HARVEST CAYE | BELIZE CITY In the final week of our 110-day voyage with Oceania Cruises, one of our last destinations was Belize. Only six months ago, we first visited Belize on our North to South Pole cruise; we were happy we opted for Altun Ha, the Mayan Ruins on the visit. HARVEST CAYE, BELIZE A man-made paradise island positioned just off the mainland coast of Belize owned by NCL, a cruise company for those unfamiliar. Everyone was raving about the beautiful beach, little restaurants for lunch, a pool with a swim-up bar, and ample sun beds for all to use while soaking up the sun and sipping cocktails. If you fancy splurging, you can rent an air-conditioned resort-style room with access to its own private beach away from the crowds. So we prepared ourselves for a day by the beach or pool and scampered off the ship with bikinis and beach towels packed. Unfortunately, the winds were about 25 knots, so we could not be alongside, but the shoreside tenders were large and efficient. Upon arriving from the tender, the infrastructure was impressive: a well-designed walkway with a cart lane for those less mobile. You enter the bespoke island surrounded by mangroves designed to showcase all Belize is known for, from native plants and trees. The seven-acre pristine beach did indeed have stunning white powder sand and crystal clear waters. A collection of small shops guide you to the beach, where you can settle in for the day. You can even zip line on the island, paddleboard or kayak in the lagoon. We walked the beach and spotted a bar, so we went for the obligatory cocktail to start the day. However, assessing the drinks served on neighbouring tables, we quickly confirmed the mojitos would be served in non-sustainable plastic cups with plastic straws for a special price of $10 +32% for tax and gratuities! We politely declined and decided this island wasn’t for us, as it felt like all the gloating about protecting the environment was all for show. As we walked past more restaurants, they even served drinks in identical plastic branded NCL cups inside for meals. This island accommodates up to 10,000 guests a day from visiting ships, so the volume of plastic waste daily where they are only too happy to remind you a plastic cup takes 450 years to decompose. We also noticed plastic waste around, which they proudly promote at the entrance that the Harvest Caye team is dedicated to protecting the environment, local wildlife and the delicate marine ecosystems. Feeling disappointed, we returned to the ship with a bottle of champagne, again politely declining the plastic bag from the duty-free shop in hand to cheer us up. NCL, you can do better; let’s lead from the front and by example. BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Following Harvest Caye, the next day, we arrived in Belize City, a destination we visited in October 2022. We were going to remain on the ship as we recalled the port didn't leave much to be desired, and the city was not very inviting based on travelling through last year. We decided to jump off the ship for the short tender as we needed connectivity, so we hoped a local bar in port would provide this. Unfortunately, the bar D' Bourbon Barrel we opted for was quite the letdown and an expensive choice for free wifi; we were very disappointed and headed back to the ship. If you enjoy overlooking murky grey waters and way below average cocktails (Moscow Mule below), which have a whisper of alcohol at USD 17, then this is the place for you. These are the worst overpriced cocktails we have ever experienced in our six years of travel. Staff are lazy and lacking warmth and a basic level of customer service. Please do yourself a favour and save your dollars; daylight robbery is a tourist trap at its very best. Belize was quite the disappointment this time; next time, we must find the pristine parts and destinations everyone raves about. Next is our first visit to Mexico, our final adventure before arriving in Miami to complete our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises.

From the Gulf of Mexico at sea and days from Belize to Slovenia, the last 12 months have been a year of marriage like no other. We travelled four continents, 32 countries, 114 destinations, and countless memories. Seventeen years ago today, we promised to live a life of captivating moments, to love each other and explore the world as one in front of our closest and dearest friends and family, and we couldn't have chosen a better half to live this life together. These past 12 months have been an incredible collection of moments and experiences as we unwrap layers of the world we never imagined possible. The bucket list experiences that we ticked off we will cherish forever, some we didn't even know we had. The dear friends we have met over this past year and the old ones we have reunited with this past month we hold very close to our hearts, each and every one of you. We continue to build a beautiful circle of incredible humans around us who share our love of exploring this world, and we continue making even more memories. The world continues to share its beauty with us, and there is no one I would rather have by my side to share it with. Happy Anniversary, dear hubby! I can't wait for the next twelve months and beyond to celebrate many more magical life moments across this globe we call home, 73 countries and counting!

