Circumnavigation of a continent – GRAND CIRCLE SOUTH AMERICA
On the 6th of January, I will be joining the Marco Polo for an epic voyage around South America. To summarise; the trip will be featuring such mouth-watering destinations as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and The Falkland Islands. Almost totally circumnavigating the continent of South America, the Marco Polo will then head North, up the coasts of Chile, Peru and Ecuador before passing through the mighty Panama Canal, back to the Caribbean and an Atlantic Crossing home to the UK.
The longest continuous time I’ve worked on a ship has been 8 weeks, so the thought of spending 70 nights on the Marco Polo wasn’t necessarily something that filled me with unbridled joy (I always miss my fast home broadband and big shower). It’s a great vessel, though – and I must admit to having a soft spot for CMV’s classic ocean liner, which is now knocking on for 54 years old . There are many places on the itinerary that I’ve never been to before, and may never get the opportunity to see again, so accepting the posting was a no-brainer.
As I write this, the process of packing is almost complete. Initial fears regarding temperatures around the Falklands at this time of year, and what range of cold weather gear we should cater for, have largely been alleviated, with online information assuring us that temperatures shouldn’t be quite so blisteringly cold.
Before embarking upon any cruise, I always get myself a haircut. It has to be a haircut that will cover me for the duration of the trip, because I’m a tight Northerner who doesn’t like spending on such things, and my local barber mows my head for the right price. Out of a possible three, I have to get the right lass, though, which means popping in on the right day of the week, if I want the exact cut I want from someone who totally understands my needs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the right day, and despite my attempts at encouraging the hairdresser to be more aggressive with the scissors, and so give me a cut that will last until my return home, I can’t help feeling that my hair is going to start annoying me long before then, and that I’m going to have to visit the on-board hairdressing salon before the voyage is complete (unheard of!).
Such minutiae, I know, but these things are important. Hey ho… if the hair gets long and straggly, then so be it.
Embarkation at Bristol Avonmouth is on Sunday, the 6th of January, and our first port-of-call will be Lisbon on the 9th.
Bring it on….
