Wow what an itinerary! Argentina Uruguay Chile Antarctica and the Falklands!

Yes we embarked on this what was to be unforgettable journey in late January 2023.

Flying out from Gatwick to Madrid then on to Buenos Aires. The long haul took us near on 24 hours. Flying Europa Airlines (service was lack lustre to say the least, avoid this airline if you can)

We stayed in a 4 star hotel in the central area called The Intercontinental a plush hotel with dodgy lifts lol.

The city itself is mixture of very wealthy areas and very poor areas. We explored Buenos Aires for 3 days trying to take in as many of the sights we could in this sprawling metropolis.

Boca was a fantastic area with brightly painted shops and houses. This is the home of the very famous football team Boca Juniors. Who incidentally were staying in our hotel before one of there matches. This area with its lovely boating marina is a must visit while in Buenos Aires.

Most tourists flock to this cemetery of Recoleta to visit and pay there respects to Eva Peron. The cemetery is large and has a cover charge to gain entry. The rich and famous are all buried here in large  mausoleums some are in my opinion over the top. The cemetery is flanked by bars restaurants and tourist stalls selling arts and crafts. Eva Peron is big business in Buenos Aires.

The city itself is a bustling metropolis like most world cities. Statues churches etc are in abundance. Staying central a tourist will avoid the deprivation of the outer central area.  

We ventured out of the main area to watch a football match at San Lorenzo in the Argentina premier league .  The match itself was great with the frenzied atmosphere that we come to expect in

South America. The area leading to the stadium is a mis match of  ramshackle buildings burnt out cars and vagrants roaming the streets. A scary place for a European tourist. Please use a local cab if venturing out into the suburbs. We did just that and was quite safe. The driver helped get us tickets and picked us up at the entrance afterwards. While inside the stadium stewards were in abundance keeping everybody safe and happy.

The currency in Argentina is the peso which can not be obtained before travelling. So take united states dollars but don’t spend them there as you will end up paying double for everything. Change up your dollars to pesos at a western union. These are in abundance in the centre. They will give you the best exchange rates and more spending power than visa cards or dollars. The government want dollars as do the locals as they will exchange for twice as much money at the western union. This is to encourage tourists to Argentina.

Heading of on Norwegian Star

After our 3 days in Buenos Aires we now board our ship to Antarctica. Weather is really hot when we leave port at around 33°. Everyone is in high spirits as we leave port . Drink and food is flowing a plenty. The sound of music from the in house band provides a carnival like atmosphere. This was to be a truly memorable cruise.

Our first port of call is the capital of this small country. No need for expensive tours organised by the cruise company. The docks are a short walk from a popular tourist route. Maps are given free at the terminal. The route will take in most of the must see sights and still give you plenty of time to grab a drink and a bite to eat. There are also plenty of tourist shops selling souvenirs etc. We were lucky as the weather was a hot and sunny on this January day.

 

Because of the nature of our cruise we were schooled by experts about Antarctica. These lectures were really informative and a great way to learn about this sacred place. The entertainment on the ship was first class. Singers Dancers Musicians Comedians Magicians Acrobats Illusionists a plenty. All were first class. The nightly shows in the theatre was one of the highlights of the cruise. The informal dining options on Norwegian cruises are really good. The speciality restaurants are brilliant with first class food from around the globe.

 

Service on the Star was excellent and we all enjoyed the choices of places to relax with new friends we had met on the cruise. Especially Phil Dean a French Canadian (Only joking Phil) and a lovely couple from Wales Steff and Donna. We all miss you guys. Song of the cruise FIREBALL. And the drink of the same name that packs a punch.

Our next port of call was Puerto Madryn a small town on the east coast of Argentina. Many people on board took a trip to a penguin sanctuary. We stayed local sampling the local hospitality on a very hot sunny day.

Next up would of been Chile. An area called Punta Arenas. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control we were unable to dock so we missed this particular port. Giving us another day at sea. Cruising the coastline of Chile.

We headed next to Ushuaia which is situated at the southern most tip of Argentina. And is commonly known as the end of the world. Arriving on a sunny day we took a boat trip taking in a island full of really smelly seals and a host of cormorants and other sea birds. Before finishing up at the national park of Tierra dell Fuego .This was followed by a steam railway trip on the Train del fin del mundo. The railway was originally built by criminals who had been deported there for the crimes they had committed. After our sightseeing tour of the national park we headed back to port, after a short tourist shop stop for some. We boarded and started to look forward to our cruise to Antarctica.

After crossing Drakes passage and its rocky seas we headed down to the Antarctic. 2 full days cruising it’s northern most islands we had the most glorious weather for sightseeing and nature watching. 1°C clear sunny skies. Enabled us to observe many birds in the sky. And plenty of penguins and whales in the sea.

The stunning scenery of the shoreline was something to behold. Glaciers, snow covered peaks and beaches. Plus all the scientific outposts from various countries. The whole experience is hard to put into words. Just amazing! The Stunning Admiralty Bay was my highlight of Antarctica. Please check out the pictures.

Our trip back to Buenos Aires was to take in the Falklands which for me was to be another major highlight of the cruise. Sadly because of stormy seas we had to by pass the islands for our own safety. So our cruise finished with a leisurely cruise back to Buenos Aires. In summary it had been a fantastic trip with memories to last a lifetime. Maybe I will make it to the Falklands one day? Who knows?