December 3rd
Sol had to retake an exam today so she couldn’t come on the penguin excursion with me. But Gaby, Sol’s mom, stepped in and came along instead! We showed up to the dock at 8:30, only to find out that almost every boat—including ours—had been canceled due to the crazy winds. Thankfully, one ship was still going so we scrambled over and managed to snag spots. Lucky break, for sure.
The ferry was packed with all the stranded passengers from the canceled tours, but Gaby made the experience instantly better when she whipped out some snacks, including two bags of popcorn. I jokingly asked if Sol had told her that popcorn was my favorite food, and she laughed, “No, I had no idea!” The fact that she was munching on popcorn for breakfast told me we were going to get along just fine.
The winds were no joke, and even within the sheltered bay the water was choppy. It took about two and a half hours to reach Martillo island, with rain and clouds accompanying us the entire way. But just as we neared the island, the sun broke through the clouds like it was perfectly timed for our arrival. Everyone hurried to the front deck, and we were lucky to pick the side closest to the penguins.
The penguins were adorable – of course. Some lounged on the rocks, soaking up the sudden sun, while others were preening or chatting with each other. A few bold ones swam toward the boat only to make quick spins and dart away like they were playing a game of chicken. Gaby and I were smiling the whole time we watched them:))
Funny enough, as soon as we left the penguins the clouds rolled back in and a light drizzle started up again. On the way back we made a quick stop at another small island to see a historic lighthouse. The rocks around it were crowded with sea lions—some with cute pups—and lotsssss of cormorants.
The return trip was even windier, and the waves were rough. While a few people looked like they might lose the battle with seasickness, everyone managed to hold it together. After what felt like forever, we made it back to the port.
