Bit of a blog - HAL Oosterdam - South America & Antarctica - Dec/Jan 2023/24

[cccole]

NorbertsNiece - Someone was wearing flip flops on the elevator rug today.  Many of us are beginning to pack for our January 7 cruise and I would love any tips you have on packing as you go along.  I have another question, if you have time, is Tai Chi a complimentary activity?  Absolutely loving your posts.  I know that this is not a "Grand Cruise" but for me it will be.  I will not be cooking, cleaning, or driving.  Cherie   

[NorbertsNiece]

Puerto Madryn was pretty much closed this afternoon. We hopped on a shuttle to the end of the pier and had a little walkabout. There were some artisan booths by the beach there. Most of the shops were shut. Found a small mall that was open but most outlets were closed.

 

 

The Spanish Mutual Aid Association of Puerto Madryn

 

In Commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the First Around the World expedition of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastián Elcano.

1520-2020

 

 

Monument to the Worker

 

Bust of Admiral Hipolito Bouchard, and of the founders of this city

 

Monumento a La Mujer, monument to women

 

Maybe a penguin.....

 

A tribute to the pioneers of the National Capital of Diving and Underwater Activities

 

 

Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Argentine flag in 1812

 

 

 

 

You recognise a genuine NorbertsNiece blog when there's a random pigeon

 

 

 

Zzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

15 minutes ago, cccole said:

NorbertsNiece - Someone was wearing flip flops on the elevator rug today.  Many of us are beginning to pack for our January 7 cruise and I would love any tips you have on packing as you go along.  I have another question, if you have time, is Tai Chi a complimentary activity?  Absolutely loving your posts.  I know that this is not a "Grand Cruise" but for me it will be.  I will not be cooking, cleaning, or driving.  Cherie   

Hi 👋

T'ai chi is complimentary. Lead by the sports manager it's a half hour of calm. Sadly not easy to hear him but he repeats the movements both verbally and physically. A popular class. Definitely worth getting up for!

 

Don't ask me for tips on packing!! I have at least 2 x the following: short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees, jeggings, long cargo pants, cropped cargo pants, thin dungarees, thicker dungarees, sweaters, a pair of thermal underwear for the Antarctic. Walking shoes, skechers, 2 x Tom's, Birkenstocks. Socks. Erm........ a fleece. Warm hooded jacket. A waterproof poncho. Woolly hat. A Tilley. A sun hat. A scarf. Dressy trousers and jacket. A few pretty tops. Lingerie 😉

[Lido deck main]

On 12/19/2023 at 1:57 AM, NorbertsNiece said:

Question.....

 

Does using the Navigator really drain the phone battery?

Make sure your Bluetooth is turned off. 

[NorbertsNiece]

I have no idea why one of the pics duplicated in my previous post and I wasn't able to delete the duplicate.

 

We have an early start tomorrow so will continue our Wednesday on Thursday 😉

 

How pretty is this though!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Back at the pier they have only just replaced the gangway with a mobile stepped ramp affair. The seal is still there! GF biscuits are now available in the Crow’s Nest!

Dinner.

 

 

 

We think they're looking at a seal ..... we passed it on our way back to the ship

 

Monumento a los Colonos Galeses from the ship. Monument to the Welsh settlers.... we hadn't walked that far along the front!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

A last walk round 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 6 Puerto Madryn

 

Good morning and thanks for following 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our excursion today :

 

A nautical adventure

 

Hop into a semi-rigid boat at the Piedrabuena pier and set out across the water -- a terrific way to discover the marine life of the Puerto Madryn area.

 

You'll head to Punta Loma, set aside in 1967 as the region's first Protected Area. It boasts the distinction of being populated by sea lions all year round and is a breeding ground for seabirds, including gulls, cormorants and shearwaters. Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from here and watch the antics of the sea lions who alternate between sunning themselves on the rocky shoreline and slithering into the sea in search of sustenance.

