We took the ferry to Tierra de Fuego – the 2-hour crossing from Punta Arenas to Porvenir.We drove along west shore of Tierra del Fuego and return to mainland by ferry at the narrow northern crossing.Ferry we road to navigate the Strait of Magellan to Tierra de FuegoThe crossing was a bit windy and moist. We saw some black and white porpoises.And these were our fellow passengers. There are many large acreage Estancias of sheep in this part of the world.Watch for what? These don’t look like sheep…Our first Guanaco on the Strait of Magellan in Tierra del Fuego. This is the real world!Or maybe this is the End of the World. The Aonikenk were the nomadic peoples that lived in Patagonia. Back on the mainland we have one more stop to make……Wait. More than one stop! A herd of Guanacos! A bit shy of us. So interesting – and graceful.Guanacos on the steppes of Patagonia.Maybe this Guanaco will be my new screen saver!At Pali Aike National Park, we also saw these rheas, locally known as NandusPali Aike National Park preserves ancient volcanic landscape.This cave was discovered in the early 1930s by Junius Bouton Bird, an American archeologist, who excavated and found human presence dating back 11,000 years.We were the first visitors of the day to the park at 4 PM! Maybe that is why we saw so much wildlife.These Guanacos, at Mirador Nau, were a bit territorial. They chased each other and screamed Nau Nau Nau – guess that is how they got their local name.
Direct 10 hour flight from North America to South America : Dallas to Santiago. A tad easier than sailing for months or years!The southern most town on the American mainland: Punta Arenas a great destination.The Mirador De La Cruz overlooking the town and the straits. Great place to view across to Tierra del Fuego.We drove to the End of the World and saw this monument to the British Hydrographical Expedition 1826-30We stopped for coffee and cookies. We watched dolphins play in the water!!!We also saw these caiquen, or “goose of magellan”. This particular species is a bit endangered.Route 9 ends at Punta Arbol. We hike the shore even further south.Gorgeous day! Wow!Farro San Isidro is the farthest south lighthouse on mainland America. Latitude 53° 47′ 7″ South. Maybe this is the Punta Arbol… Definitely my new screen saver!
Here we are!500 years ago Ferdinand Magellan was first European to “discover” it, and the Spanish King named it for the explorer.Noa Victoria was his ship – a replica is here, near Punta Arenas, that we can tour.This is a map of Magellan’s expedition that was the first documented to circumnavigate the world.Prince Henry, the navigator, started the age of exploration.The navigator on the Noa VictoriaWhat other famous explores have come this way? Captain James T Cook passed this way on two of his three circumnavigation voyages in the later 1700’s.Charles Darwin sailed in the HMS Beagle through this channel, and wrote a world changing book about evolution of plants and animals from his observations.Then there was Sir Ernest Shackleton who sailed the Endurance through this strait in the process of successfully saving his men stranded on Antarctica’s Elephant Island.Very important locally, is the Golet Ancud and crew who claimed these waters on May 23, 1843 for Chile.Who else will explore these waters?
We made a stop on route 66 to celebrate a 66th birthday…Beautiful day to drive to ArizonaWe did it for the Fries! The Zinburger in Tucson where we previously celebrated my 60th birthday.We have Mom with us to share some of our sites, like hanging out at the Loews Ventana Canyon, very close to the condo we rented.In Sabino Canyon, we showed her the Smokey Bear sign we renovated 6-years ago.Mom really enjoyed her walks and the scenery here in Sabino Canyon.The picnic area near Bear Creek on a beautiful day.Enjoying bear creek in Sabino canyon as it spills over the road.Seeing some of the wildlife too with this friendly roadrunner.Sabino Canyon – we took the electric tram to the end of the road. We planted the barrel cactus here on Jan 18, 2018 from another location.We also went to U of A campus to see some wildcats. Went to Tree Ring lab and AZ State museum.We saw these futuristic wildcat robots delivering food.We met up with my aunt and uncle at the Biltmore in Phoenix for a great lunch.And a celebration! Mom will have another fun week with her brother.
Happy to be Traveling!Family meet up for a morning at the airfield.Fun day trips.Enjoying some iconic architecture.Walks in the woodsMother and Daughter time.The beautiful house across the river.That was some fun basketball in the drive.Roasting yummy hotdogsS’more good times.Autumn Joy.Walks and Talks in the Mall.Ping Pong Ace…Wicked back hand…Carefully analyzing the techniques.Very happy times!
