13th December - The voyage begins!

We spent yesterday in Buenos Aires. It was a bit weird seeing a giant Santa Claus outside a city centre shopping mall in 31 degree and blue skies. They have some tree lights but not much in the shops to make you think it was Christmas. On any open green area there were hundreds of dragonflies flying about one metre off the ground. Went to the local nature reserve next to the port and the sounds of so many strange and new birds was amazing. I also managed to see two large lizards, over 80cm in length. We sailed from Buenos Aires yesterday evening and after dusk we had dragonflies flying around the boat and also some large insects that looked like crickets or grasshoppers.




















Santa Claus in 30oC in Buenos Aires

Monarch Butterfly in local wild life park in Buenos Aires

Today we spent the day in Montevideo, Uruguay. A much smaller city than Buenos Aires and with an older feel to it. Temperature was again over 30 degrees and no real signs of Christmas decorations.

Incredible detail on bronze sculptures on the top of pillars in Montevideo


A converted railway station near the port in Montevideo


Spoon figures at a stall in Montevideo


The view form the back deck of the liner heading south from Montevideo

This evening we sail south to Port Madryn and I give my first lecture to the passangers tomorrow. I will spend tomorrow seawatching, fingers crossed for an Albatross!