Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Puerto Madryn, is located near the northern limit of Patagonia, on the Atlantic coast of Argentina, has a population of around 80,000 people and was established by Welsh settlers in 1865. The original settlers were lured here by an Argentine Government offer of 100 square miles of land, along the banks of the Chubut River.
The Welsh influence is still very evident in the area, and the Welsh ‘towns’ have maintained ties to their ancestral home in Wales, UK, by retaining their Celtic language, religion, and culture, while also speaking Spanish.
Puerto Madryn sits on the shores of Golfo Nuevo, a large deepwater bay of the Atlantic Ocean, has a climate classed as a semi dessert zone and ‘enjoys’, year round average temperatures of 12C.
This city is currently the second largest fishing port in Argentina and is also experiencing the fastest population growth in the nation.
The town is also a portal for many outdoor activities and adventures. Scuba diving and sport fishing is very popular, as is wildlife viewing in local National Parks and on the famed Peninsula Valdez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This area hosts over half of the world population of southern right whales.
Locally there are opportunities to see numerous types of birds, including penguins, many types of seals, whales and orca.
Wildlife biologists and environmentalists visit, from around the world, the Punta Tombo Natural Reserve to see, and study, the worlds largest nesting colony of Magellanic Penguins.
To do justice to this area and because of the long overland travel distances to wildlife viewing areas, one should make Puerto Madryn a home base for a couple of weeks.
On our day ashore, the breezes were gentle, the sun was shining and the lunchtime temperature hovered around 16C - a very comfortable day for wandering along the promenade and exploring the streets of the city.
The town does not stand out as being visually very interesting. The streets are laid out on a square grid, the architecture could be described as ordinary, at best, but to compensate, there are numerous, and interesting, examples of public art.
In this arid climate trees struggle to survive and, along boulevards, some have died for lack of being watered. A number of the dead trees remain in place, have been trimmed to a few branches and a trunk, and used to create some very interesting wood carvings.
Surprisingly, over 10 km of city streets were explored over several hours of aimless wandering.
We both have an activity app on our ‘phones and when all walking distances are totalled, for sea and shore days, and then averaged, we have been pleasantly surprised to learn that our average walk is almost 7km per day. As you might imagine, we are both very happy to realize that we have not been as inactive as we thought. Any feelings of guilt, when thinking about our numerous sumptuous meals aboard ship, have been quashed.
The Welsh influence is still very evident in the area, and the Welsh ‘towns’ have maintained ties to their ancestral home in Wales, UK, by retaining their Celtic language, religion, and culture, while also speaking Spanish.
Puerto Madryn sits on the shores of Golfo Nuevo, a large deepwater bay of the Atlantic Ocean, has a climate classed as a semi dessert zone and ‘enjoys’, year round average temperatures of 12C.
This city is currently the second largest fishing port in Argentina and is also experiencing the fastest population growth in the nation.
The town is also a portal for many outdoor activities and adventures. Scuba diving and sport fishing is very popular, as is wildlife viewing in local National Parks and on the famed Peninsula Valdez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This area hosts over half of the world population of southern right whales.
Locally there are opportunities to see numerous types of birds, including penguins, many types of seals, whales and orca.
Wildlife biologists and environmentalists visit, from around the world, the Punta Tombo Natural Reserve to see, and study, the worlds largest nesting colony of Magellanic Penguins.
To do justice to this area and because of the long overland travel distances to wildlife viewing areas, one should make Puerto Madryn a home base for a couple of weeks.
On our day ashore, the breezes were gentle, the sun was shining and the lunchtime temperature hovered around 16C - a very comfortable day for wandering along the promenade and exploring the streets of the city.
The town does not stand out as being visually very interesting. The streets are laid out on a square grid, the architecture could be described as ordinary, at best, but to compensate, there are numerous, and interesting, examples of public art.
In this arid climate trees struggle to survive and, along boulevards, some have died for lack of being watered. A number of the dead trees remain in place, have been trimmed to a few branches and a trunk, and used to create some very interesting wood carvings.
Surprisingly, over 10 km of city streets were explored over several hours of aimless wandering.
We both have an activity app on our ‘phones and when all walking distances are totalled, for sea and shore days, and then averaged, we have been pleasantly surprised to learn that our average walk is almost 7km per day. As you might imagine, we are both very happy to realize that we have not been as inactive as we thought. Any feelings of guilt, when thinking about our numerous sumptuous meals aboard ship, have been quashed.
Port Authority building
Public art along the promenade
Tree sculptures
Bicycle rack - poster advises the benefits of cycling
for health and the environment.
Fruit and vegetable store
Social and sports club
Street dog digging for buried treasure on the beach.
War memorial for those lost in the battle for possession
of the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) 1982.
Terns take this opportunity for a well earned, and safe rest.
No rats on this ship - the metal guards
are there to prevent unwanted vermin from climbing aboard.
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