February 20, 2025

PENINSULA VALDES, ARGENTINA

On 2/9/25, SUPERBOWL SUNDAY ,  I spent the day exploring the Peninsula Valdes, a naturally protected area about an hour north of Puerto Madryn,  with the Tremblay brothers, Paul & Ron  - 2 of my favorite neighbors. They had rented a car for the day and invited me to join them exploring the area. We left early in the hope of catching lots of wildlife. We first saw pink flamingoes, then wild sheep and seals, penguins, a hairy armadillo, a cormorant crossing the road and finally wild ponies.

The Peninsula is a UNESCO Natural Preserve and host the town of Puerto Piramides, where we had a nice lunch sea side. The rest of the park is vast and wide open, where we barely saw other cars on the stone roads. One hillside boasted a small church and some of the scenic overlooks had colorful fauna.

RANGIROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA - Drone Shots

By Patricia Patrick • January 14, 2026
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:

RANGIROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA - More Drift Snorkeling

By Patricia Patrick • January 13, 2026
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 ".

RANGIROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA

By Patricia Patrick • January 13, 2026
Today felt like we were inside a Computer Screen Saver! You know how everybody has one of those amazing beach shots on their home screens ? I am guessing we were in the place where most of them are filmed! Rangiroa is the 2nd largest atoll in the world, and its lagoon feels like its own ocean, it's huge! It is famous worldwide for "drift" diving and snorkeling, due to its fast moving current, crystal clear water and excellent visibility. We joined a group of 44 Residents in an all day adventure.