Another day, another glacier! I could get used to this! Viking Octantis had anchored in front of El Brujo Glacier by the time Tim and I got up. I later learned that we did not actually anchor. Instead, we used dynamic positioning, a computer-controlled system that uses the ship's thrusters and propellers to automatically maintain a precise location and heading without using anchors.
The mile-wide El Burjo Glacier is located at the end of the Asia Fjord and is more than 220 feet in height. Although not nearly as large as Pio XI Glacier, it is just as beautiful, and its blue color seems to be even more intense. Like Pio XI, El Brujo is located in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, the largest protected area in Chile.
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| El Brujo Glacier |
I was scheduled to take both zodiac and Special Operations Boat (SOB) excursions, but I was not feeling 100 percent today, so I gave up my seats to some lucky souls on the waitlist.
Even if I didn’t get out on the water, I was perfectly content to watch the scenery from the Bow and from our cabin window. The water was filled with ice and small icebergs, and the setting was magical.
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| The Water Was Filled with Ice |
After Tim returned from his zodiac ride, which got him even closer to the face of the glacier, we went to the World Café for lunch, where we both indulged in the Cherry Jubilee Station for dessert.
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| Tim on His Zodiac Excursion - Look How Close They Got to the Glacier |
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| Cherry Jubilee Station Courtesy of Chef de Cuisine Albert and Public Safety Officer Atha |
In the afternoon as I was looking out our window, I spotted a seal and watched it for a bit. That was the first real wildlife I’ve spotted on this cruise, other than a few birds, since I usually don’t have the patience to wait around for sightings.
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| My Seal Sighting |
For anyone who is curious, Expedition ships do not have regular balconies. All cabins, however, have what are called Nordic balconies. The windows, which span the width of our cabin, are floor-to-ceiling in height, and the upper portion can be lowered halfway. A ledge makes it easy to lean out and watch the action, and I’ve made good use of this feature.
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| Nordic Balcony - Closed (left) and Open (right) - It's Impossible to Keep Windows Clean |
The sun came out for a while when Tim went for his SOB excursion, and the glacier was even more beautiful, with wonderful reflections in the water. We have been so fortunate with the weather on this cruise.
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| Tim's SOB Excursion - See How Tiny Viking Octantis Looks Next to the Glacier |
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| El Brujo Glacier Is Even More Stunning When the Sun Shines |
As we prepared to depart, the Captain promised to sail even closer to the glacier, and he delivered. Naturally, I had to take even more photos of this awesome sight from the Bow.
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| A Final Shot of El Brujo Glacier |
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| Details of El Brujo Glacier |
We were also rewarded with more beautiful scenery during the sail away through the Asia Fjord. Although it’s always amazing to see glaciers, I am also enjoying the entire landscape, including snowcapped mountains and green hills, plus the calm waters.
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| Scenery Along Asia Fjord |
Tonight, I attended another lecture by Specialist Chris on “Fjords Around the World.” What excellent timing! We learned that Chilean fjords are long, narrow inlets with steep sides or cliffs and were created by glacial activity. These fjords stand out due to their vast scale.
Chris also compared the Chilean fjords to the other three areas with fjords – Norway, Alaska, and New Zealand. I’ve visited a few of the fjords in Norway, more in Alaska, and none in New Zealand. Milford Sound in New Zealand is on my bucket list.
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| Fjords: Geological Marvels and Ecological Havens |
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