Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and we are sailing!

We awakened at 4:45 to have a quick breakfast and then head to the airport for our flight. After we were on the bus our guide announced that LAN was having a ‘little strike’ and there would be a ‘little’ delay at the airport. When we arrived there were many strikers picketing in front of the checkin lanes for LAN and the TV cameras were all there. We were taken upstairs to an area where we did manage to find a table and chairs for all six of us and there we sat and sat and waited. At about 11:00 they announced that our flight would leave at 12:05 so we all proceeded through security to the gates. Our flight did leave not long after that time and we arrived in Ushuaia about 4:30. We had only planned to wander in the town prior to boarding so it wasn’t a problem for us, but the people that had booked the excursion to the National Park were disappointed that it wouldn’t take place.

Boarding and checking in on the ship took place quite quickly and we came to our cabin. All 6 of us are in Mini-suites which are nice and comfortable with a large window that looks out over the side across a public deck space. As with most cabin windows that are at a public space you cannot see into the cabin except when the cabins lights are on so we will need to remember to close them at night. We had many things to do prior to dinner; register a credit card, turn in our medical forms and get our Antarctic jackets. Dinner was buffet style and everything was very good; it seemed everyone was very hungry after all our delays during the day. They canceled our lifeboat/safety drill until 11:30 the next day - by international law they have 24 hours in which to hold the drill. We had a short Welcome cocktail party with the Captain and Expedition staff and then by 10:00 pm we were back in the cabin and ready for bed.

The Captain had said that it would be very smooth for about 6 hours and then it would get a bit bumpy as we would enter the Drake Passage. We woke up sometime in the early morning hours are realized that the ship was slightly rolling, but hardly any bumping and slept until about 6:30 this morning. Life is just fine… no butlers or room service on this ship, but there is an electric kettle and instant coffee and tea available in the room so I’m perfectly happy. After a couple cups of coffee, we wandered around the ship a little and then headed for breakfast.

Note: the battery in my laptop will not charge, so I have to plug in to use it… and I only saw one plug in the reception area where the wireless connection is located. I’ll try to post as often as possible and hopefully be able to add pictures when we get a little more organized.