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Welcome to another issue of Cruise-n-Views Newsletter. If you are new to our newsletter, welcome. We are glad to have you as a subscriber and hope you enjoy the information this weekly newsletter provides you to stay up-to-date on all the exciting happenings in the cruise industry. We also hope you take part in this newsletter, by submitting questions you want answered, providing feedback to help us improve the newsletter to make it even more enjoyable, and even participating in occasional surveys and then reading the results of our readers once posted. The more participation from the readers, the better the newsletter will be. 

Editor: Daniel A. Hoffman, MCC  

This newsletter contains current news and information on the "Cruise" industry. It will also contain the "Views" of the editor on different issues within the industry. The editor owns and operates a cruise oriented travel agency located in Pennsylvania. This newsletter's main purpose IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE for the purpose of selling cruises. It will at times contain ads from different sources. All ads will be cruise or travel related. It will list cruise specials from time to time in the ad section, but as stated, this is not the primary purpose of this newsletter.

In This Issue

#1 Montevideo, Uruguay

#2 Buenos Aires, Argentina

PLUS
-Finally, DDC Club-
-Q & A-
-"Off The Track Facts"-
-Country Flags and Facts-

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Gaucho Culture Rules! Ninety percent of the land in Uruguay, outside the City of Montevideo, is devoted to raising and grazing of cattle and sheep. I, Capt. Lou feel right at home. Sailors and Cowboys have always been kindred spirits of sorts.

However, the Captain has been sailing, not riding horses. Some of my fellow cruisers think about the rough seas and are not so sure. The Norwegian Crown docks at 8 am.

It is the Capital city of South America’s second smallest country, Uruguay. Upon gazing out the cabin window our senses are bombarded by the beautiful colonial structures that surround this urban port, many within a several block walk.

With no real decisions to make, Capt. Lou and entourage set out to explore what may be the best port yet! Looking for a taste of the city’s historic monuments and splendid parks. We head to Avenida 18 de Julio, the city’s main commercial street.

Walking toward Independence Plaza, the site of the Government Residence, we stumble or find numerous smaller plazas. The greatest find is Constitution Plaza, a lively outdoor area that appears, at least for today, to be the meeting place for all of Uruguay.

Here we enjoy a perfect blend of Street Fair, Antique Market, Art Shows, and Cultural Performances. We’re told that this famous event occurs every Saturday. (See two photos, one above and one directly below). Capt. Lou can not resist the purchase of a small guitar made from an Armadillo Shell. Now that’s a real Cowboy/Sailor "accessory thing".

After numerous purchases, we stroll to Independence Plaza which houses an impressive mausoleum and monument honoring General Jose Artigas who led the fight for Uruguay’s Independence from Spain. Handsomely uniformed honor guards add silent dignity to this most imposing site.

Now for "a little less dignity and a lot more action", Capt. Lou heads to the Mercado del Puerto, Harbour Market. Once again, we step into the boots of the Gaucho. Beer and Asado--Barbeque-- are everywhere. The grills used are HUGE designs of rustic simplicity that were essential to cooking on the cattle ranches (estancias) in by-gone days. (See photo below).

Everyone not at the Street Fair is here… eating, drinking and singing. It reminds us of a big Texas Barbeque (Capt. Lou’s in-laws)--but here we have even more noise, more laughter, more color and MORE MEAT. With our slab, we try a typical drink of Uruguay, Medio y Medio. This is "Champagne and White Wine". It costs 85 cents.

How fortunate that we are just steps away from the Port where the CROWN is docked!

Capt. Lou, for one, has found this tiny country easy to love, difficult to forget, and impossible not to return to! (Ditto from your Editor)!

The preceding article was written and contributed by:
Capt. Lou Hoffman

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#2 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Port-Of-Call #16

Now back to Argentina and our last Port-of-Call, "Buenos Aires". The very name evokes images of sophisticated couples dancing the seductive "Tango". Looking almost more European than Latin, this magnificent city is a melting pot and we are determined to immerse ourselves in its culture. However, we have only one day, and much of that is necessarily taken up with the mechanics of disembarking. Dan and Gayle are "pros" at this, of course, and things go a little smoother for us. Last night we packed, needing additional luggage for our purchases, and put our luggage in the hall, bearing the purple tags assigned to us.

