"Punta Arenas is the southernmost city on the planet, the oldest and largest city in Patagonia".

That's what the guidebook says, but if they added "it is boring and completely without charm", it probably wouldn't be good for business. Add to this that the weather wasn't that pleasant; it was windy in the morning and that turned to drizzle by afternoon. Cold drizzle.

The big attraction is an island with about 110,000 penguins on it, but the cruise ships hires out the entire ferry service this island, so its pay the ship's price or do without.

We hit a couple of museums and our favorite, the local supermercado, and headed back to the ship by mid-afternoon.

Punta Arenas: As exciting as it looks.