Then we entered the Chilean Fjords to travel south for two more days. This is an extensive inland waterway, which reminded me of the inside passage going to Alaska. But it is like the inside passage on steroids, more extensive, more of a remote wilderness and breathtaking. The highlight of this trip was sailing by the Amalia Glacier.
Our cruise director had been discussing the Chilean Fjords for several weeks before we arrived. He was wrestling with a problem. Our first day in the fjords was Sunday, February 12. For the mostly American cruise passengers, this was an important day–SuperBowl Sunday. As it turns out, the timing of our visit to the fjords could not have been worse. The Fjords are one of the hardest places on earth to get a satellite signal.
He worked on this and kept us posted and they were able to plot a course so we could exit the fjords that evening long enough to get a specially purchased satellite signal to come through. American football fans were accommodated and a very big SuperBowl part was planned for that evening.
The big Insignia lounge was full with Eagles fans on one side and Kansas City fans on the other.
I was routing for Mahone’s team. This did cause a bit of an issue. My sister Marilyn joined the ship in Santiago. She was routing for the Eagles, but most graciously sat with me and it didn’t cause much of an issue.
The food was all game food, with the highlight a baked potato bar with plenty of bacon bits.
Because we were two hours ahead of East Coast time, the game went late and I must admit that both Marilyn and I left before the final results came in.
This experience of Super Fjords could be a metaphor of how strange this whole cruise can be. As we travel through this incredible territory, I am learning and seeing things I never even knew I wanted to see. I’m imagining the early sailing ships trying to work their way through all of the channels. I am often feeling awe and curiosity and….
And, I am doing it from a safe, climate controlled perch. Even when I go outside in the rain and cold, I can always warm up. I can also now say I’ve been at a super SuperBowl party.
If you want to be here, and I do, you have to develop some way to hold very contradictory things. I’ve tried to notice them, hold them up, maybe hold them lightly. We will see how it goes.
Continuing to enjoy your slice of life from another hemisphere. Love the pictures that are so different from my imagination of South America, which in my mind is ridiculously and unrealistically warmer everywhere.
Gorgeous, interesting postings on these last two posts. What huge contrasts in pictures & landscapes from the previous posts! The fjords are totally amazing, even with some cloud cover. I’m glad that the ship accommodated the football fans with coverage of the Super Bowl game. It was an exciting game to watch, especially the reversals in the second half—and you two turned into bigger football fans! Enjoy the rest of the trip!!
Truly remarkable!
So happy for you that your sister Marilyn was able to join you.
As we travel across country in our modern day covered wagon…. I most definitely am grateful and ponder the difficulty those before me… endured…. and am awed by all the amazing natural beauty that surrounds us!!!
This is truly breathtaking landscape!
The juxtaposition of the fjords and the Super Bowl is fascinating.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos.
Lots of food for thought…even without the Super Bowl chicken wings.
It’s great that you and Marilyn get to share this part of the trip together.
Cathy, it is unbelievable. And youre insight into the sharp contrast experience on a ship– a very important idea. After traveling in many developing countries i often thought of how safe and predictable life was for Americans, relative to life elsewhere in the world. I am glad your sister was able to join you.