Agostini Sound - Águila Glacier in Patagonia

On the second day we traveled to the Agostini Sound and disembarked onto the Aguila Glacier.

Landing on the island shores I noticed the colonies of wild mussels and other sea creatures living on the shores.

The first view of the Aguila Glacier is breathtaking!

More crustaceans.

Sub- antartic wildflowers

Wild eatible berries

Like a living thing, the glacier advances onto the land, sweeping with it whatever lies below.

Aguila Glacier detail

Back on board, we got ready for our well deserved dinner - first course : octopus

Our table in the dining room

The Chilean wines were delicious and plentiful

Need I say more?

Enjoy!

Maria

The Expedition Ship Stella Australis and Cape Horn

 We boarded our expedition cruise ship Stella Australis in the port of Ushuaia.

Stella Australis, a Chilean adventure cruise ship, built specifically for sailing the Patagonian waters was constructed in 2010. It has 100 cabins and can accommodate 210 passengers.  There were people on board from many parts of the world, all of us eager for adventure!

We left Ushuaia behind in a splendid sunset as we set sail for Cape Horn and the Straits of Magellan.

The next morning at dawn, all the passengers congregated in the lounge, fully dressed and wearing our life vests, ready to board the zodiacs for a trip to the fierce Cape Horn.

 The walkways to the top of the Cape with a view of Stella Australis in the distance.

The wind and the freezing rain pelted us as we marched towards the top of the island and to the buildings and monuments marking the many ships and sailors who perished  trying to make it around the famous Horn.

 We kept our life vests on to help shield us from the elements.

 The inside of the little chapel at the top of the Cape.

 At the flag pole where I struggled to keep my footing against the strong winds.

 Making our return to the ship.

 Holding on aboard the zodiac.

 It takes some agility to get on and off the boats.

Once safely back on board I felt in my bones how dangerous the elements of nature made it for those unfortunate seafarers who attempted to round the Horn since it was the only way, at the time, to the Pacific Ocean.I felt lucky to be looking forward to our next expedition!


Enjoy!

Maria

Tierra del Fuego and the Train to the End of the World

Tierra del Fuego, Land of Fire, has been named after what Ferdinand Magellan thought were fires set by the indigenous Yaghan people when he  arrived on the shores of Patagonia as the first European.

Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago in the southernmost tip of South America, across the Strait of Magellan. It consists of the main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and a group of other islands that include the famous Cape Horn.

Today, the area is sparsely populated and there is only one 90 year old true descendent of the Yaghan. Stelios and I took a train ride into this majestic and protected land topped off with short hikes into the landscape.

The red wagons of the train chucked along the rails bringing the passengers to waterways,

beautiful vistas,

and waterfalls.

The train snaked it's way through the landscape of Tierra del Fuego.

Beautiful vistas of rugged shores.

Wild horses

High mountaintops.

When exploring this land of fire one feels the intrigue and pull of the vast open spaces, the crisp clean streams and the snowcapped mountaintops.

Enjoy!

Maria