Punta Arenas, Chile -- MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014!

-due to weather, there will be no Magellan penguins today!
-a lovely day at the cemetery
-Drinking café with the locals

We sailed through the Straits of Magellan during the night and arrived this morning at our last Chilean port of Punta Arenas. The winds were howling and the sea was extra choppy. After getting ourselves ready for a speedboat ride to Magdalena Bay to view the Los Pinguinos Natural Monument where over 120,000 penguins live (I assume Magellan Penguins) we were informed that the local operator was cancelling due to 50mph winds. Ever since our Alaskan adventure, we've learned that it takes a lot to have tour operators cancel so when they do, you know they have your safety in mind and you should just go with the flow.
Not to be deterred, we decided to brave a much shorter ride on a tender in order to go into the city of Punta Arenas. We were struck by how cosmopolitan the little town seemed. Clean streets casually patrolled by policemen riding beautiful horses, modern stores and chic little coffee shops. Someone mentioned the city cemetery and said it was worth the short walk over to take a look so we decided to give it a go. 
Well manicured cypress trees laced the pathways between the tombs and mausoleum giving the large public cemetery a European garden-type atmosphere. Exactly what you would expect in Paris or London outside a museum.
We entered through a side gate and we were immediately struck by the size of the place as well as the diversity of the nationalities entombed. It was touching to see the care of the plots. Loved one placed items that were seemingly important to the deceased, including photos of family, flowers, toys, little signs and ornaments. Each plot was interesting and well maintained.
Since rain threatened our stroll through the ornately decorated pathways we decided to head back toward the ship.
On the way we stopped at a wonderful little bakery and coffee shop (Kruh y Kave) for coffee and enjoyed the company of a Chilean resident who gave Michael the opportunity to dust off his Spanish. It was an excellent way to end our stay at this enchanting little town and the conversation was fun and casual as several locals came in and chatted with the shop owner and Michael.
When we were back on the ship we were invited to dine with one of the Expedition Team Leaders, Matt Dolan. We generally turn those things down but decided it might be a fun way to spend the evening since he was part of the Expedition Team.
Matt was truly delightful and interesting. He once kayaked for 65 days and 1,300 miles through the Inside Passage in Alaska. His enthusiasm for nature  made him a wonderful host. Also another pleasant surprise was another guest, Edith. A charming and upbeat French woman, born in the French Alps and currently living in Palm Beach, Florida. She has a "joie de vivre" that leans into good caviar and French champagne before dinner. Both Michael and I enjoyed her company immensely and hope we have made a lasting friend of her. Tomorrow we will all be on the Beagle Channel excursion together. It should be fun!