Santo Tomas, Guatemala Welcome to Country 68; it has been a busy week as we sail the coast of Central America northbound for Miami with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage. Only six months ago, this part of the world was unknown to us, and six months later, we can safely say we are now quite familiar! Today, we arrived in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, one of the busiest ports in Central America, so we were prepared for the view this morning. Those who cruise will only be too familiar with the active working port views and sounds. This small country is not only the birthplace of the Mayan culture but also the geographic centre of the area they inhabited, which is why it is known as the Heart of the Mayan World. Guatemala was called "Iximulew", or Land of Corn, by the Maya, but its main agricultural export today is bananas. We took the opportunity to walk off and get our steps up as, again, the hot and humid heat was to accompany us; we set our sights on the local beach. As we passed all the locals, they were very respectful and greeted us warmly, and little pressure from the taxi drivers, which didn’t go unnoticed. It was interesting to see lots of busy workers sweeping the roads and paths of all the jungle debris but neglecting to collect all the plastic waste that was scattered alongside the paths. We, of course, played our part and picked up as we went. Upon arriving at the beach, we noticed two young lads about 12 years old wading through the water beneath a beach bar carrying large crates full of empty beer bottles, the water was far from crystal clear, but this didn’t stop them from duck diving into the water and collecting the bottles, clearly being thrown over from the bar above. Watching these young lads filled our hearts with joy. We wanted to show our appreciation for their hard work and reward them for making the world a better place, so we waited for them to pop out with an entire crate and donated funds to their savings, watching his eyes widen, and a smile that melted our hearts when he received the $50 was heartwarming. We shared our encouragement and congratulations via hand signals due to the language barrier, but we know he understood! Legends they were, leading by example. The average monthly salary is about USD 550 in Guatemala City, and there is a substantial gap between the city and other parts of the country. This small act of kindness made our day in Guatemala special. One day we can return to explore the beautiful tropical jungles, wildlife, and villages and experience more of the Mayan culture. Our final adventures are coming soon as we inch closer to Miami and complete our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises.

ROATAN, HONDURAS Welcome to our 67th country, where we arrived in Honduras as we cruised through Central America northbound for Miami with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage. This time, we researched and found the perfect restaurant to capture the true soul of the country, the people, the food, the pristine views, the way we know best, and we are guaranteed a magical day. Roatan is one of the unspoiled Bay Islands with crystal clear waters located a few miles north of the Honduras mainland. It is also home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the jewel of the Caribbean Sea; it can be seen from space. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is 600 miles long, decorating the coast of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. We know the largest is back in Oz, so this was snorkelling and scuba diving heaven. We disembarked around lunch once the ship was deserted, and everyone was busy on their excursions, experiencing the beautiful island in their preferred way. After a short ten-minute tender to the port, we were in the company of another two giant ships docked today. Roatan was receiving its daily dose of cruisers, about 7000 extra feet running around, so finding our way to a more remote location was essential. The taxi was first up, but unfortunately, there were no Ubers; therefore, we had to go down the old-fashioned route and barter with the taxis (who are also trying to sign you up for an island tour and the like). We skipped the first one at $30 for a 16-minute drive to the other side of the island and found another for $15. We could even save the $3 pp exit port charge if we walked the one minute out the gates; yes, no problems, we said! We popped through the gates, and he met us; we just had to follow him to where the car was parked, then a little further up the road, and there was too much traffic; the driver was coming just a little further, about 15 mins later we are sure we are being taken for a leisurely (scorching hot) stroll to the actual restaurant 8kms away. Still, he assures us it is the grey van up ahead, no the green one, no the grey one; by this time, we realised this wasn’t going to end well. There were three of us, so we popped our thumbs out and jumped in the first vehicle that stopped for us, a tiny little school bus (with air-con) that kindly took us to the restaurant for $20! Ok, we are back on our way; we arrive at our restaurant; fortunately, we have our trusty Airalo app, so we have internet via esim. We arrive in paradise after a few steep, questionable roads on our little school bus. We thank our legend of a driver and head towards the first cocktail of the day, which I am sure you can guess! Upon entering the hotel, we congratulate ourselves as it is stunning, the staff are gorgeous, and the setting and the views are picturesque and pure perfection! We settled in for an afternoon of sampling cocktails; their menu was divine, and the team was full of fun and laughter. We were joined by our lovely Milan, a crew member from the ship from Montenegro, a place we hold very close to our hearts, and we all had a relaxing and delightful afternoon in this hidden gem! Luna Muna Restaurant is part of the Ibagari Hotel, where you want to settle in for a week or two and relish the beautiful surroundings. It indeed would be a perfect island getaway. Escaping to the West Bay honestly presented us with the raw and untouched nature of the island, the distinct differences from the port city, which is over-developed, loud and hectic, and not genuinely authentic. Most ports in this region give you this vibe; you could be anywhere in the Caribbean. West Bay scenery was pristine, with white beaches, turquoise waters, and no pollution. The hotel was fully integrated with its natural surroundings, the design of the sculptures and decor nicely complemented this and the great chill-out tunes over lunch reward and enhance your experience of being in Honduras. It was time to make our way back to the ship. The hotel kindly organised their driver to return us, and we enjoyed our final cocktail, letting the hoards return to the other ship and enjoying the local buzz of island life here in Roatan. Spending USD60 on taxis to go 15 km daily makes you question where this money goes. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about paying for service where the value is, but these were no BMW 7-series. One reason we are fans of Uber is that it’s designed for everyone to travel and get to where they need to, with fixed costs, quality cars and drivers, pay by credit cards and without the massive inflation for tourists. Honduras, you might have started rocky, but you exceeded expectations once we unwrapped you and discovered your true heart. A place to return and enjoy! Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.

