is what my friend AP asked me one day while we were at a basketball game. he was a frequent guest with Princess Cruises and received a 2-for-1 coupon for a South American cruise. he said that he’d pay for the cruise for myself and our friend ST, and we just had to pay for the airfare and excursions.

having never been to South America or on a cruise before I jumped at the chance. ST and i used to work together, but she had moved to Maryland the year before the cruise, so getting to vacation with her for 10 days was a bonus.

the trip started in Montevideo, Uruguay and ended in Santiago, Chile. we cruised along side Argentina, around Cape Horn then back up the other side. we stopped off in Port Stanley – The Falkland Islands, Ushuaia – the end of the world, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas. those aren’t in order of visit, just in order of how i remembered them. there may have been other spots too, but those few stand out.

the cruise was fun, although i was probably one of five people under the age of 30. needless to say the bar at the “disco” was always empty. i don’t think i’m what you call a cruise person, as the multiple days at sea wore on my nerves. i did become quite the Scrabble player though. it was pretty terrific having everything you could possibly want in walking distance as well……the gym, food, spa, movies, a casino, a library, a swimming pool. we made this trip in December though, so it wasn’t really swim weather. i didn’t need a parka, but shorts and t-shirts were not part of the wardrobe.

i’m trying to recall what stood out on that trip, and there are a couple of things….i was trying to buy a sweater for my Mom in a local shop, and they were having issues with the cash register and i almost missed my tour bus. the people on the bus were not pleased with my lack of respect for time and i immediately had 10 new sets of grandparents watching out for me the rest of the day. penguins in Punta Arenas – the first of many trips that involve penguins, a life size chess board and calling my Mom from a pay phone at “the end of the world”. oh, and at the very beginning of the trip we had a half day tour of Montevideo and at a museum one of the guides asked me if i’d like a job there. huh, wonder what would have happened if i had said, “yes, i’ll see you after the cruise”.

i’m really thankful that AP gave us that vacation opportunity, as that was the last trip i took with ST before she passed away. how do the sayings go, seize the day, seize the moment, don’t let opportunities pass you by…..however they go, you get the point.

photo courtesy of Tours in Putna Arenas – www.turismopaliaike.com/puntaarenas-eng.htm