We are 1/4 of the way through this trip! Today was spent catching up. We had a lot of laundry to do. Then we had a lot of photos to sort through and catching up on the blog. Plus by today the intestinal thing had caught up with both Clay and Margie. So, we laid pretty low for most of the day. There was an outdoor BBQ on the Pool Deck though, Fish al Fresco. Clay and Margie went to Terry Breen's morning talk and heard that Mariner had bought a 400-pound tuna yesterday and they were going to try to get it up on the Pool Deck today for this event. Well, say no more, we are there! There were a couple or really big fish in a very small boat serving as decoration behind the grill. Debbie and Margie were not interested in the fish and so went inside to eat at LaVeranda and Clay got some fish and took his plate inside to eat with them. Clay also had a new local beer onboard. Cristal. He liked it. As part of the catching up, Margie got caught up in printing Machu Picchu photos to make postcards and writing and addressing them and forgot about needlepoint. She was missed. Also, the whole day was off because of the lost hour of sleep!
Tonight was Formal night. We had an invitation to dine with Scott Kinney, the Travel Concierge Manager. We were seated with 2 other couples from our hallway who are on for the entire Circle and a single woman named Montserrat and a young man named Alejandro from the Tour Desk. (Hi Babs and Jim!) It was a fun evening and a good end to the day. Ludovich, who arranged this dinner, will be pleased to know that the Travel Concierge Desk got an earful of feedback this evening. Margie wanted to go to the show, Beverly Davison, and had to go alone. Margie met some of the new arrivals and the show was very good. Wonderful music and great humor. We learned from Scott that we would lose another hour tonight and Debbie and Clay threw in the towel after dinner. Tonight is very clear for the first time in a while and there were things to see in the night time from the balcony. There was almost a full moon and it was very bright reflecting off the water. There were a few clouds and stars visible. Debbie has put in a request at the Reception Desk for an Astronomy night onboard to show us the Southern sky at night. The man at the Desk seemed surprised by the request and did not write it down until Debbie explained about the Southern Cross and that the constellations were different below the Equator and people might not know about it and be interested. He finally said it was a good idea and he would pass along hersuggestion. Fingers crossed. Margie has never been below the Equator on a ship before and so far RSSC and Mariner have done nothing traditional to mark the event. No crossing ceremony, no Southern Cross talks/shows. We're sure Margie is not the only first timer aboard who may be disappointed or missing something they don't even realize. Anyway, tomorrow is another port day! Antofagasta and our 2nd Complimentary Event for the ship. Below are the website descriptions.
Highlights of Antofagasta
Duration: 3 Hours.
Seated.
$45
Experience the historic beauty of Northern Chile during this orientation tour of Antofagasta.
Depart the pier for an orientation tour of Antofagasta, the capital of Region II, and an important shipping port for copper produced in Chuquicamata, the world's largest active copper mine. The skyline of this city of 297,000 residents is highlighted by ancient architecture and modern buildings perched on a plane formed by the slopes of hills reaching down to the sea.
Along the way, a visit will be made at the Main Square, or Plaza Colon, where you will find interesting monuments donated by communities of foreign immigrants. Sites of note at the Main Square include the Bandstand and Clock Tower, which were built with large ceramic blocks imported from England. You will also see the beautiful vitreaux inside the Cathedral, along with the recently-built Municipal Theater. From here, you will proceed to the Market Square, or Plaza del Mercado, where you will see tall palm trees, a monument donated by the local German community and a handicrafts market with high plateau textiles.
Next, you will continue on to the historical quarter, where you will view sites that include the saltpeter dock, buildings of the ex-Coast Guard and ex-Port Authority, home of the Regional Museum, and the former Railway Station, crafted entirely of wood. You will also see the fishing terminal full of vessels, and a local market. Heading south on Argentian Avenue you will find the Huanchaca Ruins, one of Antofagasta's most interesting buildings, and a national monument. This silver refinery, erected in 1888, is a huge structure with several round furnaces built with bricks imported from England. From here, you will take a drive along the coast to the opposite side of the city. En route, you will pass lovely beaches on the way to La Portada, a symbol of the entire Region II. On an island located just a short distance from the shore, you will see the erosion-carved, arch-like rock formation after which the area was named.
Following your tour, you will return to the pier and ship.
Chilean Explosion in Culture
Duration: 1 Hour.
Special Event.
Code: ATF-0003
This special event is included for all guests with the compliments of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Watch Chile's Andean history and traditions unfold during this lively dancing and musical performance onboard the ship.
You will proceed to the ship's Constellation Theater for a grand demonstration of folkloric dancing and music from Southern, Central and Northern Chile, where Antofagasta is located. Upon arrival, you will see Antofagasta's shared Andean traditions with Bolivia and Peru unfold during the Devil's Dance, or Diablada, in which a cavalcade of musicians and dancers dressed like angels and devils wage a battle between good and evil.
This region is also famous for its nitrate, or white gold, mined during the 19th and early-20th centuries. At the time, mining companies built small towns, or oficinas salitreras, in the northern desert pampas located near the mines. The wealth emanating from this area created an entire culture of miners during a period when The Charleston was the popular dance of the day. As an added bonus, you will have an opportunity to watch the performers recount this golden era through their colorful costumes, music and dance.