Puerto Limon Our first taste of Costa Rica as we cruised through Central America northbound for Miami with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage. PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA The Marina sailed overnight to bring us to a new destination; Costa Rica is a new country for us, now 66 countries. Welcome to the sweltering capital of the Caribbean coast, the port city of Puerto Limon and the country's biggest Afro-Costa Rican city. Puerto Limon is the seventh largest city in Costa Rica, with a population of over 94,000 and has a cultural flavour quite unlike anywhere else in the country. We docked early in the morning and rushed off to try and beat the heat; the Caribbean weather was scorching! Take us back to the Antarctic summer; we often say that although it is nice to have the sun warm our bodies once again to prepare us for the next six months of a different type of Summer, the kind we are all too familiar with, hot and humid! We strolled off to explore the port city, which was a sea of tourists from both ships in port and all the local tourism agents grasping at you, selling their once-in-a-lifetime tours; we politely declined and continued walking, although soon we were accompanied by them again trying to sell us selfies with the sloths in the park. Although it was nice to be greeted with the lively tunes of the live band as we entered the city gates. We refused again and escaped; we were only too happy to play 'Where's is the Sloth' on our own, which wasn't too difficult as you look for all the people with their heads positioned upwards. We spotted our first-ever sloth in Vargas Park, only a few minutes from the dock. We captured a great video of the sloth slowly climbing through the trees and fascinating tree-lover characters; they stopped to smell the roses and appreciate every moment. Being the world's slowest mammal, the sloth travels at a top speed of 0.24 kilometres per hour, spending 15 to 20 hours per day sleeping. As we walked, we captured the essence of the small port town and the rustic sculptures stipulating the history and culture of this piece of Costa Rica. Following our Sloth sightings in the park, we strolled around the port city, taking in the local life, the water edge and the sweltering heat; we were on the hunt for an air-conditioned cafe to settle and enjoy, but after one hour, we had to admit defeat and changed course back to the ship. It was an intense port city, with all hustlers encouraging us all to visit the nearby tourist attractions; we received the same recommendation from our friends to go inland to truly engage in the culture and locals of Costa Rica, which, if the weather permitted we would have been only too happy to do so. Still, we have postponed our opinion on Costa Rica until we have thoroughly explored it as it deserves. Our evening on the ship was back in one of our favourite restaurants, Polo Grill, and capturing moments with our lovely Milan and chef as we soon disembarked and left our Oceania family. It Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.

