only major port left on the East side of the continent that is still a major distribution point, and that has a commercial, international port.

Ever since the Panama Canal was finished in 1914 all shipping for South America changed. 

Before 1914 ships had to steam, sail or chug AROUND the tip of South America. Before 1914 this area we are now entering was a busy place. To get to the Pacific you HAD TO pass Cape Horn, a very treacherous spot with many, many storms and the downfall of many a ship.

Not Just Miles Saved, But Also Many Lives By Avoiding the Drake Passage

 

Today, very few ships take this route. The Panama Canal was recently widened, so even Super Tankers can now use the Canal, making this area we are entering into, even more deserted.

But, there is lots of history here and the ports we are approaching used to be very important points in the supply line for the ships and for the Pacific Routes. 

We are sailing (ha, chugging?) ever south, kind of hugging the coast of Argentina.

On the starboard side (the side of our cabin), is Patagonia, a huge area of nothingness. The land is rather flat and semi-arid. Westerly winds are predominantly coming off the land. The winds are harsh, created by cool air off the Andes Mountains warming up in the morning sun and then being churned and pushed eastward. Patagonia is famous for the winds. Every motorcycle dude riding Routa 40 can tell you that. The winds are terrible. They can blow you off your bike. There are days when you cannot ride at all, because the wind will blow you off the road.

Ah, but we are on the ship, heading south. I am just mentally preparing myself for ‘nothingness'.

Yes, we will stop here and there at towns, but those towns are village like, small, rather insignificant in the greater picture. The areas we are visiting are past their heydays. 

No wonder many passengers left us in BA, but I am curious, it’s OK if there is nothing, I want to experience it.

The ship has food, drink and I am dry and sleep well. All is OK. The forbidding, scary Drake Passage past Cape Horn is in the future, I don’t have to think about it yet. We will see that happens when we get there.  

Like I said, we have Sea Days now and are just doing our mundane things. Carol tried to occupy herself with ‘crafts’ but the teacher was a dud so she found a better way to kill time. She is reading and catching up on her trip notes.

The enrichment lectures by Humberto prepare us for the next leg of our voyage. He talks about the marine life we will see, mainly different penguins and birds. We are entering a forlorn area, there is not much here. There never has been much here.

To show you the ‘selection’ of performing ‘artists’ the ship hired.

We had a harmonica player tonight. Imagine a guy standing on stage and playing his harmonica. For 45 minutes, just him and his harmonica.  

 

Just focus on that…. He plays tunes you don’t really know…are you getting exited?

Duhhh…. Could you not find a better entertainer, Princess Cruise line? Come on, you can do better!

The ship tried to entertain…. the Beauty Salon had a ‘pamper’ day… you go and get pampered it said… Ladies Only.

OK, now what about the guys?

The next evening’s performance was Donovan & Rebecca. Those 2 have 7 Guinness Book Records. The couple showed amazing body strength by doing their acrobatics VERY slowly.

Amazing

Is that better? Are you still focused on that?  Well, we were focused on this one, it was better!

Harmonica?  Not so much!