South America- The trail of life
Hi players,
South America, 14-day cruise on the NCL – Norwegian Star. Let the journey begin.
The ship’s captain said this phrase every day and it just stuck with me, “Please remember at all times, that you are on a moving platform, so watch your step”.
He may not know it, but he described our entire life.
We are all sailing together on a big ship called Life, which is always moving.
The same as on the cruise, we have sunny days, stormy days, and rough weather
Sometimes, it’s hard to stabilize our lives when the big waves shake us to our core.
We all experience sunrises and sunsets. Everything is part of the circle of life.
As a child, I was fascinated with Jules Verne’s books about sea adventures
so here is my chance to write my version of the “Captain’s Log”.
Captain’s Log Day 1– All aboard, our 14-day adventure in South America begins.
It is the longest cruise I have ever taken, and I fear the five days at sea will be boring.
We start our journey from the port of beautiful Buenos Aires.
After eating a few “empanadas,” I feel fully prepared to start the adventure.
The first day is a time of orientation.
It’s time to get to know the ship, the crew, and the different cruise options.
Unlike myself, I participated in a raffle to win a massage.
Unexpectedly, I won the first prize, a credit of 100$.
As it happened, the joy of winning was premature. When I tried to use it, I discovered that there were unwritten terms.
Life may provide surprising gifts, but be careful; sometimes, they come with terms.
It is our job to decide to what degree we accept them.
It is tempting to exploit the gifts we are given, but it is wise to make sure that we are not drawn to do something that does not serve us well, it might result in anger and frustration.
I usually try hard not to fall into the belief of “there are no free meals”, it’s often joy-killing, but to some gifts, the right answer is “No, thank you”.
I know it’s not simple to say “NO” to certain things, but it clarifies what you want and need.
Montevideo
Captain’s Log Day 2– Sunday Morning.
The weather is excellent.
The Atlantic Ocean is calm. I feel good.
After a great night’s sleep, we arrived early morning in Montevideo, Uruguay.
We had minimal time to spend in the city.
When we docked, the city was still asleep (actually, it never woke up😉).
Although we had booked a walking tour, we decided to cancel it at the last minute and just take a “hop on, hop off” bus and wander the streets by ourselves.
When you are the “captain” of your ship of life, be flexible.
If you have a plan and the circumstances are no longer relevant, change it.
Our time here is too limited to hold on to irrelevant plans.
We live in a dynamic and abundant world, and fortunately, we have many options; therefore, making decisions may be challenging.
It is tough when you feel the FOMO (fear of missing out).
I think the best remedy for FOMO is to do what is the best thing for “now”.
There will always be many other options. Don’t wasrt too much time time and energy on weighing and evaluating all the options, all the time'; it may steal valuable time from our precious present.
Stop rethinking,doubting yourself, Be decisive. You can never guarantee that you made the right choice.
Peninsula Valdes
Captain’s Log Day 3– First day at Sea. We are cruising south to our next port in Patagonia, Argentina.
A full day at sea is challenging, so It’s time to play with my anxiety about being “bored.”
I know it sounds a “rich man problem” but It’s a real thing.” I do therefore I exist” is who I am, so when I do nothing “who am I?” is a big question for me.
When I went on my first cruise, I was sure it was only for “old people.” ( I mean emotionally “old,” of course).
I thought, “What a boring experience.”
After doing this for few times, traveling to different locations, I can say with confidence that is one of the best ways to explore the world.
It’s like a tasting menu for the world. In a short period you can taste many “dishes” and decide where is your preferred destination for future, more thorough, in depth, travel.
It’s also a great vacation format.
The ship offers a variety of activities for every taste. It’s a combination of rest and adventure and you can choose the right mixture that is best for you.
If you have never done it, I highly recommend it, unless you suffer from seasickness, it may be challenging.
Back to my anxiety about “boredom,” in fact, I wasn’t bored for a second because I was doing something all the time…
Well, sometimes the doing was “exercising “my jaw at the buffet… I can report that my jaw is in perfect shape.
Anxiety is negative, but almost anything can be turned into something positive if you shift your mindset around the situation.
Instead of feeling anxious and stuck, I found ways to “do” things that make me happy.
The cure for anxiety is not about changing and forcing yourself to love it (whatever it is you are afraid of); it’s about finding new ways to handle it “your way.”
Falkland Islands
Captain’s Log Day 4-Beautiful day in Puerto Madryn, Argentina”.
Our pre-ordered tour guide, Karina, was already waiting at the port to take us to Peninsula Valdes (about two hours drive from the port) to watch the Magellanic penguins.