PANAMA CITY | Panama Canal It is hard to believe we experienced the Panama Canal twice in six months, the transit from both directions. This time, we were northbound from Panama City as we were in the final days of our 110-day voyage with Oceania Cruises. Panama City, Panama Welcome to Panamá City. It is a cosmopolitan city framed by the Pacific Ocean and the gateway to the artificial Panama Canal. With only one day in the city, a Sunday and a day of rest, we explored Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic centre, famed for colonial-era landmarks and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars. After checking the weather, we opted to stay calm and avoid the humidity and hot sun by bar-hopping through fabulous cocktail bars and hunting for more Pisco Sours. It's our last chance before we leave this wonderful continent we have been blessed to explore over the past six months. Ubers were plentiful and comfortable, all with air conditioning, so that was a bonus! We were whisked away to our first rooftop bar in the old city; as we whizzed through the streets, we knew we had made the right decision. Lazotea Rooftop Bar was impressive at first sight; Panamá City is the place to be! We were greeted by a resident DJ playing tunes as we walked in. We perched ourselves at the bar while waiting to devour more Pisco Sours. Being Sunday, the brunch menu was the highlight, and we sampled our way through some of the options, of which we were delighted! The next stop was a quick stroll through the old city, and after five minutes in the scorching heat, we were ready to embrace another cocktail. We located the stunningly new La Compañia Hotel, part of the unbound collection with Hyatt, and it was the perfect place to enjoy the last Pisco in South America. The hotel was pure luxury and on our list when we returned amongst all the local eateries and bars. The old city was full of absolute charm, style and wealth. As the afternoon settled, we returned home to the ship to enjoy another magical sunset. Panama is unique and has some quirky fun facts; it is the only place in the world to experience the sunrise in the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the highest point in the country, Volcan Baru. The evening was spent enjoying a delicious steak in Polo Grill and preparing for the early rise as the ship is scheduled to enter the Miraflores Locks from 6.30 am to traverse the canal, an essential shipping route linking the Atlantic and Pacific. Panamá Canal Transit, Panamá It's hard to believe we are about to transit the Panamá Canal again so soon. We were ticking this from our bucket list only six months ago as we sailed the North to the South Pole, so it was the Southbound route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Today, we are back to experience but northbound as we leave the fantastic continent of South America in our rear vision mirror and embark on a new undiscovered part of Central America on our final ten days aboard the lovely Marina. We woke up with the birds. It was an early transit as we approached the 'Bridge of the Americas' connecting North America to South America in 1962, providing a pass for over 35,000 cars daily. You can take a road trip from Alaska to Panamá! The morning sun was filtering nicely, setting us up for the day ahead. We spotted a crocodile stealthily inching through the water just before entering Miraflores Locks. As we kept a close eye on him, we soon caught sight of another; what a start to the day! Pedro Miguel Locks followed the Miraflores Locks. Our approach today was to enjoy the transit and process from our balcony and limit the camera time to soak it all up over a coffee or two this morning. There are three chambers in Miraflores Locks, and we were supported by a tug boat at the front and rear, along with the mules (locomotive trains). It takes about one hour to go through the three chambers as you experience the waters in the chambers using the force of gravity to raise you and bring you to the same level so you can continue your transit to the Atlantic. Once through the first locks, we spent lunch in the GDR for front-row seats in the lush, dense green jungle and scenery as we glided by. In the early afternoon, we were slowly lowered into the Gatun Locks chambers and safely deposited in the Caribbean Sea to continue our journey to Costa Rica. We enjoyed the other ships' company going southbound, and there were waves and smiles from both sides as we were lowered and raised throughout each chamber in the lock. After experiencing the Panama Canal locks from both outside and inside the ship, we felt the visit to Gatun Locks visitor centre in Colon to watch the ships transit the locks was much more enjoyable. Once on the ship, it isn't easy to understand the full power of the process due to visibility. Still, all the same, we loved having the opportunity to experience both sides and both directions. Fun facts: 35 ships per day transit the Panamá Canal Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914; for 85 years, the US operated and had government control. 1999, the canal was transferred to Panama; they now operate and manage the route. A new lock was built to transport more cargo and more than 40,000 workers to make, and the larger canal was inaugurated in 2016 The old canal does not recycle water; the new one uses the same water thrice, refreshed to avoid pollution, and only recycles in the dry season. Fifty-two million gallons of water are released from the lake each transit in the old canal. 90% of all the equipment today in the locks still operating is from its original installation in 1914 Ships transiting through the canals pay for all containers/cabins, whether occupied or empty. On average, it is 350k per ship to cross the canal. The canals make an average of 12-15 million daily in revenue, and the minimum wage is $600 monthly. A dry canal refers to offloading containers in port and then using rail to transit the cargo, and another ship waits to collect on the other side to continue the move. Some companies want to save dollars and opt for a dry canal. Up to 10,000 people work in the canal today; the best salaries in Panama are from the canal; the top level is 500k a year for pilots. A staggering 25,000 workers lost their lives during the French effort to build the canal. Many of these deaths were due to disease, mainly yellow fever and malaria. A stamp helped US senators decide to build the canal in Panamá instead of Nicaragua. Initially, they were undecided about the location. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, who lobbied for a Panamanian Canal, sent every senator a Nicaragua postage stamp depicting one of the country's many volcanoes. It was an effective ploy: Panama had no volcanoes; thus, it was a safer bet. The US senators agreed Panama was a better option. Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.

