SLOGGING DOWN THE CHILEAN COAST

I think the Chileans must hate us. Before we left home Chile required us to obtain a Mobility Pass. Generally the cruise line takes care of visas and documents like this, but no, Chile said we had to do it ourselves. So we went to the website where the instructions were in Spanish. We asked a Spanish speaker for help; he wasn’t up to date on computer terms, but we got the idea and filled the long form out. BUT ... Hope entered the information using the same email address for us both. No, no, no! That somehow bolloxed up the system so that Me Vacuño rejected both our applications. Three more attempts and departure day loomed. So Silversea gave us a consultant who worked on our behalf, but we were not approved until we were sailing someplace in the Caribbean. Whew! But the inspection was not over. First, three friends were removed from the ship because their visas did not pass muster (they are waiting in Ecuador until we have sailed beyond Chile, when they will return). Then we had a rapid Covid test and a PCR test, but Chile wants to do its own testing, so today we have docked (for TWELVE hours) in the fine tourist attraction of Arica. Only the jellyfish swimming around the ship rival the above view of this splendid metropolis. We are not allowed off the ship; the bar and show lounge have been converted to a Covid testing center where they stuck those swabs into our brains again. Mustn’t grumble.

Because you shouldn’t have to see another blog without one happy photo, we attach one from last evening in the bar with Andrea and Steve Ryan and Cruise Director Fernando toasting Doug and Jane Kline who aren’t able to be with us this year.