We were lucky to be close to the path of the annual eclipse 2023. After a night at Goosenecks State Park, we found a great dispersed site near Swinging Bridge in a section of Bears Ears National Monument.A couple of our friends joined us to hike some of our favorite spots.Part of a series of towers that could signal to Chaco Canyon.The Wolfman Petroglyph Panel is site to behold. Wow! Bears Ears NMBack at our camp, we have moved the van to give us some shade.We are ready for the eclipse to begin on this beautiful clear morning.Using our special glasses we got this photo as the moon is starting to eclipse the sun.We were not quite expecting the noticeable drop in temperature as the sun was covered.The Ring of Fire! Awesome! We were excited to capture this photo with our camera! We also experienced this annual eclipse in Canyonlands in 2012.We continued our adventure the next day at Hovenweep NM as most had cleared out so we snagged our favorite site #4 as well as the adjacent one.Fun to be amongst these structures from the past and contemplate the culture that built them. Hovenweep NMWhat are the odds of seeing people you know from Denver on the trail? Many Coloradoans in Utah for the eclipse!The Sleeping Ute at sunset from our campsite. We are ready for an awesome night of stargazing at Hovenweep NM. Our pics from last fall
We are finishing our trip with 4 nights in Oslo without the car. The Opera House lit up at night shows off it’s structure.We are staying in an apartment in one of the new BarCode buildings. The city commissioned 12 architects to design 12 buildings that are all thin with space between so together resemble a barcode. A vibrant area with courtyards, balconies, restaurants, retail, offices, and apartments.From the nearby Munch Museum we got this view of the Opera House in the late afternoon. We enjoyed the wood cut exhibit of Edvard Munch’s and seeing that version of “The Scream”. We saw the famous oil version at the National Museum.It is very tactile to walk the roof of the Opera House! A fun experience. We did not kayak to it but enjoyed all the harbor activity.Please Wait For The Saunamaster….a title we never knew existed. Such great weather: people are using the sauna and then swimming in the fjord to cool off.From the castle on the hill you can see the entire harbor which we will explore. Watch out for the gulls! They are opportunists looking for your tasty treats.We stormed the gates of the Akershus Fortress, nicely protecting the harbor for many centuries.The great hall inside has a gorgeous ceiling and stained glass.This is designed by Emanual Vigeland who also did the stained glass in the cathedral. We saw a contemporary exhibit of a white unicorn in a blue room that seemed to be a play off of this classic piece.We walked to Astrup Fearnley Modern Art Museum, designed by Renzo Piano in 2012.I had never seen braided trees before! Interesting live sculpture.We took the ferry to Bygdoy, a peninsula across the harbor.To visit the Fram Ship Museum and also saw Roald Amundsen’s Gjoa, in which he used to complete the 1st transect of the Northwest Passage .Next we went to the Maritime Museum and saw a Viking Ship from the Gokstad discovery built around AD-890. This is possibly the one being recreated in Sandefjord as it was found near there.Bygdoy was a perfect Lunch Spot! What a great warm sunny dry day to enjoy Oslo Fjord.Near the Royal Palace we were excited to see Norway’s King and Queen – in a 1960’s Lincoln Continental. King Harald V, who has reigned since 17 January 1991 with Queen Sonja – and Crown Prince Haakon was in a car in front of them.A lovely day to enjoy the Vigeland Sculpture Park. The quantity of the sculptures adds to the quality of the bronze and marble. As well as the entertaining real people watching.Gustav Vigeland not only was the artist but also designed the park as well. Additionally he designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal.He studied in Paris and was influenced by Rodin. His knowledge of anatomy and the interest in all ages of human body is extraordinary.The nearby Vigeland Museum has the plaster works and studies done to create the bronze and marble sculptures.Really fun to experience both.Love the details.The sun has sets on our time in Norway as we enjoy the harbor lights. A great trip!
After a ferry crossing of the Fjord, we spent a couple nights near Moss, which is only an hour or so south of Oslo but a world away.Fredrikstad is a wonderfully preserved medieval town. It is protected by sea and by a moat – luckily the draw bridge is down!There are several gates to the old town of FredrikstadWe enjoyed coffee and pastries while wandering the old town. This sign reminded us of Pipo’s love of traveling!We followed the Oldtidsveien, Highway of the Ancients. Pre Roman Iron Age Circles of standing stones.Nine concentric circles – quite an achievement to contemplate how these were put in place. There are burial mounds near by and these were perhaps part of the ritual.There are many petroglyph sites also on the Oldtidsveien. Ships of the Sun: the legend is believed to be the twin warriors helping their sister the Sun, move her around the world through the darkness and through the day.This rock has 22 amazing carved ships. It is thought that the sea would have been closer to this panel, and that sunset could have been seen from here as a ritual to honor the sun, so that it will return. Or perhaps it is about ….