 

Next, you will search for the Fitz Roy dolphins that inhabit the seas around Punta Loma. Seeing them is a huge highlight, and the dolphins often come up to the boat so you can fall in love with them at close range. Their behaviors frequently include impressive acrobatic jumps -- they are one of the most beautiful and unforgettable natural spectacles of Golfo Nuevo. Fitz Roy dolphins are found in coastal waters of Chile, Argentina, Peru, Namibia, South Africa and New Zealand, where they are known as the dusky dolphin.

 

Notes:

 

Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. It is essential that you wear warm, layered clothing to fully enjoy and participate in this excursion; outer layer should be waterproof and windproof. Bring gloves, a warm hat and a scarf.

Edited December 21, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Dear Holland America,

 

Your GF bread is not good.

 

Yours sincerely,

Me

[Bill B]

56 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Dear Holland America,

 

Your GF bread is not good.

 

Yours sincerely,

Me

 

Never eat anything with the words: 'free', 'light' or 'low' in the name or on the label.

[AroundWithMAPTravels]

1 hour ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Dear Holland America,

 

Your GF bread is not good.

 

Yours sincerely,

Me

I found that the GF English muffins On Zaandam also fit the “same” category, sadly.   Never tried anything else as a result…. Note to self: don’t!

how were the cookies in crows nest?
 

[CNSJ]

It's really not "GLUTEN FREE BREAD" it is a totally different "thing."  It's a bunch of stuff thrown together at an attempt to look like bread with a similar taste/texture.  My heart goes out to those who cannot tolerate gluten.  I don't know how I could make it through the day without bread.

 

I hope you find solace in Alcohol, which depending on variety is not gluten free, but just Rum or Vodka etc.  I think the olive in the glass is safe too.  

[Hogladyrider]

@NorbertsNiece...the fantastic review continues....wonderful photos enjoying every post!

[breakiron]

Enjoying your reviews everyday.  I'm booked on the January 29 cruise.  Thank you.....

[NorbertsNiece]

12 hours ago, AroundWithMAPTravels said:

I found that the GF English muffins On Zaandam also fit the “same” category, sadly.   Never tried anything else as a result…. Note to self: don’t!

how were the cookies in crows nest?
 

Very sweet

[NorbertsNiece]

Had a fabulous excursion this morning. The weather was better than kind, really hot. We saw cormorants, sea lions, dolphins and magellanic penguins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamara and Carla our guides 

 

 

 

 

The Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918. She is the largest restored Dutch freightship and the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is Rotterdam. More about her here : https://www.dutchtallship.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Our journey out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monumento al Indio Tehuelche. The native Patagonians are honoured with this statue for their assistance to the early Welsh settlers to the region.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Approaching the Punta Loma Nature Reserve, with added ship wreck.

 

Very popular with scuba divers apparently.

 

 

 

Naufragio Pesquero Folías, fishing vessel Folías

 

The Folías is a wreck that was 233 ft ( 71 m ) in length, today it is heeled over 400 m from Playa Parana 5.6 mi ( 9 km ) from Puerto Madryn. It can be seen from the coast because it is half-sunken. At low tide, the clayey soil where it rests is 7 meters deep and at high tide, the bottom moves 11 m away from the surface.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Searching. Looking. Seeing.

 

Cormorants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

So many pics and videos

One video here

Another here

And a longer one here

Worth the wait!

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[CNSJ]

Simply amazing pictures!

[NorbertsNiece]

Heading back to the ship. I went to visit the memorial to the Welsh settlers then walked back to the ship along the pier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Back at the ship on the bulbous bow is a family of sea lions. Quite happily chilling. Then along came what I can only assume was a male, certainly VERY angry, and voluble, who proceeded to turf the family off! One solitary sea lion remained!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 7 At sea

 

Good morning and thanks for following. 

 

I caught a bit too much sun yesterday and am taking it easy today.

 

Thought I'd show you around the TV selection but we have a remote control that doesn't like to go right so stuck right now. Must see if we can get it swapped!

 

 

 

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Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece