QE2 @ sea
11 February 2008 | QE2
charlotte tracy
There isn't much going on as we have been at sea for 2 days now on our way to Easter Island. We spent a day in Valparaiso, Chile and had a great visit to a winery. Their reserve wines were $5 a bottle so we bought a few to enjoy during our trip. I suspect we won't find any Chilean wines at home for that price so we will enjoy the bounty while we can. We have some friends who come from this area and others who are renting an apartment for a couple of months this winter. It is easy to see why. The city is built on the edge of the ocean and is only 2 hours from Santiago, the capitol of Chile.
We are now praying extra hard that the weather will cooperate at Easter Island, the destination that many people, including me, have said was one of their main reasons for coming on this cruise. As with our two disappointments, this is a tender landing and a very tricky one. The Captain told us at tea that there is someone on the shore who watches the ocean swells as the tender approaches and determines at what point we should catch the wave to reach the pier. It sounds like an experience and not one that we will have if the swells are to great. So far we have had very calm seas so I hope it stays that way. We are also going to approach Pitcairn Island of Mutiny on the Bounty fame where, weather permitting the locals will paddle out to the ship, come aboard and entice us to buy their souvenirs, and interact with us while we circumnavigate the island.
Tonight we have been invited to have cocktails with the Captain, probably because having survived 20 days of cruising we have attained gold status. We also get 2 free hours apiece of internet which is the greater benefit.
It is a beautiful sunny day and life is good. We hope all of you are well and not too cold.