FUN-travel: Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, South Africa – Silversea Cruise – Day 16 – Tristan Da Cunha
March 19, 2013 by Susan Clarke
The ABC’s of Islands
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 47 – Sunday, March 17 – Tristan Da Cunha – thick clouds turn to sunshine – high 63
Yellow-nosed Albatross
- B – 6:30 – wake up over PA
- B – 6:45 – announces seas too rough to land, so no going ashore
- 7:30 – ship moves to leeward side of the island
- 8:00 – local zodiac boat drops off 2 residents going to the UK for a holiday – they paid with 2 sacks of potatoes and fresh lobsters
- 9:00 – ship makes 2nd pass by the settlement Edinburgh of the 7 Seas heading to Nightingale
- A – 9:30 to 10:00 – 16 laps = 2 miles on deck 6 for cabin fever – wind & rough seas add a whole new dimension to walking
- 11:30 – arrive Nightingale – cruise around the island for bird watching – 2 other smaller islands quite close – can see Inaccessible Island in the distance
- 12:30 – typical lunch
- 2:30 – room R & R
- 5:00 – School: Earthquakes & Tsunamis – where they are expected & why
Edinburgh of the 7 Seas
- 6:45 – Recap & briefing incudes…
- C – special guest stars – Sean & Marina whom we picked up from Tristan De Cunha
- 7:30 – happy hour w/Alfredo
- C – 8:30 – dinner – surf & turf – fresh lobster & mashed potatoes w/truffle oil brought on board w/Argentinean tenderloin – VG!
- 10:00 – single malt whisky tasting – Chris goes for it, I stick w/my wine
Nightingale Island
FF – (FUN-fact) – Tristan Da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world and is a little more than half way between South America and South Africa.
More FF – Nightingale Island is inaccessible and has over 1 million birds breeding with Great Shearwater’s among the most abundant. In addition, there are hundreds of Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross and a breeding colony of Rockhopper penguins.
Not so FF – In March, 2011, cargo ship Oliva carrying soy beans, ran aground and broke in half. Several members of our current expedition team helped in the rescue efforts.
Local Boat