The Falkland Islands, also called Islas Malvinas, is a remote South Atlantic Archipelago of over 700 islands, 300 miles from the coast of Argentina. Although it is off the coast of Argentina, and Argentina believes it belongs to them, it is British in every way. The 1982 war between Argentina and Great Britain settled that ownership question in favor of the British. So British currency, driving rules, and other British customs prevail.
The attraction here is the wildlife - 5 distinct species of penguins make their home here and many tour companies stand ready to take visitors to see them.
Stanley
Three large ships were tendering guests all day to the capital city, Stanley. Many people from our ship took the 4x4 tours to Bluff Cove or Volunteer Point for the opportunity to wander among the Gentoo, King, or Magellanic penguins and learn how they live, breed, and survive in harsh conditions.
Back in Stanley, the main tourist spots were busy. Christ Church Cathedral has an iconic huge whalebone arch right outside. The Falklands War Memorial commemorates the 1982 war. The Stanley Cemetery has a Memorial Wood dedicated to servicemen who lost their lives in the 1982 conflict. The Falklands Dockyard Museum is an open-air display of maritime history.
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There are gift shops, cafes, and pleasant walking paths along the waterfront, passing by the Government House, the historic residence for Governors since the mid 1800’s.
We have been fortunate to have visited here several times. So, although we went ashore, we did not take a tour. We spent several hours wandering along the shore and then up through the residential neighborhoods. There were several geocaches to be found and moderate temperatures in the 50’s made it a pleasant day for strolling.
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Puerto Madryn
We decided to save our penguin experience for our next stop in Puerto Madryn, our first port in Argentina. We took a group of our Cruise Specialists Guests on a full day tour to the Valdez Peninsula, the Argentine part of Patagonia, famous for all kinds of wildlife. We certainly saw our share today.
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After the long ride out to Punta Norte, we were rewarded with observing a large colony of sea lions, including some adorable babies playing in the surf.
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We enjoyed an authentic local lunch at the Estancia San Lorenzo, featuring their prized local lamb, a delicious empanada, and a custardy rich flan for dessert. It was an 8-hour day but most rewarding.
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We had no time to visit the city of Madryn itself but remember it as a pleasant place for strolling. We could see the waterfront promenades, the inviting beaches, and the large modern hotels lining the shore. Our tour guide told us that the city was originally settled by Welsh people and still retains remnants of Welsh culture and influence.
There are a whole group of wonderful musicians on board - the singers and dancers from the repertory company, the party band, our favorite dance band, a very popular classical trio, a piano bar musician, a cocktail pianist, and right now, a country singer and a Motown quartet. They all have their regular venues and time slots. So what happens when you mix them all up and let them play and sing what they want with whatever other musicians they want? You get a terrific evening of entertainment called "A Night of Music." In two separate lounges, we saw the repertory singers perform Broadway hits with the classical violinist and pianist. There was a sing along with the cocktail pianist who never usually sings. Our dance band combined with the party band to play Queen. The classical cellist played jazz with our drummer and guitarist and the captain was seen singing with the Motown group. They were all great. You couldn’t take it all in as both lounges were active at once, but the idea was to have the guests move around and experience whatever was going on at the time over the course of 3-4 hours. We know the musicians loved it and the Guests did too.
We’re coming up to the end of the first official segment of this Voyage. About 140 people are getting off and another 120 are getting on in Buenos Aires. A small Mariner Recognition Event was held today for the departing guests, and it was the best one we have ever attended. Since we are among the 11 highest-ranking Mariners on board, we were invited to this ceremony, even though we are not leaving. They really went all out with entertainment by the professional singers and dancers as well as a few incredibly talented crew members. They created a fun video of our experiences so far and they brought dozens of crew members to say a musical farewell. It was quite a memorable event. We can’t wait to see what the future ones will bring.
Some very busy days are coming up, with some interesting visitors coming on board, special dinners, and multiple tours. Stay tuned.
Fondly,
Wendy and Steve
Continue Reading:
A Bon Voyage! | Costa Rica & Panama | Ecuador and Northern Peru | Wendy's Adventures in Peru | Steve's Adventure in Machu Picchu | Arica and San Antonio, Chile | Robinson Crusoe & Southern Chile | More Chile & Argentina | Antarctica | Falkland Islands | Montevideo & Punta del Este | Brazil | The Amazon | Salvation Islands | Arriving in Africa | Canary Islands & Morocco | Gibraltar and Barcelona | Spain & Portugal | France, Belgium and The Netherlands | Scotland and Norway | More Norway | Iceland | Greenland | Canada & New England | Voyage Summary
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