discussion Greetings from the South Atlantic!

[spanner570]

Excellent pictures Barry. You are one lucky man.

I'm afraid my only claim to fame was shortly after the conflict was over, word went out for civvy tradesmen to go to the Falklands and help repair the damage.

I applied to go down there, but someone in authority decided they could rub along without another joiner! So I never went.....

Ron

 

[Jim R]

What a great experience you're having Barry.

 

[Waspie]

Excellent pictures Barry. You are one lucky man.

I'm afraid my only claim to fame was shortly after the conflict was over, word went out for civvy tradesmen to go to the Falklands and help repair the damage.

I applied to go down there, but someone in authority decided they could rub along without another joiner! So I never went.....

Ron

I never went there in 82. But in 86 I my ship was sent there for a tour as guard ship. What an experience. All that wild life that for a city boy like me would never see normally. I had a boss, (pilot), who was a geologist before joining the navy and we spent ages flying around looking at all the places of interest to him snapping away with his camera. Old glaciers, and rock formations.
The mine fields were still taboo areas and surrounded Stanley back then, still have a couple of aviation maps showing places to avoid landing. The locals were so friendly and tight knit. We would land at a settlement to check on them. Shut the helicopter down and we'd be grabbed, watered and fed. Freshly cooked lamb with spuds and thick gravy. Heaven. I can seriously see why people would want to settle there.
We should be envious of Barry's experience, a chance in a lifetime for many.

 

[BarryW]

Well our ship has had a minor prang in Puerto Deseado and needs some repairs. Looks like we will be here for a day and will miss the next scheduled port.

Had a run ashore yesterday with my son and had a delicious steak!

Anyway this sign amused me. I will say nothing more about it.

 

[BarryW]

Well we ended up stuck in Puerto Deseado for three days instead of the planned one day. On the second day the expedition staff organised some walks along the coast but, on the third, the Captain was hoping to get clearance to set off in the morning, that became 12.00, then 2pm, then 4pm and finally clearance was given at 7pm so all day had to be spent on ship.

The delays mean that two ports of call were cancelled and we are now off direct to Buenos Aires where we are expected to arrive at 2pm instead of the original 8am on the 21st. As I am flying home on the 22nd it won’t give me long in BA but I am planning to make the most of it!!

Cruise staff have been great though, delays not their fault but Argentinian beaurocracy.

 

[Jim R]

Certainly is an amusing and unfortunate name.:smiling:
Shame about the delay but as you say it's just one of those things. Enjoy Buenos Aires.

 

[BarryW]

My last full day at sea. Went to a lecture on sea superstitions and monsters this morning and then went for a shave.

I say a shave but it was a lot more than that. It was offered to me for free by a girl on the ‘beauty’ team via my son, I am pretty sure that she has a huge crush on him and he really needs to respond to her because she is a stunner….. Now if I was 20, well no, 30 years younger……..

Anyway hot and cold towels, two shaves one with oil and one with a shaving foam, face and scalp massage and while I had a cold compress across my eyes, she did my nails! Never had anything like that before, my face has not been smoother since I was a baby!

Now sat in the lounge to read before this evening a farewell presentation and dinner. Tomorrow I will go into Buenos Aires for a meal with my son, that girl and the expedition team. Flying home on the 22nd.

 

[minitnkr]

The things the rich enjoy as routine.

 

[BarryW]

The things the rich enjoy as routine.

It sure is nice to get a taste of that lifestyle.

 

[Jim R]

Sounds as if you're having a great time. Stunning scenery coupled with being pampered by a beautiful young lady - it don't get much better :tongue-out3:

 

[BarryW]

Well this is certainly an eventful cruise. We are currently going around in circles due to Buenos Aires being closed due to weather conditions. Apparently the earliest we can dock is 9pm but that far from certain. Our evening out in BA is cancelled!!!!

 

[Jim R]

Shame that but maybe time for another "shave" with that stunner to make up for the disappointment :smiling:

 

[boatman]

YES Barry your son want to get in on that young lady an not let her slip through his finger do he'll regret it
chrisb

 

[BarryW]

Well disembarkation day! Hanging around on the ship until lunchtime then BA for lunch after which 30 hours or so travelling! A long, long day ahead.

 

[Tworrs]

Well disembarkation day! Hanging around on the ship until lunchtime then BA for lunch after which 30 hours or so travelling! A long, long day ahead.

