Friday, February 17, 2017

We were delighted to see a group of penguins (a raft of penguins) fishing near our ship while eating breakfast. Had we seen them on land I’d call them a rookery or a waddle (I have heard that term applied to groups of people at times, especially if I’m with them.)

The sea was calm this morning, and even into the afternoon. When the sun came out, it was truly stunning.

At noon, there was a brunch in the atrium, accompanied by some light jazz. The music was lovely, the food presentation almost as much, and the food itself was, as always, very good. I keep saying that I’m going to cut back, but then I see something I can’t resist – like macaroons.

When we ventured out this afternoon to see the numerous glaciers and waterfalls that we’ve been sailing by, we were nearly blown off deck. I finally got to use my down jacket and other cold weather gear. The water in these channels is almost turquoise in color – very beautiful. The glaciers that we saw today do not flow to the water, so we didn’t get to see any calving. I really have no complaints, though.

At Amalia Glacier, the ship turned around, affording some wonderful views to our fellow passengers on the starboard side. Amalia Glacier, also called Skua Glacier, is located in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. It originates in the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, and covers 61 square miles in the Magellanes and Antarctica region of Chile. We have seen a very small portion of it.

Later in the afternoon, we sailed by Italia Glacier, a tidewater glacier located in Alberto de Agostini National Park, terminating in the Beagle Channel. No calving today, though.