South American Tour: Valparaiso and Santiago Chile

Wednesday, January 20th 1965, Valparaiso Chile

The ship docked at six am. It is Chile's main port and her second largest city with 220,000 population. The city is divided into two parts. The business section lives on the flat level piece of land on the inner circle of the amphitheater of hills. The 41 hills using 1000 to 1400 feet sharply behind the downtown area are each a city within themselves with their winding streets and step cobbled lanes. 20 ascensores (funiculars) and roads link them with downtown section. We hired at taxi and guide from a group that came on board. We were able to buy Chilean money from taxi driver at four escudos to $1.00 U. S., the official rate is 3.2/3.5 to 1, so we bought $200. We drove to the top of one of the hills and had a wonderful view of the bay and town then thru the business area to Vina del Mar. Here we registered at Bernardo O'Higgins Hotel, Then drove along the beaches to Con Con, another resort and back to Hotel at 3 P.M. for lunch. We had given the guide money to buy R.R. tickets to Santiago and he was to meet us at 7:15 AM on the morrow. On second thought, it could go sour as appointments to in S.A., so Millie and Bea walked the 2 blocks to R.R. station with the guide and took the tickets. We relaxed for an hour and then all four strolled down the main business street. We were not alone, it appeared. that all the families in town turned out to do the same thing. Many of the guide books mention it is not kosher for ladies to wear slakes on the streets. Actually, at lest one out of ten wore them. It was light until nearly nine which was the time we returned to Hotel. Freshened up a bit and ate in main dinning room.

Thursday January 21, 1965 Nina del Mar-Santiago, Chile

Up at 6:30. The guide was waiting in lobby. We paid hotel bill. The guide instructed the porter what to do with luggage and we left. I thought we would take a taxi, but the Station was just across the plaza, so we walked. We boarded a very nice electric train leaving at 7:40 for the 116 mile, 2.5 hour ride to Santiago. When the conductor came thru we told him we wanted breakfast. He knew wanted to eat but that was all he figured out. He left and came back shortly with a waiter who was not a linguist, and a man who might have been a maitre d'. He acted as interpreter in getting our needs into 'espanol' for the waiter. The breakfast was served at our seats on trays, airplane style. Before we arrived in

Santiago we had become better acquainted with our linguist - he was a Valparaiso business man who spent one day a week in Santiago. He stayed with us until 6 PM and certainly was a big help with the language barrier. We arrived in Santiago, the Capital of Chile about 10 am. We took taxi to Kent Hotel on Avenida Huerfanos. After registering and stowing our baggage we walked to a travel bureau in Cervera Hilton Hotel to arrange for trip to Chilian lake area. There we were told that all planes in southern Chile were booked solid for the next 30 days - mid-summer vacation travel, you know. So we decided to rejoin ship at Talcahuana and ordered and paid for R.R. tickets for tomorrow. The tickets were to be delivered to our hotel. Mr. Valenzuela took us to Union Club for lunch, then a taxi tour to see the capital. It is the largest city in South America with 2,000,000, altitude 1700 feet. There are no negroes here and very few in the entire country. Hired taxi and toured city, and ended by motoring up the winding road to the top of Cerro San Custobal. Here are excellent views of the city from many angles. Then back to hotel for rest it was 7:30 and the sun still high in the sky.

South American Tour: Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile

Saturday, January 16th, 1965 Iquique, Chile

50 Peso = $0.013 U.S.

Altho we are still in the tropical zone and it is now mid-summer the weather is quite cool with a stiff wind blowing. The ship moved to the dock in Iquique, Chile to unload 42 tons of cargo. As soon as we were cleared we went down the gangplank and walked to town about 3/4 mile away. One half hour was spent in the local post office purchasing stamps for letters and cards. An increase in postal rates had gone into effect that morning stamps seem to be the one product that costs more money than US counterpart. It was Sat. afternoon. "English Holiday" it is called and all stores are closed. The town is a busheling seaport sitting on a narrow plane between the Andes and the sea. The mountains are completely bare and brown in color and start up at the town's edge. Iquique is near the country's nitrate and iodine mining center. We returned by taxi shortly before 5 PM and ship left at 5:35 PM.

