CHILE–the Amalia Glacier flows into the sea in the Chilean fjord lands

PUNTA ARENAS–a whale of a tale in Chile's gateway to Antarctica

PUNTA ARENAS–the old warehouses from whaling days are still at the docks

PUNTA ARENAS–street art is used to liven up the dull streets

PUNTA ARENAS–lovely old clock tower at the port

PUNTA ARENAS–the figures are representations of the aboriginal Tierra del Fuegians seen by Chas. Darwin

PUNTA ARENAS–seafront monument to the early settlers of the area

PUNTA ARENAS–a flock of sea birds uses an old pier as a rest area

PUNTA ARENAS–a day trip to the Magdalena Island penguin reserve

PUNTA ARENAS–Judy ate her box lunch for breakfast

PUNTA ARENAS–the colony of Magellanic penguins numbers some 150,000 cute birds

PUNTA ARENAS–these birds are about two feet tall with distinctive white and black markings

PUNTA ARENAS–the males make a burrow in the ground and wait for their female to find them

PUNTA ARENAS–this baby penguin looks very scruffy as it loses its baby fuzz and grows adult feathers

PUNTA ARENAS–Larry, Moe, and Curly watch over the beach

PUNTA ARENAS–penguins love to play 'follow-the-leader' as they head to the sea

PUNTA ARENAS–okay, guys, who's going first?

PUNTA ARENAS–penguins paddle around the surface on their bellies...

PUNTA ARENAS–…looking for all the world like a big duck.

STRAITS OF MAGELLAN–
separate South America from Tierra del Fuego

STRAITS OF MAGELLAN–
mountains and glaciers come right down to the sea

STRAITS OF MAGELLAN–
closeup of a glacier's edge

USHUAIA, ARGENTINA–
islands in the bay with the Martial mountains in the background

USHUAIA–the 'southernmost city in the world' is a long way from everything

USHUAIA–a popular gateway to Antarctica, the city has modern facilities for tourists

USHUAIA–feelings still run high on the subject of the ownership of the Malvinas/Falkland Islands

USHUAIA–the harbor can handle some pretty large cruise ships in addition to expedition ships

USHUAIA–beautiful downtown Ushuaia: souvenir shops and outfitters from end to end

USHUAIA–the rest of the city is built on steep hills

USHUAIA–springtime flowers in February

BEAGLE CHANNEL–this connects Ushuaia to the ocean and was named after Chas. Darwin's ship

BEAGLE CHANNEL-
heading southeast through the channel, the landscape becomes increasingly stark

BEAGLE CHANNEL–finally, the channel opens to the Drake Passage and the Southern Ocean

CAPE HORN–the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego is notorious for storms and icebergs from Antarctica

FALKLAND ISLANDS–two desolate islands in the South Atlantic, used mostly to pasture sheep by the 3000 inhabitants

FALKLANDS–the Jubilee Villas are a handsome attraction in Stanley, the islands' capital

FALKLANDS–the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley, built in 1892 of local stone and brick

FALKLANDS–made from the jaws of two blue whales, the Whalebone Arch (1933) celebrated 100 years of British rule

FALKLANDS–tidy little sheep ranches dot the countryside

FALKLANDS–cold, windy, rainy, rocky, no trees, few roads: what's not to like

FALKLANDS–there is a bit of color provided by hardy, low-growing shrubs

FALKLANDS–two hours of four-wheel-driving over rocks and pastures...

FALKLANDS–…brings us to a sandy beach and nesting site of King Penguins

FALKLANDS–see the wind-blown sand blasting by the birds

FALKLANDS–the second largest penguin, the Kings reach 3 feet tall

FALKLANDS–like all penguins, these are such fun to watch as they waddle around the sand

FALKLANDS–magnificent creatures that nest on the bare ground

FALKLANDS–parents, chicks, and a dead egg at the nesting ground

FALKLANDS–the brown chick is ready to start losing its fuzz

FALKLANDS–a muster of King penguins

FALKLANDS–masters of their domain

FALKLANDS–Gentoo penguins also raise their fuzzy chicks near the King colony

FALKLANDS–hell of a place for a nap!

