After shrugging off the overwhelming sense of ickiness leftover by our visit to the Ushuaia pen, we boarded a nifty catamaran and sailed off to cruise the Beagle Channel. We were lucky again with the weather; bright and warm which brought out all the various and sundry animals looking for a nice bask in the sun.
Penguins were dipping and diving around nice fat albatrosses as we headed for a tiny island covered with what looked like shiny fur coats in big luxurious piles. Sea lions too numerous to count. Mommies, babies and a couple Big Daddies lording over the whole scene, raising up to grunt loudly every now again. It's pretty obvious who rules the roost and we're told that the male sea lions are the original alpha males and have harems and kill the male babies to get rid of the future competition. They take their social standing pretty seriously. A little farther down the channel, we pull up to an island literally covered and roiling with black and white birds. More than just a little Hitchcockian,we have visions of Tippi Hedron stumbling around bolting over the rocks with at least seven of these big boys stuck in her beehive. At first glance the strange birds look exactly like penguins, but they're not. Cormorants. With large black chicks that follow the parents around. All day. They have a slightly bored, yet desperate look on their little bird faces. Probably saying, "But MOM!! I'm starving!!!"
To end our little journey, the boat pulls up to a lovely little red and white brick lighthouse set against postcard scenery. You can't help but take 12,000 pictures.
Back on the ship, we join the rest of the Seabourners for a Caviar Sail Away party on the top deck. The sun is out, the atmosphere is festive and it is definitely a happy moment as we load up with caviar, grab a flute of champagne and pull away from the Ushuaia dock. Another fun day against the gorgeous, rugged scenery of South America.
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