It seems like you had a wonderful time on your travels barring a couple of hiccups.
Barry, if I may ask, could you tell me whether stumping up for the business class flights was worth it?
My wife wants to travel, but, like you, my back can't take cattle class, and I am interested to know if it made the flights bearable. I do note that it caused your sciatica to flair up though.
Being in NZ the flights to civilisation are in excess of 24 hrs, which are killer.
Thanks in advance
Garry

 

[BarryW]

It seems like you had a wonderful time on your travels barring a couple of hiccups.
Barry, if I may ask, could you tell me whether stumping up for the business class flights was worth it?
My wife wants to travel, but, like you, my back can't take cattle class, and I am interested to know if it made the flights bearable. I do note that it caused your sciatica to flair up though.
Being in NZ the flights to civilisation are in excess of 24 hrs, which are killer.
Thanks in advance
Garry

Hi Garry. I would say yes. First of all what killed my back was Miami Airport, it was chaos and I was pulled and rushed around and spent ages on my feet, sat on hard benches and so on. The flight being delayed made it worse. Because of the chaos and rush I did not get to the Business Class lounge with the comfortable seats. If I was not in business class the second leg of the trip would have been disastrous for my back. It was bad enough as it is but I did have room to move and adjust the seat.

On the way back, via New York, I had no problems at all, calm, lots of time in the lounge in comfort and I arrived home in good form.

So yes Business Class, for me, was well worth it, certainly for long haul. If you can get a direct flight, even better. The priority check-in, comfortable lounges with free food and drink, priority boarding, far better in-flight food, adjustable seats with lots of room, glass of champagne, quick exit from aircraft all made the trip so much better.

 

[rickoshea52]

I’ll second Barry’s recommendation for long haul business class if you can afford it. I can’t but have the privilege of my company travel policy that allows it where the travel flight time permits, which isn’t very often for me.
As Barry describes, it’s not just about getting a large lay flat seat, it’s the service level, lounge etc that make the flight more bearable.

 

[Tworrs]

Hi Garry. I would say yes. First of all what killed my back was Miami Airport, it was chaos and I was pulled and rushed around and spent ages on my feet, sat on hard benches and so on. The flight being delayed made it worse. Because of the chaos and rush I did not get to the Business Class lounge with the comfortable seats. If I was not in business class the second leg of the trip would have been disastrous for my back. It was bad enough as it is but I did have room to move and adjust the seat.

On the way back, via New York, I had no problems at all, calm, lots of time in the lounge in comfort and I arrived home in good form.

So yes Business Class, for me, was well worth it, certainly for long haul. If you can get a direct flight, even better. The priority check-in, comfortable lounges with free food and drink, priority boarding, far better in-flight food, adjustable seats with lots of room, glass of champagne, quick exit from aircraft all made the trip so much better.

Thanks for your confirmation Barry, unfortunately I am not able to get to Europe in one leg from Christchurch NZ, so would have to endure a 3 leg trip, but I'm sure business class would make it a lot easier. My wallet would however feel a lot of pain :smiling2:

I’ll second Barry’s recommendation for long haul business class if you can afford it. I can’t but have the privilege of my company travel policy that allows it where the travel flight time permits, which isn’t very often for me.
As Barry describes, it’s not just about getting a large lay flat seat, it’s the service level, lounge etc that make the flight more bearable.

I get what you mean Rick, however to me it is really about the comfort on the flights.

Well I had better start saving the pennies then.

Much obliged guys.

 

[Guest]

My last full day at sea. Went to a lecture on sea superstitions and monsters this morning and then went for a shave.

I say a shave but it was a lot more than that. It was offered to me for free by a girl on the ‘beauty’ team via my son, I am pretty sure that she has a huge crush on him and he really needs to respond to her because she is a stunner….. Now if I was 20, well no, 30 years younger……..

Anyway hot and cold towels, two shaves one with oil and one with a shaving foam, face and scalp massage and while I had a cold compress across my eyes, she did my nails! Never had anything like that before, my face has not been smoother since I was a baby!

Now sat in the lounge to read before this evening a farewell presentation and dinner. Tomorrow I will go into Buenos Aires for a meal with my son, that girl and the expedition team. Flying home on the 22nd.

Yeah, but did the evening gown fit around all your curves and crevices.....

 

[Guest]

Sounds as if you're having a great time. Stunning scenery coupled with being pampered by a beautiful young lady - it don't get much better :tongue-out3:

And his cigar rolled just right up and down the thigh by a one eyed bearded 90 year old sailor....