GUAYAQUIL | MANTA It was great to revisit Ecuador as we cruised the West Coast of South America northbound for Miami with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage. Last October, we were blessed with the opportunity to visit Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Machala and Guayaquil as we sailed southbound on the coast of Ecuador on our North to South Pole cruise. Guayaquil, Ecuador Ecuador's incredibly kind and friendly people have continued to capture our hearts. We are grateful we had the opportunity to revisit Guayaquil within the last six months. We are smitten with this magical country, an undiscovered gem in Latin America. Docking in this morning, we were surrounded by the greenest mangroves on the edge of a large city, encapsulating 3.2 million Ecuadorians. It could easily have been the Capital City, which I believe was in the running initially with Quito. We couldn't miss the opportunity of being surrounded by the locals again; the energy they share with the world around them is infectious, so we were on an early shuttle bus (complimentary from the port) to a central location in the city, which is our favourite park scattered with Iguanas overlooking a gorgeous church. We enjoyed capturing some snaps of the Notre Dame-style cathedral in the city's heart and the park, which you could nearly mistake for a zoo. It was full of Iguanas roaming around, turtles and fish populating the pond. It was wonderful. Following this, we had a mission to find a hair salon to look presentable once again, and across from the park, we spotted one and were soon at their mercy with clippers in their hands to bring us back to looking sharp again! The ladies at Peluqueria Unibella were all lovely, and we had some fun conversing in our broken Spanish. For a total of USD 14 each, you can't go wrong! We strolled the city, discovering parks and squares, where we were in awe of the gracious architecture; the buildings were stunning. As we walked, we greeted all the lovely locals and scattered police officers who were only too happy to have us exploring their incredible city. The local police on bikes and standing on corners is not due to safety concerns, but rather a hospitable approach welcoming us to their city. During our last visit to Guayaquil, we found a quaint coffee shop (another of their primary exports). As we walked into Puertofino Cafe, we were greeted with a huge hug and kiss from the lovely cafe owner; she was so excited we returned after six months; it was extraordinary! We hoped to catch up again with our friendly young policeman, but he has been reposted to another location, so we missed him this time. Guayaquil is incredibly safe and is steeped in history, magnificent architecture, a beautiful beachside esplanade, museums, and an old and colourful Spanish town, which made you instantly feel like you were back in Europe; the bright, colourful buildings and vibe were inspiring. Ecuador is a hidden gem; you are guaranteed to leave a piece of yourself in this beautiful, warm and gentle part of the world. Fun facts: Ecuador has a population of 18 million; both Quito and Guayaquil have approx 3m Ecuador is the first country to give rights to nature - you can go to prison for harming a protected plant Ecuador is the first country to provide rights to disadvantaged people; the business must hire and not discriminate Guayaquil's main exports are Cacao beans, seaport services, bananas, oil Ecuador cacao beans were Queen Elizabeth II's first choice to make chocolate for the royal family Recently, they have started producing high-quality chocolate at $300 a gram Guayaquil is the gateway to the Galapagos Islands Colombia and Ecuador have the highest number of species of birds in the world Energy is powered by water (Ecuador is on the equator); it is four times more efficient than solars Manta, Ecuador Our final destination in Ecuador was a day in Manta, a lovely, famous coastal city decorated with beautiful beaches on the country's northern tip. On our first visit to Manta six months ago, we were whisked to the enchanted Pacoche Forest, a tropical rainforest, to experience the rapidly changing rural vegetation and landscapes. We also passed through some rural villages where 'The Montecristi' is generationally sourced, prepared, and handmade. The Montecristi is known to most of us as the 'Panama Hat'. We learned a significant 'fun fact' six months ago during our first visit to Panama: the hats are actually from and made in Ecuador, referred to as 'The Montecristi', a small village in Ecuador (near Manta) where they are hand-crafted by artisans. One hat with the finest straw can take up to three months and sell for over $1k. Today, we had to meet some deadlines for work, so we were kept busy for most of the day; once we were free of work, we had one goal: to find a Pisco Sour before we left Ecuador. We quickly disembarked and travelled by foot to stretch our legs to the nearby rooftop bar our lovely Holly had recommended, Casa Rosada Manta. It was lovely strolling the streets and being greeted again by the beautiful people of Ecuador; you are genuinely welcomed by all the smiles and waves from the community, and you can't wait to want to support the local businesses. The rooftop bar was a little hidden oasis, nestled at the top of a gorgeous historic building with panoramic views over the ocean and the city below us. The Pisco Sours did not disappoint, and we devoured them along with the local empanadas, which were overwhelmingly delicious!! The team were full of positive energy and smiles. We loved our short visit, and it continues to reaffirm that we must be back in Ecuador to travel much more extensively; Ecuador truly deserves much more credit than it receives. We heard multiple conversations around the ship of people avoiding getting off the ship and cancelling