By that time, in mid-March, it was too late to continue the voyage to Antarctica, so he decided to leave his sailboat in Puerto Williams for the winter season and return home to St. Petersburg. However, just at that time Chile decreed quarantine and closed the borders.
"When I travel, I usually stay a week in each place. But I've been in Puerto Williams for more than two months now. I've had the opportunity to tour Navarino Island and see the nature, talk to the people. It's amazing! Puerto Williams is very quiet, peaceful and safe", he says from his sailboat anchored at the fishing terminal and tells that this is the first time he visits South America.
Maxim has spent the quarantine on his sailboat, but he goes to the local markets to stock up on food. There he has been able to talk to the inhabitants of the southernmost city in the world, whom he describes as very welcoming and friendly. "The people are fantastic. Even though I don't speak Spanish, many have approached me to help me," he says.
A few days ago he was finally able to board a ferry to Punta Arenas and then took a flight to Santiago where he boarded a special charter arranged by the Russian Embassy that took him back home.
"I miss my family, they are all at home. But this has been a great experience. I will return in November or December, to continue my journey, the geography and landscapes at this end of the world are incredible", Maxim says and adds, "I will certainly return, and I will do it with great pleasure!". Before taking his flight to Russia, he sent us this message from the Santiago International Airport.