Sunday, January 17th, 1965 Antofagasta, Chile

222 miles south of Iquique we sailed into the large crescent shaped bay on which Antofagasta is located and anchored in the harbor at 9:30 AM. Last Thursday a ship on the dock blew up when a cylinder of propane gas was dropped and exploded. The fumes reached the galley stove and that was it. Several men volunteered to cart the liner and then it was towed away from the dock where it burned all night with the cylinders popping like bombs. In the morning it sank and only the top of one of the cranes is above water. Eight men died in the accident and all the other stevedores took a three day holiday. Hence we didn't come.

The passengers were cleared by immigration and 9 went ashore in a water taxi. Millie and I stayed aboard and napped. We will go in tomorrow when the stores are open. The city was founded in 1870 following the discovery of nitrates nearby. It now has a population of more than 100,000. It seldom rains here and the climate is temperate and dry. The tropic of Capricorn passes a few miles north of here, so we are now out of the tropics and in the south temperate zone. The town is built on the side of hills which rise abruptly for miles from the sea into steep mountains. The town extends along this incline for many miles. Antofagasta is a beautiful sight, well lighted and easy to see from offshore due to gradual rise in elevation towards the steep Andes. Tonight it was especially intriguing as a full moon rose over the Andes and flodded the city with moonlight.

Monday, January 18th, 1965 Antofagasta, Chile

When we awoke at 7:30 the ship had firthed at the "U" shape dock that holds at least eight large ships. After breakfast most of the passengers went to town. There wasn't a taxi in sight and believe me most of the taxis in this and the other towns are a sight. Many are pre-war American cars. When they loose a fender it is lost-period. No replacements. New cars cost 2 and 1/2 times original US selling price. We walked a mile to the Antofagasta Hotel an excellent one, owned and operated by the Chilean government. We were looking for Tom and Bea as they did not return to ship last night. The desk clerk told us they were not registered. Later when shown the name "FINNERTY" printed in block letters he recognized it and said they were in room 526. We were concerned because we were told they had gone off last evening with a chap who was "loco." Later we met the "loco." and the was a 200 pound American mining enginer who is building an 8" oil pipeline over the Andes between Bolivia and Antofagasta. 

We were told the ship would sail at 11 am so we ordered a taxi for 10:30. We waited and waited it showed up at 11:50 after bellboy went after it. As usual the ship was delayed and we left at 2 PM. It is rather discouraging when there are so many things we would like to do and strange places to see and then loose so many hours thru poor decisions and errors. For diversion, while waiting, we noticed a cow swimming in the center of the "U" docks. A ship opposite ours was loading cattle and one of them unhappy with accommodations jumped overboard. (Boy, that must have been a strange nautical exclamation in Japanese "Cow Overboard.") One sailor went over the side to bring it back. He didn't dare grab it for the dangers of being kicked but tried to steer it by splashing water in it's face. The main problem being the cow was a better and faster swimmer. Later another sailor joined the water ballet. They finally got the cow between the bow of the ship and the dock and other sailors blocked off escape. We couldn't see the finale of this drama of the cow and sea, but it was different from our nautical adventures.

Back on the Pacific the sea is glass smooth with long rooling swells. The ship is doing quite a job of pitching. At five PM Hazel Lewis and Marian Pease entertained with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Dinner at six, bridge at seven.

South American Tour: Cerro Azul and Ilo Peru

Thursday, January 14th, 1965 Cerro Azul

It was just a month ago today that we sailed out of San Francisco Bay on this trip around South America. We have made 11 stops, one in California, three in Mexico, one each in Canal Zone, Columbia, Ecuador and three in Peru. We have traveled about 3300 miles by ship and a 1000 miles by plane.

When we arose at seven we were anchored in glass-smooth water off the town of Cerro Azul (Blue Hill) Peru. We are some distance from shore and there are no water taxies available. WE expect to depart for Ilo between 11 and 3. No cargo was unloaded, but lighters brought cotton bales that were taken aboard. We left for Ilo, Peru at 12 noon our last stop in Peru.