excursions because of a few passengers citing it was not safe and spreading rumours amongst other passengers, and it breaks my heart to hear this as it couldn't be further from the reality and they all missed out on something so precious; we walked freely, with jewellery and through crowds of locals, fishermen, port workers and markets and not once did we feel uncomfortable or at risk. The community's cleanliness and pride are heartfelt, and their positive energy is infectious. Thank you, Ecuador, for the warmest of welcomes, and we will find our way back in a few years to continue unwrapping the layers of your beautiful country. More Fun Facts: Ecuador is a major exporter of bananas, coffee and chocolate. The construction of the Panama Canal caused an excellent demand for toquilla straw hats from Ecuador because of their qualities to protect from the sun. The hat was internationally known from Panama, and people began to call it 'Panama Hat' even though the place of origin is Ecuador. Ecuador is also home to the smallest hummingbird in the world, 3-5cm in height, called the 'Bee Hummingbird.' The Montencristi hat is known to the world as the Panama hat, but it is the Monticristi in Ecuador. The hat production is commonly generational; one will go to the forest to collect the straw, another will dry the straw, and one will make the hat. The process is all by hand. Ecuador is home to the tagua tree, which produces the corozo nut. It is an ivory nut that, when fresh, you can eat and drink from, like a mini coconut; once dried, it becomes hard and is used to make buttons; they are very durable. It is much more friendly and sustainable than using elephant tusks and plastic. Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.

CALLAO | LIMA Welcome to Country 65. After a false start to entering Peru last October on our North to South Pole cruise, this attempt was a success, and we were blessed with three days in Lima, the capital of Peru and home to 11 million, as we circumnavigate South America with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage. Lima is a culinary delight, has over 200,000 restaurants and hosts three of the top 50 restaurants in the world. Peruvian food is world-class, and we can now testify that it is worthy; the two meals we experienced were incredible! The cruise ships dock in Callao, a Peruvian seaside city and region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area, approximately 30-45 minutes from the centre. Significant contrast of life as you explore and discover the different parts of the intense city. It felt like a city lived on the inside; the vast amount of steel bars, metal doors and walls, including electric fence wires and razor wire protecting the homes, businesses and buildings alone, was confronting, providing a level of understanding of the desperation and crime risk. As you drive through the different neighbourhoods, you start to see the change, and those pristine neighbourhoods are home to the wealthy. On day one, we were on the shuttle bus from the ship and delivered to a central point in Lima for passengers to explore the city. Our ship friends invited us to a beautiful restaurant, so we booked an Uber from the Municipal centre. We were fortunate to pass by the ancient olive grove park and the 18-hole exclusive city golf course. Forty minutes later, we were within the four walls of a magical mansion setting, sipping our first Pisco Sour in Peru (knowing it would also be our last drink in Peru) with a beautiful garden to enjoy lunch at Astrid y Gaston. Our first taste of Peruvian wine, a very satisfying reserve Chardonnay, and a selection of Appetisers and Mains were ordered. The dishes' presentation was elegant, and the flavours and tastes were delicious! We enjoyed the afternoon with lovely company, food, and wine in a relaxed and gorgeous atmosphere. Peru was filled with magical skies each evening; here was the sunset with abundant bird life on our first evening in Lima. Our next adventure was to explore Lima and experience the city, so we were on an early shuttle to the municipal again to Uber into the historic centre. Our drive navigated us through the city's hectic traffic to finally deposit us in the heart of Lima, the main square, to stroll around and capture the town's essence and impressive architecture. It was very safe to wander amongst the locals and the few tourists that were beginning to return. A police presence was felt to make everyone feel comfortable exploring, too. We admitted defeat after the midday sun beaming down on us and our fair skin. We stumbled upon a restaurant by the ruins, with a bright and colourful backdrop of modest Peruvian homes nestled within the mountain. The restaurant was kind enough to let us enjoy a mid-morning Pisco Sour and google our way to the grand finale lunch in Lima (and Peru) that was focused on the taste of Peru so that we could experience authentic local cuisine. Our restaurant 'Huaca Pucllana' was recommended by our friends from the day prior, as it overlooked the pre-incan stepped pyramid ruins and provided a great backdrop of the Peru landscape, serving local Peruvian food. We enjoyed a selection of starters to sample even more unique dishes; we were fortunate the waiter reminded us that one dish was the cow's heart; here, I thought the beef skewers were heart-shaped!! So we quickly reordered to something less scary! A wonderful afternoon in a majestic setting was to be farewelled with our final favourite cocktail, another Pisco sour, to end our short stay in Peru. Pisco Sours Better in Peru! We returned to the ship in preparation for our journey to Ecuador, celebrating our 65th country with champagne and a cheese plate on our balcony. We were blessed with pods of dolphins porpoising by the ship's side in the sunset. Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.

