Lobos del Marino~


A face only a mother could love?

Nah, I think he’s a looker!

Apparently the lobos girls agree!

Patagonian Sea Lions are larger than their northern counterparts, and genetically distinct.

The males can grow up to 8 feet in length and weigh up to 800 pounds.

They have the archetypical lionesque heads with manes of fur, which make them quite impressive.

They are a protected species as there are only an estimated 265,000 of them left in the wild.

Comments are restored and will hopefully work, and I so very much miss hearing from you!!
Cheers to you from El Fin del Mundo, Ushuaia Argentina, the southern most city in the world~

Inca Tern~


Meet the Inca Tern!

Even the females wear their mustaches with pride.

Inca Tern’s occupy the territories of Chile and Peru once occupied by the Incas, hence their name.

They are considered one of the world’s most unique bird species.

In the 1850’s there were millions of them.

Their population is now estimated at 150,000.

I had no idea there would be such limited access to wifi on this trip, but I have never taken an entirely ship based trip before. Maritime wifi is extremely slow and expensive preventing me from responding to comments or commenting on your posts. Shore visits are intensive with limited time.

I so miss your comments and talking with you. I miss the feeling of traveling together virtually.

We are heading further south now towards Torres de Paine, Tierra del Fuego, and Cape Horn.

Our adult children have joined us for the holidays.

In about two weeks, we will return to terra firma, and I so look forward to catching up with you!

Until then, the gorgeous Inca Terns and I wish you Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!

Blue footed Beauties~


Elvis must have been on to something!


You could almost step on these Blue Footed Boobies, they are so unfazed by your presence, but Elvis would haunt you if you did!


The bluer the feet of the Blue Footed Boobie males, the more attractive they are to the opposite sex.

Elvis was right!

Blue Footed Boobies are native to the subtropical and tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean.


They extend as far south as Peru.

50% of the world’s breeding colonies are in the Galapagos islands.

So it is cheers to you from the Blue Footed Babes~

(I feel so out of touch, and miss talking with you, but I am still ship based and thus internet limited. Sending you holiday greetings from Peru!)

Hidden Rainbows~


It’s hard to hide,

when you are naturally curious,

and colored like a rainbow.

The scarlet macaws seemed bemused by my presence and eventually got used to me.


“Who is this odd person?”

“She doesn’t move or speak.”

“Unusual for a human.”

“Maybe if we just ignore her, she’ll go away.”

Which, of course, after a long time, I did. Smart birds!

Cheers to you from Costa Rica’s flying rainbows~

Tonight we are approaching The Galapogos Islands. There will be no reliable internet until we reach Lima in about a week. Miss you & look forward to catching up with you then!

Gifts of Color~


From me to you!

Hope they brighten your day,

and bring you comfort.

We are sailing off now for a lengthy trip to the distant south.

Hope you will travel along, because you make traveling so much better!

I know you will understand when I am not able to access the internet. I do look forward to reading your blogs and comments, and chatting with you, when the maritime satellite deigns to cast her beam upon me.

Until then, sending you cheers & hopes for only the very best, throughout the holiday season~

Schloss Marksburg~


Marksburg Castle rises above the town of Braubach in Germany and is one of the principal sites of The Rhine Gorge UNESCO World Heritage area. Come on in, and let’s go snoop around….

Construction started on the schloss in 1100. The great hall dining area dates back to 1239.


Of the original forty castles in the Middle Rhine Valley, this is the only one that was never destroyed. It seems an impenetrable fortress.

It was, however, damaged by allied artillery in 1945, but not destroyed.

Touring gives one a sense of what life was like living (and eating) here in the middle ages.

The living areas are surprisingly cozy and welcoming for a castle,

and the old artifacts and furnishings are fascinating to see in situ, as they were used in everyday life.

Topping off your visit, there are amazing views of The Rhine Valley from the castle ramparts.
Cheers to you from Schloss Marksburg~