Off to the end of the earth

This morning, we had an early start to pack and get breakfast. Transfer to airport was quick as the city cleaned up after the celebration, we drove right down the main drag past the main plaza where a huge party had been held. Apparently, 30 tonnes of pyro technics had been deployed in twenty five minutes (this according to Juan) and obviously, lots of people in attendance. Still some younger people stumbling around at 08:00 h. The rest of the transfer to the airport and check in proceded according to plan until about a half hour after our flight departed, I was awakend by the sharp U turn and seeing the Andes on the wrong side of the plane had me disoriented. There was a young lady fluent in Castellano and Ingles who informed me that we had turned back. Her sister was terrified to tears. We returned to Santiago and ultimately the problem was diagnosed as having to do with the door. Repairs made, we were off again, about 1,5 hours behind schedule. The rest of the flight was uneventful, and our transfer to Punta Arenas and the Australis office was no problem. We didn’t have as much time to kill, so we had a quick look around the town square (market was partially open) and then went to the Cabo Del Hornos Hotel with our drink tickets. I updated the blog in the lounge WiFi, this would be our last internet access for 5 days. Next stop, the pier where we went to board the Stella Australis. Once on board, we found our room, right across the hall from the Captain’s quarters and adjacent to the bridge. Huge picture window on the port side. The welcome consisted of an entertaining Chilean song and dance troupe and cocktail reception in the Darwin Lounge (level 5), followed by dinner in the Patagonia Room on level one.