In the large luggage staging area ashore we locate the "purple area". Panic ......almost! Three bags are missing, none of which belong to Capt. Lou. They all belong to Dan and Gayle. Gayle and Dan have handled a few clients "horror stories" relating to lost luggage, so they elect to remain at the port while the crews search for the bags. We board our respective bus with our carry-ons and head to the assigned hospitality suite at the Sheraton Hotel Libertidad, which will be our "base" for the day. (Our flight leaves at 7:20 pm). While our bags are removed from the bus luggage compartment, the ever observant Capt. Lou recognizes the three missing bags with Gayle’s special colorful tassels attached. Amazing since these bags were never touched by any of the four of us!

Taking charge like a Captain should, I post Judy as guard on the luggage "that can move itself"--while in Spanish trying to contact Dan at the Port. It takes several hours to settle all and get Dan and Gayle to the hotel reunited with their luggage.

Enough stress--Let’s do lunch and walk around what must surely be one of the loveliest areas of the city. No surprise, really--tourists impressions and dollars are important.

Capt. Lou and group are at the corner of Avenida Cordoba and Florida. An endless stream of sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and galleries line the wide boulevards and pedestrian malls. At "My House" on 616 Avenida Cordoba we have a terrific Argentine Steak al Fresco--and cheap, 42 pesos (less than $30 USD for all four of us!). Intelligent decision made--Can not shop because luggage is at airport, and we do not want to carry anything on long flight to Miami via Santiago. BUT with $16 Cashmere Sweaters--we will board with shopping bags! Oh Well!!

The trip to the airport affords us still more views of Buenos Aires. Impressive!

Our visit to Buenos Aires demands a "re-think" of what we had heard referred to as a problem place. We’ll be back.

There are regrettably no more Ports-of-Call on this trip. However, the seafarer in Capt. Lou intends to put the spotlight back on the Straits and Channels, and especially "Cabo de Hornos", Cape Horn, in future issues. (That is if he can find the proper words to describe this unbelievable area explored by the likes of Darwin, Magellan, et al.) Even if you are an armchair or computer chair sailor, it should be interesting.

The preceding article was written and contributed by:
Capt. Lou Hoffman

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"Off the Track Fact"
by Judy

In Uruguay, the government provides a free car repair service on the route that links all the resorts along the coastline.

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Q & A

This week, instead of a question, I have decided to post an email I received from one of our subscribers. I also posted my response to him.

Question: I am a soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division and I am serving my country in Iraq right now but I would like to thank you for your newsletter. I would love to take a cruise but I will not be home for a few months. I would like to continue receiving the newsletter. Thanks again.

Your Soldier Specialist
Chris B.

Answer: Hello Chris,

First off, I want to thank you for serving our great country and thank you for the great job you men, and women, are doing. If you did not do what you are doing, the rest of us would not be able to enjoy the freedom and choices we have, such as taking cruises in all parts of the world.

Secondly, I made sure your name did remain on the subscriber list so you will continue to get the weekly newsletter as well as any other Cruise-n-Views mailings.

Lastly, if you have no objection, I would love to use your letter in an upcoming newsletter to show just how far reaching our newsletter is, and to commend you and your division for the work well done!

**Note**
The above was reprinted with permission of the sender.

If anyone has a question dealing with any aspect of the cruise industry or cruise market, do not hesitate to drop us an email and we will get you an answer.

Send questions to:
Editor@Cruise-n-Views.com

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Country Flags and Facts

Numbers presented based on 2000 available data. GDP Income/Capita is Gross Domestic Product Income divided by total population. For comparison purposes, USA GDP Income/Capita in 2000 was $30,200

Uruguay

Total Pop.-- 3,351,000
Total Area-- 68,037 sq. miles
Capital City-- Montevideo
City Pop.-- 1,303,200
Metro Pop.-- N/A
Literacy Rate-- 97%
Language-- Spanish/Portuguese
GDP Income/Capita-- $8,900

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Argentina

Total Pop.-- 36,568,000
Total Area-- 1,068,302 sq. miles
Capital City-- Buenos Aires
City Pop.-- 2,965,400
Metro Pop.-- 11,298,000
Literacy Rate-- 96%
Language-- Spanish
GDP Income/Capita-- $9,700

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"Off The Track Fact"
by Judy

This one I learned from my sister-in-law. When in Argentina it is not advisable, unless you really like frowns, to wear the Falkland Islands Logo wear that you bought earlier. "Remember the 1982 conflict and the fact that Argentina still "claims" the Falkland Islands." Right, Gayle?

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