Our second -- and, sadly, last -- full day on the ship passes with ease. Cory and I are not scheduled to board the Zodiac boats for our tour through the Alacalufe Fjord until later in the afternoon, so we spend a blissful few post-breakfast hours on deck reading and drinking Bloody Marys. Although we've only been aboard the Via Australis for 36 hours, we've become friendly with many of the passengers and it's so nice to be among smiling faces as we relax and completely sink into vacation mode.
We decided to dress warmly for this Zodiac trip, and I am grateful for every layer as the boat navigates around the Fjord and approaches the beautiful Piloto Glacier. As luck would have it, we're on the Zodiac with some of my favorite ship passengers: an older, fun-loving Austrian couple and a group of German women who live in Minnesota and take annual trips together around the world. Our driver is even my favorite staff member, Pablo, from yesterday's beaver trip. The stage is set for a truly enjoyable excursion.
I'm not disappointed. Navigating the Zodiac through the Fjord, surrounded by electric blue glacier and floating ice bergs, is one of the most surreal experiences of the trip so far. The air is crisp and heavy, and the only sounds come from periodic crackling of ice and the splash they make as splinters plunge into the ocean. Everyone on the boat is joyful and we take turns posing in front of the glacier. It is funny how, since we're only together for a short time, boat passengers become known to one another by our nationalities instead of our names. Cory and I are called simply ''cute New York couple'' by many of the passengers, a nickname that never fails to make me chuckle. It's the moniker they're using now, as we pose in front of the glacier. ''Kiss, cute New York couple! Kiss!'' And so we do.
Before we head back to the ship, I take a moment to offer a silent prayer of thanks to the universe for the beauty of this day, for the opportunity to be on this trip, for everything. The German women are doing the same, exclaiming in heavily-accented English that we are so lucky for this day, and that they will never, ever forget it. I couldn't agree more.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.