27.12.2015: Christmas in Tierra del Fuego
Christmas
The sun is shining this morning in Puerto Williams. We have 10,5°C. The mountains in the background have a light snow on their peaks. It snowed in the higher altitudes during the night. A total of 26 ships have gathered at the Micalvi Yacht Club or are lying at anchor in the bay by the sunken Rhine steamer which serves as the club house. Then suddenly an alarm sounds – flashing blue lights and sirens. In a cloud of dust the modern fire engine from Puerto Williams comes to a stop in front of the Micalvi. When the doors open, we on board are quite surprised to see Santa Claus jump out. Encircled by his laughing firemen he shouts “Feliz Navidad” - he and his men jump in again and are off in the dust.
Directly alongside the “Dagmar Aaen” lies the “Outer Rim”. There is Christmas music coming from the luxury yacht from Hamburg. The crew from Munich has four small children with them who are looking forward to Christmas Eve. The family has been at sea for the past one and a half years. Here on board, our Christmas feast is being prepared. Legs of lamb are being marinated and Michael is baking special vanilla Christmas cookies. At 5 pm there is a surprise awaiting the crew. Gabi brought small gifts with her from Germany. We all sit around with glühwein and the distribution of the gifts begins in the form of a game. By throwing certain numbers on the dice it is possible to get one or more of these funny presents. Following a last exchange round the gifts are then unpacked. Unerringly, Arved gets a beautiful tie with a “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer” motive. A push of the button and it even plays the Christmas melody. He keeps the tie on all evening.
Matze gets a fragrance spray for the toilet and Michael is happy with a card quiz game whose questions are guaranteed pointless. The mess is really full in the evening. Jacques and his guests from Switzerland from the Yacht “Moana” come over and join us. Our Christmas feast begins with a pumpkin soup – a delight! The main course is leg of lamb with mashed sweet potatoes. For dessert there is an Argentine sweet dish. Far into the night we sit and talk together in the cozy mess. The children on the “Outer Rim” got an Artic camp out of lego bricks and are happily putting all the pieces together. Otherwise things remain peaceful in the harbor. In most countries Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. For our Christmas walk we have planned a hike in the mountains. Together with Kreg and Keri from New Zealand and Canada we are going to enjoy a barbeque by a campfire later.
Matze Steiner