Friday, January 15th, 1965 Ilo, Peru

Another beautiful day altho we are still in the tropics the temperature is in the 70's. Sea fairly calm. The passengers spent most of the day writing letters and cards. When we rested the Spragues in Lima, Rod said he would try to contact the Southern Peru Copper Corp at Ilo and make arrangements for us to visit smelter. When we docked at 7 PM a man came aboard with immigration and customs looking for us. IT was the port administrator, Coenroad Vasseher, a Hollander, who worked for the copper Corp. as they owned the dock, the only one there. Coenroad took Millie and me and five other passengers out to the company town where we picked up handbook, asst. super. of the smelter and then we drove North on an excellent road (The corp owns and maintains) for nine miles to the smelter. We had a pleasant and informative experience touring the operation. Then we went back to co. town to Co. Club and were treated to drinks and we arrived at dock at 11:30 PM. Our two hosts came aboard and we treated them to drinks. At midnight the ship left for Iquique, Chile.

Mexican Weekend, Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 Puerto Penasco, Mexico

A few weeks ago, my Mom, Melissa Emery, asked if I could get two days off work so that I could go to Puerto Penasco, also called Rocky Pointe, with her and my Dad, Bernie Emery. I did and so it was set. We were going to go to Puerto Penasco and stay at the Mayan Palace a timeshare that my parents own. Not only that, but my eight-four year old grandma, Mary Lou Holmes; my uncle, David Saegart; and my aunt, Mary Dillon were going to come with us. I was super happy because it had been a while since I took a vacation and Puerto Penasco was one of the places we visited throughout my childhood. I love it!

On Thursday morning, I was up at 5:45 am. At 8 am, I took my dog, Jojo, over at the neighbor's house for his own little doggy vacation with several other dogs there. Oh boy!

We were out of the door nearly and my Dad's car didn't started! He decided to jump the battery and keep going, because he just had the mechanic look at it before leaving and didn't think it would cause any problem. The trip to Puerto Penasco is only about 6 hours and goes by relatively fast. I sat in the back and read my book and listened to Mom and Dad discuss whether or not the car's battery was good or bad. They made a bet that the car wouldn't start on Sunday (when we leave).

We were making good time so we decided to stop in Gila Bend at McDonalds. I got a large coffee. We were supposed to meet up with Mary Lou, David and Mary in Why, Arizona at 11:30, and because of our stop we were a little later. We were the ones that ended up waiting, because Bernie told them what time to leave to get to Why, and he was incorrect on how long it took to get from Tucson to Why. We bought car insurance for three days that we were going to be in Mexico while we waited, and then waited about thirty or forty minutes. Once the rest of our party was in Why they bought insurance as well. Then were were off. We crossed the border and went through Sonoyta without any trouble. My Mom noticed that they put up S.O.S. phones along the 8 highway which they did not have before.

The Mayan Palace is about 40 minutes east of Rocky Pointe. We have stayed in different locations. The driveway into the main resort is 5 miles long. They plan to build lakes and houses and a Grande Mayan and the long driveway runs through all of that! When we arrive at the Palace we got checked in easily enough, but Melissa asked for a room with an ocean view, and it wasn't ready yet. So we went down to the pool and had a cocktail while we waited. The Mayna Palace has a huge pool that sits between the rooms and the oceans. We caught up with everyone for a while and then went back up to see about our room. That's when we found out that the room wouldn't be ready until five. So Melissa, Bernie and I decided to take Mary and David on a tour, Mary Lou decided to sit in the beautiful lobby and have a rest.

We gave them a tour of the tennis courts, spa, gym and beach. We didn't tour the restaurant, because we had packed coolers full of food for all our meals, except for one night in Puerto Penasco. When we returned to the Lobby the room still wasn't ready (it wasn't 5 yet), so we broke out chips, salsa, and popcorn and had snacks until it was.

