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| Port of Call - Sailing through the Patagonian Fjords
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| Floating past stunning glaciers during our week
in the Patagonian fjords |
A week spent sailing through the Patagonian fjords
has likely been the most relaxing and scenic period of Peace Boat's
two months at sea. The morning after leaving the world's southernmost
city of Ushuaia and passing through the Beagle Canal, we awoke at
6am to the spectacular sight of 'Glacier Italy', soon followed by
the majestic 'Glacier Romance'. Ice blue glaciers reached down to
brush the sea. Summertime snow-capped volcanic peaks covered in dense
virgin forest and rugged coastal rock formations glimmered in the
sunshine. Crystal clear waterfalls layering down one over another.
Fully formed, twin rainbows arching over the bow of the ship. Fresh
mountain air fused with sea salt. Serene aqua all around. The sense
of being surrounded by nature's finest, most pristine offerings put
a smile on everyone's face and seemed to create an atmosphere of meditative
calmness and awe. It's not everyday after all, that you have the luxury
of eating lunch while watching a pod of dolphins playing nearby a
glacial mountain. |
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| Forming the words 'H-I-V' and making a video
support message from Patagonia for South Africa's HIV/AIDS Treatment
Action Campaign February 15 rally |
On the third day of sailing the fjords, we anchored
from morning to afternoon at 'Glacier Seno Airl' where a dense collection
of floating icebergs surrounded the ship. Some of Peace Boat's crew
lowered the tender boats and explored the ice islands from up close,
returning with more than a few large shards of authentic iceberg-ice
for drinking 'on the rocks'. Despite the chill in the air and the
intermittent rain, a large group of Team SPACE and Global University
students braved the sub-Antarctic conditions in t-shirts to shoot
a video support message for South African HIV/AIDS activist NGO 'Treatment
Action Campaign' (TAC). Dressed in TAC campaign clothing and badges,
the group formed the letters 'H-I-V' and performed several songs of
encouragement to convey their support for TAC's national day of action
on February 15. The video was posted to Cape Town from Puerto Montt
in time for TAC's rally, timed to coincide with the South African
Parliament's first sitting day of 2003. Treatment Action Campaign.
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| Audrey Howatson, Melissa Ramirez and Mariko Kato 'instinct dancing' on front viewing deck |
By afternoon, the weather had improved in time
for Peace Boat's 'Glacier Festival'. While some participants were
rugged up in alpine gear and clutching cups of steaming soup and hot
rice wine, a band of ice warriors bared their bodies to the elements,
save for a handkerchief-sized cover down below! The team of eight
young men have been making random rowdy appearances for some weeks
whenever there is a crowd of people. On this occasion, the boys bathed
in the ice-cold water inflatable pool and acted out a bath scene,
then retreated to the outdoor hot bath, as onlookers shrieked and
cheered at their bravery and craziness. Several other comical events
followed, and the warm beverages continued to flow as participants
enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. At the front of the ship, the
Captain opened up the large viewing deck so participants could savour
the seascape. A dozen or so young people grabbed their own headphones
and music and boogied away with the wind in their hair - 'instinct
dancing' while encircled by some of the world's most picturesque scenery.
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| Arriving in Castro, Chilo・by tender boat, Peace
Boat is anchored in the background |
On February 5 we passed through the 'English Narrow',
a body of water so narrow and shallow that ships can only pass once
or twice a day depending on the tide. The ship then headed up through
Chile's eleventh region called 'Aisen' and towards 'Isla Grande de
Chilo・, which is a forested island of undulating hills and part of
the tenth region of 'Los Lagos'. On February 7 we anchored in the
estuary belonging to the quaint town of Castro, the capital of Chilo・
Although not on the original itinerary, the decision to include an
extra port of call delighted all the passengers who had been looking
longingly at land for several consecutive days. Participants hopped
into the ship's tender boats and cruised ashore to the town, most
of which sits on a bluff above the water. |
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| Colourful interior of Castro's Iglesia San Francisco
Cathedral |
It was not long before local people in Castro all
seemed to know that approximately 500 people had disembarked from
the 'El Barco de Paz'. Participants wandered about the 'Feria Artesanal'
or waterfront market where an array of handicrafts including alpaca
woollen ponchos and sweaters, bundles of dried seaweed and 'nalca'
were for sale. Inexpensive seafood, including the traditional specialty
of 'curanto', which is a hearty stew of fish, shellfish, chicken,
pork, lamb, beef and potato were avidly tasted at the markets and
in local kiosks. Nearly everyone from Peace Boat hiked up to the town's
central square, the 'Plaza de Armas' to visit Castro's most prominent
landmark, the 'Iglesia San Francisco'. This brightly painted, wooden
structure of Catholic architecture dates back to 1906, and offered
an impressive insight into Chilean religious and cultural history
for Peace Boat participants, many of whom are not familiar with Christianity.
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| Peace Boat's
40th Voyage index |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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