Back in L.A., after about 16 hours in the air and in airports. A phenomenal trip, it couldn't have been more exciting and enjoyable. Now, to get to work on whatever is next!

Our small hotel is in a pleasant part of town - quiet, tree-lined, genteel. But the sidewalks are a disaster - large and deep potholes and missing tiles & chunks of concrete every few feet. In the USA it would be an injury attorney's fantasy world.

"Hey, get your ferrets here, fresh ferrets....!"

We wandered around San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood of the city, and now filled with interesting shops and cafés. In the square, we stop for a cold drink and watched the tango dancers.

The "Paris" look, like I mentioned earlier.

For any foodies out there...a wonderful sushi dinner in the trendy Palermo area. The second pic is a Kobe beef sushi, with a chili/olive sauce which the sushi chef caramelized with a creme brûlée torch.

This guy got on the subway, and within 8 seconds was seated and playing Mozart on his amplified keyboard. The subway is great - you can go from any point in the city to any other one, for a fare-equivalent of 37 cents.

Our guide describes the joint, including the wonderful stained glass dome in the ceiling.

We did indeed get to go on a tour of the Teatro Colón opera house. Very grand, reminiscent of Paris.

Speaking of dogs, lots of high rise buildings so lots of hired dog-walkers. But even dog-walkers have to duck inside and go to the bathroom every now and then.

How much is that doggie in the window?

We tried to get tickets but it's sold out until June. 😜

Apparently this giant flower sculpture is open during the day, and the petals close up at night.

The main soccer stadium. I suppose it's legendary like Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field or something, except not as good.

Oopsie. (actually, in these parts, I believe it's "oopso".)

So, cruise over, we are now in Buenos Aires. We took one of those "hop on, hop off" buses around town, Buenos Aires is quite beautiful and one can see how the "Paris of South America" moniker came to be. Lots of parks, gardens, and monuments. Below, the Teatro Colon, surely the most famous opera house in South America. We hope to get a tour in the next day or two.

The captain and some of the officers personally say goodbye to every passenger, at the bottom of the gangway.

So, we are sailing out of Montevideo harbor, and we are now essentially on a river cruise, as both Montevideo and Buenos Aires are considered to be on the Rio de la Plata rather than the Atlantic. As it is our last night onboard, I am going into my usual deep depression.

The lunch was at Bouza Winery, one of the best in Uruguay, apparently.

Tango between the tables.

The table is set for our tour lunch. I'm guessing it's possible they might serve wine.

Montevideo, Uruguay is interesting if not legendary. Below, a view of the coast along the Rio de la Plata, a monument to something, and the Congress building.

So, we have been at sea for the better part of three days (thus the lack of daily destination updates). We will dock in Montevideo, Uruguay before dawn tomorrow, and we will spend the day touring. Pictures to come!

We are almost ⅔ of the way from South Georgia island to Montevideo, Uruguay. And we open the curtains this morning to a color we have largely not seen for two weeks - blue! The skies and the ocean have been almost exclusively shades of gray in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic - dark gray, light gray (black, white), and everything in between. The wind has lessened, the temperature has increased, so we get to sit outside again at the informal restaraunt at the stern of the ship, and enjoy shades of blue rather than gray!

On our way north from Antarctica.

We set sail away from the sub-Antarctic, northwest, toward Montevideo, Uruguay. We have, for the last ten days, been in approximately 0 degrees Celsius (low 30's, Fahrenheit). The forecast for Montevideo a few days from now, is 91 degrees F, about 33 C.

My first (and quite possibly last) "selfie". Just back in the room from today's adventure.

Our zodiac waits its turn to get us back on the ship. It can actually be a bit tricky, when there are 3-4 foot swells, which raise and lower the zodiac that much, while slamming into and away from the landing platform. Nothing that can't be handled, just a little interesting.

Unfortunately, the swells and surf and wind were too substantial to allow us to land today, which was a great disappointment, considering it was our last day in the sub-Antarctic region, and considering the magnitude of the wildlife: thousands of King penguins, fur seals, and everything else. Some pictures here, but from more than 50 yards away and without high-powered photographic equipment, it's less impressive than the experience. At least we were able to watch the batches of penguins dive in and out of the surf, and watch the fur seal pups play with each other just like a batch of puppies, and watch the older males occasionally challenging each other for their territory. Quite remarkable. We want to come back.

Local citizenry hanging out near two ships, one considerably more seaworthy than the other.

King penguins, hanging out near a whale bone.

"Don't mess with me, bub, if you know what's good for ya. I'm pretty ferocious".

Around town.

 

Shy guy & handsome guy.