March 09 – Puerto Madryn

This is going to be a red letter day on our cruise.  

We arrived at Puerto Madryn Argentina this morning and took a bus ride for two and a half hours south to Punta Tomba. Here along the Atlantic coast is one of the world’s largest penguin rookeries. During peak mating season there can be up to four hundred thousand Magellan penguins in this colony.  

These little birds have already started their migration to the south but there were still several thousand of these cute little creatures.  The elevated walkway which extends for several kilometers, allows you to get very close to the penguins.  They are very curious and will waddle right up to the walkway to get a bird’s eye of the humans.  Most of them have the distinctive black and white markings but about a quarter of them are brown and white.

Also in this reserve are camels know as Guanacos.  Although they are related to camels, they look more lamas with extended necks.   They are shy and tended to stay a safe distance away from humans.

The trip from Puerto Madryn to Punta Tomba takes you through some of the most desolate countryside I’ve ever seen. Scrub filled land, rocky and bone dry, it doesn’t grow much in the way of vegetation.  The large ranches raise sheep and some cattle, but I can imagine it is a hard way to make a living.

As we heading south the temperature drop is noticeable.  Walking in the rookery with wind coming in off the ocean made it feel a lot colder than it really was.  You definitely needed a coat.  Unfortunately I left my coat in the hotel in Buenos Aries, so I had to buy a hoodie in the souvenir shop.   Marg was wearing a poncho that she had bought on Canada Day in Ottawa.

One of the many things I enjoy about cruising is meeting so many interesting people.  This afternoon we meet a British couple over coffee and tea.  I learned more in those thirty minutes about Britain and its exit from the European Union that I’ve learned from reading newspapers and watching the news.

For dinner I had almond encrusted Hake and Marg had veal in a pastry shell.  Both were OK but nothing special.

The evening’s performer was Antonio Salci, a Canadian music producer and arranger.  I loved how he communicated with the ship’s house band after having only a couple of hours to rehearse.  They way they took his lead and played into his arrangements was marvelous to hear.  You could tell he was very passionate about music.

Rest in peace Dan.