It was an amazing experience to watch the penguins, but the other amazing fact was Karina’s success in squeezing four big adults into a small car.
The road to the Peninsula was rough. The gravel roads in the peninsula left their unforgettable marks on our body, literally. Anyway, it was worth it.
A big part of the journey to the peninsula is still foggy, not due to a loss of memory but because of the wave of dust left by the cars we followed most of the time.
Watching the wave of dust, I realized that maybe the “pillar of fire” that led the people of Israel in the desert for forty years was God driving a fast Ferrari in the Desert.
When life is foggy and uncertain, don’t hesitate to ask for help and find an expert to follow until the road ahead becomes clearer.
Ushuia
Captain’s Log Day 5– Day at sea.
Our stateroom was in the back of the ship and had a balcony.
It allowed hours of sitting and watching the Atlantic Ocean.
The movement of the ship, together with the sounds of the waves, was almost like experiencing a deep meditation.
I watched as the ship left a big trail of water and air.
It made me think about the “rat race” of life.
I think we mostly focus our intentions on the future, planning what is the next thing, yet,
we seldom stop to look back and take inventory of the things we have done and celebrate the journey we made and trail behind us.
While watching the ship’s trail, I noticed a few birds flying directly above the water’s trail.
The birds hardly moved their wings; they were actually gliding on the air wave of the ship.
Once, someone explained to me that when you see birds that follow a ship, it’s because they use the trail of air to float effortlessly on it.
Have you ever thought what is the trail you left for others and who should you thank for the air trail that allowed you to soar?
We all leave a trail. let’s stop for a second, look back and tap on our shoulder.
I am sure , we all have a bag of good things . Let’s not take it for granted and acknowledge it properly.
Beagle Canal Glaciers
Captain’s Log Day 6– Falkland Islands.
I have been waiting for this day in particular.
We booked a tour to see the colony of the King Penguin (the penguin from the movie “Happy Feet”).
The colony lives in “volunteer point”.
The tour was with a local guide whose nickname was “Carrots.”
His teacher gave him the name when he was only ten years old because of his curly hair (not red).
Although many years had passed and his hair was all white, the name stuck with him.
The tour took us through the beautiful countryside of the Falklands.
There were no actual roads, the terrain was rough and there were no signs, “Carrots” navigated his land rover like a pro.
Getting to where you want is easy when you know where you are going.
From time to time we saw the trails of other vehicles, but “Carrots” was determined to choose his own path. He had a great confidence in himself and his driving skills.
Wherever you decide to go in life, make sure you have the right skills and the right vehicle.
The tour was worth the tough drive (two hours in each direction), and watching the colony of the King penguins was an outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I thought about “Carrots” ‘s name.
It is amazing how powerful a childhood memory can be. It can define us for good or bad. Be careful with your words, they might become someone’s destiny for life.
Captain’s Log Day 7– Beautiful weather.
The captain said we are very lucky because he is Greek and speaks the language of Poseidon. He’s a cool guy.
Today, we are passing Cape Horn. Cape horn is the point where the two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific meet.
When we arrived to the cape, all the passengers were on the deck with their cellphones, cameras and binoculars.
The crowd was extremely excited.
Frankly, there was nothing much to see, there were several small mountains and the ocean.
If you had a fantastic imagination, you could see a small wave at the exact point where the two oceans collide. (I didn’t even succeed in taking a good photo).
I wondered …If you don’t see it, is it real?
I figured that the most significant things in life cannot be seen but only felt.
The feeling can be stronger than any sight, and so can this experience.
It was not about what we had seen here but rather the feeling of being here and visualizing what the first people who reached this point must have felt.
Chilean Fiords
Captain’s Log Day 8 -We have reached the southernmost inhabited place on earth –Ushuaia.
It’s called the “end of the world”(Fin Del Mundo in Spanish ).
The bottom line is that the end of the world is beautiful.
We booked a one-hour flight to see the area. http://www.aeroclubushuaia.com/en/sightseeing-flight,51/.
It was a breathtaking experience.
Simpson Valley
We cruised the Beagle Canal and saw the Glaciers.
Unfortunately, the glaciers are slowly melting.
When a glacier melts it leaves a “U” shape that you can easily recognize.
I thought that no matter how big you are now; we all are just temporary passengers in this world, eventually we all melt.
What is the shape of the heritage you will leave behind? What is the heritage you want to leave? How do you want to be remembered?
While we still are here, there is always an opportunity to decide and start showing up in the world how we want to be remembered.
Captain’s Log Day 9– Sunday morning.
