Day 271: Antarctic Cruise Day 7 – Punta Arenas
Merry Christmas! It may technically be summer down here, but we still had to bundle up in our jackets and hats for our port of call visit to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is the southernmost “city” in Chile (there are still a few more villages, etc. in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago). This was actually our second visit to Punta Arenas as this was the base for our trip to Torres del Paine National Park when we first visited Chile two years ago. As such, most of the tours the cruise ship offered (a daytrip to Magdalena Island to see the Magellanic Penguins, even an 11-hr excursion via plane to see Torres del Paine @ USD$1,209pp) we had already done. Since most shops and museums were closed for Christmas Day, there wasn’t much for us to visit independently – we just took the ship’s free shuttle into town and slowly walked our way back to the pier, exploring the city on foot.
We are on our own again in Punta Arenas – luckily the municipal tourist information center in open on Christmas Day, and we are able to pick up a map and get a list of the open museums
A statue of Magellan in the main plaza – legend has it that rubbing (or making out) with the foot of the Indian will bring you back to this part of the world again and again. Whatever – we didn’t touch any nasty foot the last time we were here, and – BOOM! – here we are, back again!
We walk up the hill to the mirador (viewpoint), and share the view with a kitty in the window
Have I mentioned that Chilean street dogs are the BEST?! We came across so many sweethearts today – we named the black one on the left “Christmas” and the German Shepard on the right is now “Hanukkah”
Christmas (the dog) escorts us to the Catholic church
As we walk across town, we pass by the Sara Braun Cemetery
The cemetery is full of a range of gravesites – elaborate tombstones, economic coffin lockers, and grand family mausoleums – and no two are alike! Someone around his making bank as a tombstone designer.
The back of the cemetary has several buildings full of “coffin lockers” – we notice one is open, waiting for a new resident
Since it is Christmas Day, most places are closed and the streets are empty, so we don’t have much left to do in Punta Arenas, other than walk 7KM across town back to the ship. We have nice weather, and we pick up another doggie friend on the way (we decided to stay with the holiday theme of the day, and named this one “Ramadan”)
What a Christmas treat – we get TWO shows tonight! A matinee guitar performance from our salty Latino singer, Nestor Santorio, and after dinner comedy & MAGIC from magician John Lenahan (photo from Google Images)
Even though it’s formal night, Igor’s foot STILL isn’t recovered enough for him to wear stiff dress shoes. We are willing to exile ourselves and have room service for dinner, but take a chance and call the hostess to see if they will give Igor a pass in the restaurant (I mean, come on! It’s Christmas!). Even with the ponytail, sneakers, and bikini-topped dress, they still let us in!
Christmas Dinner and beef tenderloin is on the menu – Igor finally caves, and breaks his vegetarian streak. And it was really, fucking GOOD. #sorrynotsorry
Pulling our Christmas crackers – Happy Holidays, everyone!