We are scheduled to arrive at the Falkland Islands tomorrow, but if the ocean continues as it is, we won't be able to go ashore. The islands have no pier facilities to handle so gargantuan a ship as the ms Amsterdam, so we would have to take tenders from ship to shore. If the seas are too rough, it won't happen, and consensus among the passengers at the moment is that the seas are currently too rough.
But the sun is out, the temperature on deck is, if not warm., at least not chilly, and the sun on the ocean is incredibly beautiful with whitecaps everywhere and spray blowing off the breaking waves and substantial navy blue swells marching to the horizon. There are two talks I thought I'd attend this afternoon, but I can always watch them on televised replays, while the ocean is much better live.
Oh, and one peculiar note about the Falklands. The Falklands War between Britain and Argentina for control of the islands (Falklands to the British, Malvinas to the Argentines) left behind areas of the islands that were sowed with anti-personnel mines. These areas are fenced off and well marked with warning signs. But they have turned out to be excellent breeding grounds for island penguins, who are too light-weight to detonate the mines, and who benefit from the protection that the mines provide from people.
Roberta - I am so enjoying your adventures at sea! You have the most delightful accounts of your day-to-day, and seriously have me vacillating from one emotion to another. I'm rolling on the floor laughing (the latest "gag-bags" reference) one minute, and wondering the next how the people in the Brazilian favela's maintain their optimism to make it through the angst of an impending rainstorm, and endure the sorrow of the huge losses that result.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us on your journey and opening up the parts of the world many of us only dream about!
Happy travels, friend...and, I'm looking forward to hearing more!! JLaw