Yes ! I left Punta Arenas, Chile, to reach Ushuaia, Argentina, via Cape Horn. In other words, far from everything – and cut off from the Internet. What a feeling of freedom! Faced with the elements whose power we can guess, I felt as tiny as dust. Everything seemed to be able to change very quickly. And that's what happened ! At sea, near the shore, a wave that was too strong carried the neighboring Zodiac off course, putting it on a rock. Impossible to get it out. The waves whipped the backs of the passengers and filled the canoe with water. They had to reach land on foot in freezing water, which was up to their buttocks. All in peace thanks to the expedition leader, Mauricio, who managed everything with a master hand. Luckily, the penguins were eagerly awaiting them – and, of course, another Zodiac. Nothing serious then, but only emotions!
No, it's the weather's fault. It was at 6 a.m., lifejacket on his back, that the dream was shattered when the commander announced:“Weather conditions prevent disembarkation. “Inevitably, with winds at 160 km / h, we could not hope to tread this island or meet the couple and their children who live there. Or see the Albatross Memorial up close, a tribute to sailors lost in nearby waters. Cape Horn, discovered in 1616, will therefore remain faithful to its legend, difficult to access. It is all the more legendary in this terrifying pale gray and under the gusts of wind. Never mind ! I remained on the bridge without taking my eyes off it, my lips full of salt and my hands firmly clinging to the railing (it was blowing!). I also chatted with the young Pipo, one of the cruise guides who, for a Brazilian, is really not afraid of the cold! He is one of the few foreigners on the crew, mostly Chilean.
Yes. Disembarking from the Zodiac in Ainsworth Bay, I saw up close a baby elephant seal basking in the sun and Chilean swallows fluttering like butterflies. There, in just five meters, the landscape changes from moorland to primary forest that the beavers are happy to devastate. The species, introduced in Tierra del Fuego in 1946, wreaks havoc and destroys the entire ecosystem. I also observed cormorants, the famous Magellanic penguins and a dolphin from afar. But Patagonia is worth especially for its grandiose landscapes, punctuated by its vertiginous cliffs and its glaciers with familiar names (Germany, France, Italy…) We will go and see one of them up close, the Pia (in photo), in l listening to "talk" or "roar" when pieces of ice break off from its walls. Impressive.