Ushuaia, Argentina Ushuaia, the gateway to Antarctica, deserves more time exploring its many charms. Ushuaia holds a special place in our hearts; after sailing from the North to the South Pole for over 93 days, we finished the epic adventure in Ushuaia in November 2022 to relax, connect again with the outside world, and become grounded. So when we returned with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage around South America, we were elated; we could visit our favourite coffee shop, Ana & Juana and restaurants and fully appreciate the most stunning scenery again. We had a few stops in Ushuaia, the gateway to Antarctica, where you often begin and end the Antarctic explorations; we even enjoyed an overnight stay out on the water, which was magical. It is also the entry and exit point of the Drake Passage, so one is only too excited to see it on the horizon after the crossing from Antarctica. Another bonus is the Beagle Channel, so you are guaranteed some beautiful cruising. Sixty days into our 110 days at sea, we arrived back in majestic Ushuaia. If you had asked us a few months ago if we would have been so lucky to experience this gem four times this Summer, we wouldn't have believed you! Let's summarise the Summer of 2022/3 in South America: Three trips of the Chilean Fjords, a total of four this Summer Two sailings through Antarctica, a total of three this Summer Four sailings of the Drake Passage, a total of six this Summer; some would say we are a glutton for punishment; surprisingly, three of the four were a Drake Lake, and one was 6-7m waves. One trip to the Falklands after three attempts Four visits to Uruguay The abundance of wildlife has been thrilling: whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, penguins (four species), birds and jellyfish. Each time we arrive, Ushuaia steals a little piece of our hearts; it truly is a city from a painting. We were beyond excited to sail in and see the fresh dust of snow decorating the tremendous Andes surrounding this picturesque pocket of the world. The ship was anchored on our first visit during January, as Ushuaia was on top of every cruise ship's list. We were accompanied by ten cruise and expedition ships for the day, so there was a battle to sneak the tenders through and transport passengers into town. We opted to enjoy the day on the ship and let everyone else explore this gem today, and we appreciated the rapidly changing weather over the scenery throughout the day. Upon returning to Ushuaia from Antarctica, the weather was on our side, albeit windy and icy cold. Still, as you can imagine, we were equipped. After exploring the familiar town, we went straight to our coffee shop and lunch at Casimiro Biguá Parrilla & Restaurant to devour more of our favourite Patagonian lamb, accompanied by a delicious Argentinian red!! As we strolled back in the direction of the ship wandering through a park, we heard a voice announcing 'Sally', and we turned around to see a dear friend from our previous cruise who was on a neighbouring ship, so we were all over the moon to catch up after six months, and knew fate had a part to play. Nenad, it was a precious moment to reconnect in beautiful Ushuaia. The southernmost tip of the world, also known as the end of the world, Ushuaia, is one of the most beautiful places on earth; you can't get enough of the magnificent scenery. We loved seeing it change over the Summer and each month, finishing with a soft sprinkle of snow as we departed for the last time.

