Time to Panic?

It's the Friday before Christmas and we still have a lot to do to prepare for this trip. Most of the winter gear we'll be wearing is gathered together but nothing is packed yet. And shipboard clothing hasn't really been decided yet either. The camera equipment is a different story altogether - we have everything we need, but stuff is scattered all over the house. We will spend some time today and over this long weekend getting everything pulled together and figuring out how to pack it all efficiently so it fits and minimizes the risk of having excess baggage fees.

 

I've been checking the weather forecast repeatedly now that you can see a reasonable forecast for next Wednesday, our departure date. So far, so good. They're predicting only a 10-20% chance of precipitation and mild temperatures. Our biggest concern, and the one thing we can't control, is the weather in Chicago when we are trying to leave. So far, it's looking hopeful!

 

We got more information about shipboard communication while we are away. We're pretty confident that we'll be able to send out text email messages so we can continue to update the blog. Greg's got his "scheme" all put together so we can achieve that objective at a minimum cost. He's researched the various email / internet access options, assessed the pricing, concluding some of the pricing was a bit crazy, and so developed a way to minimize data transmission and maximize value. Is anyone surprised??

 

I've already made a dinner reservation at a restaurant in Ushuaia for the evening of December 30. It's called Kalma Resto and it got some great reviews on Trip Advisor. Yes, I've looked at menu offerings and think I'll be having fish and I think Greg should have the king crab (it's all about the food!). We've also learned that high quality chocolates are something to shop for in Ushuaia. So we've got some things to focus on for the free day we'll have when we arrive. 

 

Our ship has left Uruguay, where it was being refurbished and made ready for this voyage. It's now heading south off the coast of Argentina and we'll be watching it closely these next few days. We board the ship on December 31 so there's still quite a bit of time before it absolutely has to be there. Well, I'll sign off for now and try to get going on our final preparations - including figuring out what to cook for Christmas before we go!