25.02.2024 Sarmiento Channel

Today the day started with an early rise. We should see the first glacier. The “Brujo Glacier” was announced for 7:30 a.m. Additionally, the front open deck should open at 7:15 a.m.! So, get up at 6:30 a.m.!? But it was worth it! The “Oosterdam” sailed slowly towards the glacier through relatively narrow waterways. Many passengers constantly changed the viewing side on the rear open deck in order to get the best photos. Others constantly switched between the back and front decks. And then there are the ship photographers. It was okay, something was going on! But given the impressions that both the fjord landscapes and the glacier offered, it was all too understandable! And once again I realized that such impressions cannot be captured with a camera. While the travel manager shared his knowledge about the different types of glaciers and the different colors over loudspeakers, the ship turned very slowly and drove back part of the way. At 10:30 a.m. the Sarmiento Canal awaited us. So have breakfast and go to the fitness area. The course for Karin and the equipment for me were already waiting. As we entered the canal there was excitement again on all decks, especially the front deck, which was otherwise closed! Queue in the cabin aisles and only enter when asked. And everything is well monitored and accompanied by a lot of crew members!

After this photo session, we again enjoyed a walk on the Lido deck and once again we discovered new surprises that we of course had to try. But not too much, because the next Spanish lesson was at 1 p.m. We went through all the vocabulary that has something to do with food at a very brisk pace. It was not possible to take notes and Karin simply took photos of individual pages of the Powerpoint presentation. And after that hour we just stayed sitting in the large hall. The travel manager wanted to tell us about the next stop, “Ushuaia”. We deliberately skipped the first so-called port talks about Puerto Montt and Puerto Chacabuco. We assumed that only HAL's expensive excursions would be featured. But during the lecture about Ushuaia we realized that we could learn a lot more and that the excursions were not mentioned at all. See, stupid prejudices! These harbor discussions, followed by a question and answer session, were so well attended that Scream was also offered in the RSL!

After a short break in our cabin, we went outside again! The transit through the summer pass was on the agenda, even if the weather wasn't really good. Cool wind and a little rain. Finally the weather we had been expecting all along and therefore our suitcases were packed. But we still stood outside and soaked up the impressions! We had to repeatedly tell ourselves that we would never see these pictures again in our lives and that we shouldn't suppress our travel genes. Given all the considerations on the subject, who knows how long we can continue to collect memories?

I no longer need to mention the evening Lido deck and therefore the main course (sometimes twice) and dessert (sometimes twice). But our visit to the ballroom for dance class. We decided to practice the tango and dressed it up to suit the location. But with the music that came from the assembly line controlled by someone, only three couples danced the foxtrot, waltz and... in perfect harmony and charisma... We didn't fit in with our skills and demands! Well, we got up early, cabin and e-book!