Laguna San Rafael | Puerto Chacabuco | Puerto Montt | Punta Arenas Welcome back to the Chilean Fjords; it has only been a few months since we last sailed through this untouched and raw, majestic part of the world. Feeling blessed, we sail through these peaceful and tranquil fjords another two times with Oceania Cruises on our 110-day voyage around South America throughout the cruise. The scenery has changed as summer has rolled on through and melted the snow from the peaks, and it is an abundance of now lush green hues. There are 30000 islands amongst the channels and fjords in the south, with 11000 of them unnamed. The first evening, we were spoilt cruising the Beagle Channel and caught glimpses of glaciers and waterfalls; it was a great reminder of what was in store for us over the next few days as we cruised and navigated the channels and fjords of Chile. The following day, we woke in the depths of the breathtaking Chilean Fjords and channels. The day started with a moody shadow over the majestic scenery, followed by the sun peeking through to shine on the magnificent Patagonian scapes. We thoroughly enjoyed the pace of cruising through the fjords whilst we enjoyed our morning coffees with a view and meals throughout the day, blessed with outstanding nature engulfing us. A day full of smiles and being spoilt on Oceania. We were delighted when we found Chef Andrea preparing fresh pasta for lunch, and as the sun settled for the day, we were blessed with a sky full of colour. Puerto Chacabuca, Chile This morning, we arrived at Puerto Chacabuca super early at 7 am, but we couldn't wait to open the curtains to soak up the morning view, as the ship had been busy navigating the narrow channels of the fjords whilst we were all sleeping. Upon opening the blinds, it was mesmerising. We were tucked into a tiny pocket of the fjords surrounded by snow-capped peaks and delicious greenery, covered with a sheet of majestic silver clouds; we couldn't wait to capture a few morning snaps. It was the beginning of a beautiful day; we were up and enjoying our morning coffee outside on the upper deck lounges, basking up our majestic surroundings. Once all the passengers had embarked on their excursions and the tenders were less crowded, we popped on and crossed to the nearby village. A quaint fishing village located deep within the Chilean Fjords of an intimate 500 people, all living a very remote and relaxing life amongst the fjords, we strolled around taking in the local living and enjoyed getting in some steps, fresh mountain air. We were blessed with a glorious day of sunshine (possibly too much for Sal & Wayne after we realised we had been kissed a little too much by such sun later in the day). We couldn't leave without visiting the local general store; it was always fun perusing the shelves and checking out the local display of wines and spirits, which, of course, we left with a bag full of goodies for the crew and ourselves. We arrived back on the ship just in time for a relaxing lunch with front-row seats to the fjords at the Terrace cafe on the outside deck; it was remarkable! The ship departed mid-afternoon, and we were all in for a treat of the most spectacular scenic cruising as we navigated through the channels and fjords; feeling like we could reach over and touch them, we were in awe of the beauty. We recently cruised through the Chilean Fjords and were very surprised that a ship this size could create such an intimate feeling and opportunity to fully appreciate the fjords over and above the experience from an expedition cruise; thank you, Oceania, for gifting us with this incredible travel moment. During dinner time in Polo Grill, we were ever so spoilt with a window table as we continued the scenic cruise through the islands scattered in the channels with a stunning backdrop of the dusty pink hues of a sunset sky. Not only did we have the majestic scenery, but an abundance of marine life followed us through as we dined throughout the evening; it was a constant check that out, Wayne; what is it? Next time, we will be sure to have our extra set of eyes and invite our binoculars to join us for dinner! We believe they were seals, flying fish, and possibly penguins… but we are still in debate! Upon returning to our room, the day bid us farewell as the nearly full moonlight sparkled over the ocean waters; it was a perfect day experiencing the Chilean Fjords! The Chilean Fjords take a few days to navigate as you cruise to your next destination; it's the perfect time to relax and enjoy your surroundings and the magnificent scenery. Oceania keeps you entertained, well-nourished, and hydrated during these sea days, and we love catching up with our friends and enjoying the surprises each day. You have high tea during the afternoons, long lunches in the Grand Dining Room, specialty dining each evening and the most fun of all the Oceania Club members' parties! Punta Arenas, Chile After a week of sensory overload cruising the Chilean coast and navigating the channels and fjords, we arrived in Punta Arenas. It has been interesting to experience the scenery due to the rapidly changing weather throughout the week, as you feel Summer fast escaping us as we continue south. Punta Arenas is a city home to 125,000 near the tip of Chile's southernmost Patagonia region. Located on the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it's often used as a base for the surrounding wilderness and Antarctica. The Plaza Muñoz Gamero has a memorial to explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and legend has it that if you rub his toe, you will return to the city. Alternatively, you can book a back-to-back cruise with Oceania and visit Punta Arenas thrice. We took the opportunity to explore the city as we skipped the last stop due to visa delays; as we were docked close to the town, it was easy to wander off. The first stop was coffee, and we were super impressed with this little gem we found, Guana Coffee; it was a tiny little cafe and didn't disappoint. With coffee in hand, we continued strolling the city, getting some steps in. We observed the cleanliness of this city, which was a pleasant surprise after visiting other destinations in Chile, so kudos to Punta Arenas for not forgetting too much about your Pachamama (Mother Earth). We soon found ourselves on the edges of the city in the backstreets, so we put our sights on the coastline and headed in that direction, which then led us to enjoy the beach esplanade walk back to the ship, capturing some iconic pics for our memory bank on the way. We enjoyed the vibrant street art and murals decorating the city as we walked. The mural along the waterfront paying tribute to the city's maritime history on buildings was magnificent. Thank you, Chilean Fjords, for delivering another memorable and magical experience. Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises, the circumnavigation of South America.