Today dawned calm and foggy, with National Geographic Explorer making excellent time to the north over glassy seas and a gentle swell. We passed the expansive River Plate, which enters the Atlantic Ocean from the Buenos Aires region, and we have now reached the waters of Uruguay. Light winds yield a smooth ocean surface, enabling the attentive marine wildlife observer to spot creatures at a glance including the South American sea lion and an undetermined species of sea turtle. The dense fog limited our visibility during the morning, though offered a glimpse into a different of the ocean’s many personalities; by mid-day the sun was peeking through lifting clouds. Many of our company enjoyed lunch on the sundeck to capitalize on this change in conditions and soak up the warmth.
There’s no shortage of interesting topics to explore on this voyage, and today’s schedule provided opportunities in geology, history, photography, and marine science. From the formation of the South American continent and Andes mountains to the early life and adventures of Charles Darwin, we’re busy listening, posing questions, and appreciating engaging conversations. Lessons in image editing opened the afternoon, following which a small team of researchers sampled the surface marine environment. They assessed the temperature, salinity, pH, water clarity, and plankton community at the eastern edge of waters that comprise a mix of River Plate freshwater and Argentinian continental shelf seawater; as the trip progresses, we’ll compare the observed conditions with those at other locations.
This evening all partook in a special dinner featuring Asado, traditional Argentinian slow-cooked barbeque. Although our meal was not prepared over coals or next to open flames, the empanadas, lamb, local red wine, and special deserts were a taste of the region, all carefully explained in advance by those members of the natural history staff who live in Patagonia. Our day concludes with a live musical performance and anticipation of tomorrow’s activities: a prelude to our upcoming stop in Rio de Janeiro.