At 5 PM we were finally able to go to our room, it was right next to the lobby on the third floor. The room had a two bedrooms one with a king bed and one with two fulls. Two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living area and dinning area. Also the couches in the living area are really comfortable. I love them, except that Bernie tends to wake up earlier than everyone in the family and always wakes whoever is in the living area up. So he had to sleep in the living area for this trip, Melissa's orders.

View from the room at dusk.

After we were all settled in to our rooms, Mary and David made pork sandwiches for dinner and Mary-Lou made coleslaw. It was all very delicious. We also had some cocktails.

When dinner was over, Mary, Bernie and I went down to the pool to swim, Melissa and David were going to meet us down there. The pool was a little chilly when we first got in, but it was easy to get used to, but after and entire day of being used it was a little greasy from all of the sunscreen and sand. While, I was swimming I also caught some of the Thursday Night Football game. Melissa and David came down and played ping-pong near by.

After the ping-pong game, we took a walk on the beach. It was very dark and you could see all the stars. It was so cool. Also, Bernie found a sea turtle in the sand, oh wait, no it was a turtle made from sand and seashells! Then we went back up to the pool, Melissa and Mary laid down on one of the cabanas once they did they didn't want to get up. So, David, Bernie and I went to the room to see if the University of Arizona game was playing, Mary Lou was also upstairs so we wanted to keep her company. The game wasn't on, but we could watch the highlights on ESPN so we did that while we were talking. After a while, Bernie went down to see if Melissa and Mary were still at the cabana, they were! And, I went to the sports bar in the lobby to see if the game was on there, it wasn't!

When everyone returned to the rooms we decided to get to bed.

Friday, October 3rd, 2014 Puerto Penasco, Mexico

I work up at 8 am and decided to start out by going to the gym. I got ready quickly, but was stopped in the kitchen because Bernie and Mary were making fresh smoothies and offered to make me one as well. They were spinach, berry, banana, flaxseed smoothies and tasted like peanut butter. They were so filling that I didn't even eat breakfast. When I got to the gym I used the treadmill for thirty minutes, did some weights and then tried to do burpies, and squat jumps. The treadmill was in Kilometers though so I was a little confused, so instead of jogging, I pushed up the incline.

After the gym, I went into the spa steam room and sauna for a little while. Then, I went back to the room. Mary Lou was the only one in the room and she said she was meeting everyone at the gym, doing zumba, and I said that I was going to the beach, but offered to take her to the gym since she hadn't gone the day before. She said she could find it or ask for directions. So I went to the beach to find chairs and get a spot under an umbrellas. The umbrellas closest to the room were mostly occupied and there were loud children there so I moved away toward the umbrellas near the gym when I arrived I saw that Mary was already there. So I sat down next to her. I have brought my book down with me and we went back and forth with reading and talking for a while. Then, David, Bernie, Melissa and Mary Lou came down from the gym. David and Bernie had worked out while Melissa took Zumba that turned out to be a stretch class instead. Mary Lou had gotten a little lost on the way to the gym, but she made it. They told us that they were going to get their suits on and meet us back down there. I asked Bernie to bring me back a cocktail because it was 11 AM and Mary said that I could drink at 11.

Bernie, Mary Lou, David in living area

We spent most of the day sitting at our beach spot and going back to the room for lunches and drinks. Though some of us found time to nap while we were at it. Around 4, Mary, Melissa and I went into the ocean. It was low tide so it took forever to walk out there and even longer to walk until we got to our waists. Then we stayed out there until nearly sunset. I saw Bernie and David on the beach and waved to them, but they didn't see us, so I thought it must not have been them, but when we went back in to our spots on the beach it really was them, they just hadn't seen us.

We decided to go up to the room and make dinner. Melissa and Bernie made tacos and I helped as much as I could. The tacos were great!

After dinner we decided to play cranium, the teams were, Melissa and Bernie, David and Mary, Mary Lou and Bernadette. Everyone did pretty well at the game except that Melissa couldn't whistle without laughing, and she couldn't guess a movie that was "Blank, Blank, the Wind." I'm not sure really who won because every round was the last round, but we never had an official last round, but I think David and Mary played the best game even though Mary had her eyes closed for most of the game.

