May 8, 2025
COSTA RICA - PUNTA ARENAS
Last time I was in Punta Arenas, I swore I would not come back, as it was the hottest freaking country I had ever been too! I sweated so much that a cyst formed on my scalp and ruptured. So I was not excited at all to return. But we had a mandatory day for every residents and crew member to get off the Ship from 9 to 4 pm, for preliminary USCG testing and inspection. I spent the day poolside at a nice quiet hotel in the Punta Arenas Marina area with my good friend Bosco.
In Port with us was a historic Coast Guard Schooner Ship, which was in South America for the first time in some 88 years. It was a gorgeous ship and they had a big dignitary party that evening where local performers did a show for both Ships.
I got to go Sailing Again! We were supposed to head to the COOK ISLANDS after the lovely Rangiroa and the Tuamotu Archipelago, but due to stormy weather there, with all unprotected tender ports, they made the decision to head us southwest, back to the protected port in Papeeta (Tahiti). We got lucky and Holly ( pictured below) found us a sailboat available for charter.
Since Janette Emerich is generous enough to share her drone photos with all of us on board the Ship, I have to share them with you all. This beauty is why I said we felt like we were in a screen saver the whole day in Rangiroa! I love the height perspective in the photos it really captures so much more. Blue Lagoon below:
The water in Rangiroa is so spectacular, I wanted to spend more time drift snorkeling and checking out the area called " The Aquarium ". So today I went back out for a 3 hour session to do 3 drift passes in Tiputa pass and then spent an hour in an area with wonderful healthy corals and tons of fish, earning it the nickname " The Aquarium ".