Day 44 - Puerto Madryn, Argentina

 Sunday we were in Puerto Madryn in southern Argentina. In was founded in 1865 by Welsh immigrants. Today it has a population of abut 103,000. 

Out excursion today was "Sea Lion Reserve at  Punta Loma & Estancia San Guillermo".

At day's end, one the best sunsets I have ever seen occured.

First sight of thew sun rising above the horizon.

I see some green. I have never before seen a green flash on a sunrise.  I have onle seen it on sunsets

Puerto Madryn sits in a large bay called Gulfo Nuevo

The Argentine 

The Argentine flag flying high  over the pier

The gangway we used when getting off the ship.  Because of the tide coming in,  when we got back, they were usiung another gangway to a lower dec

A very long pier here

City sights as we drive to our first excursion stop

Out in the dry desert countryside

We stopped here to view sea lions

Rock Shags ( a type of cormorant) on the cliffside

Not sure what he is telling them.

The city in the distance

Kelp Gulls hanging out here also

A Rock Shag in flight

I rained here recentlt

This estancia (ranch) was started by the owner's grandfather 130 years ago

Where we had our sheep shearing demonstration.

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Our guide on the owner of the Estancia

Wool sorting ninds

Thw ownwe

T^he owner

They asked for 4 volunteers but didn't say what for.

They acarries in the sheep to be sheered

Ready to sheer. The sheep appear to be OK with this treatment. It  did not struggle. The Australian Merino sheep used here are only sheered 7 time - once a year

The sheep seemed very calm

Done

They check the animal and give it a vaccination I don't remember what it was for.

The sheep back outside with another one

The pelt was in one piece

Our guie in white coat translated what the ownere told us.

The sorting area

Wegaot a nice snap and coffee or mette (a tea like drink mad of the leaves of the Yerba Mette plant and is very popular in southern South America) 

The Estancia house

Back in the van

The countryside

We see our ship on the way back

A Sunday soccer match

Don Quixote

Back o the ship

I went out again to walk around

Arctic Terns 

Some sea lions  under the pier

Monument to the Welsh Settlers

I stopped here for a local beer

Monument to Women

Famous  leaders

A colorful mural

Monument to Fallen in Malvins (Falkland Islands war with Argentina in 1982.

Back to the ship again

More sea lions showed up on a different location under the pier

The Arctic Terms

The other cruise ship - The Norwegian Stat sailed first

Long line of last people to get back on the ship

Sailing away.

Warmer today (Mid 70s) so more people sitting outside

One of the outer edges of the bay

Getting late in the day

The sun is already down  now. All the following photos  happened stating about 10 minutes after the sun had set

Good night.