Saturday, October 4th, Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Woke at 8:15 AM. Melissa, David and Bernie decided to play tennis until 9:45 AM because Melissa had a massage at 10 AM. I stayed back with Mary and Mary Lou for a bit, but met them at the tennis courts. We made great spectators and I even fetched a ball that rolled under the fence for them. At 9:30 AM I went back to the spa because I also has a massage at 10 am. I tried to use the steam room but it was had more steam today and I didn't last very long! Oh boy! But Melissa liked it. The message was so great! I felt really relaxed after and my neck didn't hurt! Yippee.

After that we got ready and went into Puerto Penasco. We decided yesterday that we wanted to swim in the ocean at sunset again, so we decided to have lunch at Rocky Pointe. We went to La Casa del Capitan up at the top of the rocky point next to the Lighthouse. It had a beautiful view. Melissa, Bernie, Mary Lou and I ordered giant margaritas, David ordered a beer and Mary decided to stick with iced tea. Before we were finishing ordering our food, Bernie ordered a second margarita! I ordered one fish taco and two shrimp tacos on corn tortillas. I felt a little bad because they put it on flour tortillas, which didn't bother me, but the waiter heard me ask my mom what kind of tortillas she got and she said flour as well and he realized that we both wanted corn, so he took them back to get corn. Mary Lou had a shrimp basket, David had three fish tacos, Mary had enchiladas and Bernie had relleno. Mary Lou said she couldn't finish her drink so I helped her finish it.

When lunch was over, we went shopping nearby. David wanted to get a shirt and Bernie wanted sunglasses. The both found some, also Mary, Mary Lou and Melissa bought shirts as well and I bought vanilla because it is really good in Mexico and the last time I was in Mexico, I brought some back for my boss and I broke the entire bottle all over my garage floor. So I wanted to get her a new bottle. While, Mary Lou and Melissa were buying shirts, Bernie and Mary went over to Sr. Amigo and Bernie had another margarita. David, Mary and I had beers.

Then we went back to the Mayan Palace. Bernie decided to take a nap. What a surprise! Melissa made a bet with him that he wouldn't make it down to the Sea of Cortes to swim with us before sunset. David and Mary Lou also decided to take naps. Mary, Melissa and I went back to our spot from the day before and sat about an hour while we wait for the sun to get closer to setting. We also ordered Pina Coladas extra strong because it was happy hour. When I was finished with mine, I went back to the room to see if any one else wanted to go into the sea with us, but before I made it to the room I ran into all three of the nappers on their way to the beach! I guess Bernie won the bet. The three of them sat down with Mary and Melissa, but I thought the sun was down far enough, also the walk from the beach chairs to the ocean was even long than it was yesterday. So I started walking. It took forever! And I walked in the water for even long, but I never go it over my mid leg so eventually I just sat down on my knees and floated around. It was a lucky thing that I went down when I did, because everyone followed me about ten minute later, even my Grandma! She was a little nervous because she was feeling dizzy lately, but she went in. Melissa and David helped their mother the whole way. When they finally reached me I told them to get on their knees because it was easier than standing. At first they didn't do it, but eventually they did!

We all swam about until the sun started to set, we wanted to see if there would be a flash of green when the sun set in the sea, but it didn't. We stayed in the water a while longer, but we didn't want it to get too dark so we went back onto the beach.

After our sunset swim we went back to the room and sat around chatting. We also snacked on some of the leftovers. eventually we decided to play a game of catch phrase. It was fun!

Sunday, October 5th Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Up at 8 am. We decided that we needed to leave early enough to make it back over the border before the insurance ran out. So we packed up and checked out. Guess what! Bernie's car didn't start and had to be jumped with David's car! Guess Melissa won that bet! After that we drove home, at 1 PM we turned on the radio to listen to the Cardinals game, and we should have kept listening to it in the car, because they did much better when we were listening to the first half then when we got home and watched the second half on television.