Pia Glacier

While we've seen a lot of glaciers on this trip, whenever we've been up close to them we've been in a Zodiac or other boat with a noisy motor running. Pia Glacier offered the chance to spend a peaceful hour watching it calve and listening to it creak and crack.

There were two options for this afternoon's activity, though it sounded like even the crew didn't want anyone to take part in the "active" option. It consisted of a climb to a waterfall, though the guide warned the climb was difficult, wet, & muddy; you would have to wade across a knee-high stream of glacial run-off; and if you took part in the payoff of standing in the waterfall (fully clothed) there would be no towels or anything else to dry you off until you got back to the boat. "We promise by the time you return to the boat you will be cold, tired, wet, muddy, sore, and possibly injured." We opted for a different option: Jessica had a nap and I had a scotch in the lounge.

New Year's Eve celebrations: ugh. The Chileans have a tradition of eating lentils at midnight to welcome the new year. I clearly ate too many lentils because I woke up headache and nauseated. (I'm pretty sure it was the lentils.)

(Written on Dec 31.)