On South Georgia Island with the Penguins

In the Parque Torres Del Paine outside of Puerta Natales, Chile

Harberton is one of the few remaining estancias, (working ranches.) It sits on the Beagle Channel. It once served as a stopping point for ships rounding the Horn. Their museum boasts a large collection of bones from the penguins, whales, and sea birds of the Tierra del Fuego.

There was shopping .....

And there was eating......

I learned a lot about the natives when we visited the Ushuaia museum . . .

Melvin got to know the natives, too. <<< His pals Natalia and Luciana at the Patagonia Villa.

.All over Chile and Argentina we found the people to be warm and friendly.....

.. . . and their homes colorful . . .

On the road we found......

And examples of the local wildlife......

Scenes from Parque Torres Del Paine...........

More photos from the road......

A high point of the visit to Puerto Natales was a trip to the historic "refrigerator museum." It didn't sound like much but turned out to be quite amazing. Imagine the Chicago Stockyards located at the one place every ship has to pass if it is going to the Pacific Ocean from Europe or North America. Location, location, location!

Hope you enjoy these shots. We'll be adding photos from Melvin's Spirit of Sydney crewmates, so check back in a month or so. Pictures can't truly capture the wonder of this trip. Between Melvin's brush with the big drink and the discovery of his fishing spot from thirty-seven years back, it was a more-than-memorable kick off to his retirement years. I'm just blessed to be a part of it all!