Our first port in Chile is Punta Arenas.
The first impression we got when we entered the city was a shock.
Last November, the prices of the subway were raised, creating a wave of protests around the country calling for change and improving the social conditions of the Mapuche (the native inhabitants of Chile). The streets of the city were painted with hatred graffiti, the windows of the buildings on the main street were covered with cork and aluminum plates for protection, and some of the buildings were even burnt down.
The signs of violence were everywhere, and we did not feel safe walking around.
We found one kiosk open and a kind and friendly gentleman helped us to find our way to the Andino ski center for an overview of the strait of Magellan.
We took the ski lift to the mountain and walked through the woods. It was an interesting walk since there was a bicycle race on the hill, and we had to share the path with the riders. When we finally arrived to the entrance, we discovered we had no way to go back to the ship. Once again, we got help from a kind lady who ordered a taxi to take us back to the port.
Our experience in Punta Arenas taught me that first impressions can mislead you; kindness can be found where we least expect it.
Poerto Montt
Captain’s Log Day 10 – Day at sea. Again….
We are sailing in the Pacific Ocean heading to the Chilean Fiords. The weather is terrible.
The waves are high, and the ship is rocky.
I went to a “cardio dance” class in the morning to pass the time and get rid of the extra calories (no rest for the hungry cruise traveler)
This was when I realized that everyone has a unique “dance”.
Let me explain what I mean when I say “Dance.”
I believe that each person has an inner music, a specific rhythm that controls our being.
The “dance” is in our talk, our walk. It’s the rhythm of every cell in our body. When the “outside” dance is aligned with our inner “dance”, we are in sync and harmony, we are happy.
The best time to discover your “dance” is on vacation.
You are not forced to dance to another type of “dance”; you can “dance” to your tune.
Do you know the feeling when you listen to music and are drawn to get up and dance?
This is when you come alive.
You are in the Flow. This is the sign that it’s your “dance”.
To be happy, we must find the proper dance for us,
but it is important to remember that different people have different dance and rhythm and we should respect it so our relationships can thrive.
Captain’s Log Day 11-Day at sea. Another lazy morning.
The weather is still bad; it’s cold on deck, and the plans to enjoy a nice day in the pool are canceled.
At least, we are cruising through the Chilean fiords, and the view of the glaciers is beautiful.
The most urgent decision of the day is “to eat or to not eat.”
We decide to eat. Life is challenging…
Futillar
Captain’s Log Day 12- After two days at sea, thank god, I can finally see a land (and have an internet connection).
We are in Puerto Chacabuco , Chile.
We had not booked a tour in advance, but we knew what we wanted to see in the area.
The minute we arrive at the port, there is an army of tour providers waiting.
After a short discussion, we book a 4-hour tour.
As it happened, one important question was not asked, “does the driver speak English?”.
Well, Miguel, our driver, didn’t, and we don’t speak a word in Spanish.
Nevertheless, it was one of the best tours we had.
The views of Simpson Valley, the waterfalls, and the surrounding mountains were amazing.
Miguel was great. He took us to beautiful places, “explaining” what we see.
Verbal Language can help but good will and courtesy are more important and can break any barriers.
Santiago
Captain’s Log Day 13 - The journey is almost over.
Our last port of call –Puerto Montt, Chile.
Claudio, our tour guide was already waiting for us in the port.
It was my second time in Puerto Montt, so things looked familiar.
We visited a local market, and then drove to Lago (lake) llanquihue that overlooks the Osorno volcano.
We then drove to Frutillar, a German-style city representing its historic inception. It was a pleasant tour that left a taste for more …
(especially for the German fruit cake “Kuchel” and the mouthwatering blackberries sold on the beach).
The simple pleasures of life.
Osorno Volcano is famous for its exceptional symmetrical shape. It’s an active volcano.
I thought of the people in my life, myself included, who look so “calm” from the outside, but you know there is an active lava boiling inside that can erupt at any time.
We all need to erupt from time to time, eruption is not bad, it’s passion, it’s the force of life, it fertilizes the soil.
Day 14– Valentine’s Day at sea. What a perfect ending to a perfect cruise is to wake up next to my own loving Valentine.
The ship was dressed for love, with roses for sale and heart-shaped cakes served at the buffet. It was a relaxing, happy day.
Day 15– Time to say goodbye. Disembarking in San- Antonio and driving two hours to spend few days in the capital of Chile, Santiago.
The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who is famous for his love poems, wrote these words that are a great finale to this Valentine’s Day cruise:
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.”
South America, you treated me with Love.
Playfully yours.
Rina:😃
