Punta Arenas is a windy city and what an amazing whirlwind it's been! After spending a couple of anxious hours in the U.S. Antarctic Program office in Santiago, I was happy to catch a later connection to Punta Arenas and arrived here at about 5:30 yesterday evening. My bags were temporarily lost; I was relieved when I got a phone call last night at 11:15 from the concierge. “Miss Nell, your bags are here!” I ran down to the lobby, grabbed my bags and promptly fell asleep. Whew.
The view flying into Santiago
U.S. Antarctic Program Office in the Santiago Airport
Model of the Laurence M. Gould in the USAP Office
This morning Dr. Amsler and his wife Maggie took me to the warehouse at the dock where I tried on all my ECW gear. I caught a glimpse of the Laurence M. Gould (LMG), the ship I’ll be boarding later today. Tomorrow we’ll get under way! I also made a point to stop in the square and rub the toe of the Fuegen Indian at the base of the Magellan statue for good luck crossing the Drake Passage.
The yellow and orange ship on the left is the Laurence M. Gould
Dr. Amsler outside the warehouse holding the ECW Gear
Rubbing the lucky to at the Magellan statue In Punta Arenas
Next I’m off to board the LMG and things should slow down a bit. I can't wait to get underway!