VALDES PENINSULA–
about half way up the Argentine coast,is a World Heritage Site and nature reserve (NASA photo)

VALDES PENINSULA–only a few people live permanently on this flat and windy land

VALDES PENINSULA–wild guanacos sprint around knowing they're safe from predators

VALDES PENINSULA–the guanaco, like the llama and alpaca, are in the camel family and native to S. America

VALDES PENINSULA–
rheas, large flightless birds like the ostrich, also make their home on the peninsula

VALDES PENINSULA–
vertical cliffs form much of the Atlantic coast...

VALDES PENINSULA–…but groups of South American sea lions breed and relax on the rocky headlands

VALDES PENINSULA–
females are half the size of the males; all are a warm brown color

VALDES PENINSULA–the pups are dark grey and tend to congregate together when their mothers are at sea

VALDES PENINSULA–these females are just resting in the warm sunshine

VALDES PENINSULA–on the shady side of the cliff, another group has found a safe spot

VALDES PENINSULA–a mixed group of females and pups

VALDES PENINSULA–a vigilant mom and two pups

VALDES PENINSULA–the Atlantic coast has a number of shallow bays with sandy or pebbly beaches

VALDES PENINSULA–tidal pools also line the coast

VALDES PENINSULA–
Magellanic penguins breed here: the four young birds are losing their baby fuzz

VALDES PENINSULA–late arrivals to the beach have to trudge uphill to find room to nest

VALDES PENINSULA–a young bird waits the arrival of its parent outside its nest

VALDES PENINSULA–
Magellanic king of the hill

VALDES PENINSULA–
unusual coastal formation of strips of mossy land and shallow tidal pools

VALDES PENINSULA–these areas are frequented by Elephant Seals looking for a safe spot to rest

VALDES PENINSULA–they were a long way from us so couldn't get really good photos

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY–
skyline of the capital of Uruguay on the Rio de la Plata

MONTEVIDEO–the gunnery range-finding telemeter of the Nazi ship Graf Spee, which was scuttled here in Dec., 1939

MONTEVIDEO–Palacio Salvo, finished 1928, on Plaza Independencia on the edge the Old City

MONTEVIDEO–mounted statue of the national hero of Independence, Gral. José Gervasio Artigas, was erected here on 1923

MONTEVIDEO–near the Plaza is Teatro Solis, built 1842-1856

MONTEVIDEO–the Spanish influence of wrought iron balconies is very much in evidence

MONTEVIDEO–another fine Art Deco Building

MONTEVIDEO–the Parliament building, the Palacio Legislativo, was inaugurated on the 100th anniversary of independence in 1925

MONTEVIDEO–a three-sided obelisk represents law, liberty, and power, 1938

MONTEVIDEO–La Carreta is an over-life-size monument of oxen pulling a loaded wagon of the early settlers

MONTEVIDEO–Parque Batlle, in the eastern part of the city, offers great views of the river and the city

MONTEVIDEO–parrot in a tree at Parque Battle

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA–typical street in the San Telmo district, the oldest barrio in the city

BUENOS AIRES–at the heart of the neighborhood is the old church of Our Lady of Belem

BUENOS AIRES–a few little parks were created when old buildings were torn down

BUENOS AIRES–San Telmo is a center for artists, lofts, galleries, and the artistically inclined

BUENOS AIRES–a few very old houses still survive in the barrio

BUENOS AIRES–an Art Nouveau structure has an elegant decadance

BUENOS AIRES–other buildings have been restored, renovated, and revived

BUENOS AIRES–street art is visible almost everywhere

BUENOS AIRES–an especially nice mural covers the whole facade of this building

BUENOS AIRES–an artistic statement: the Gnomes of San Telmo