Fin del Mundo .... End of the World

Ushuaia .... arrived in Ushuaia early Wed morning after our 2am trip to the airport in BA - and feel lucky to be here on time as so many flights have been delayed or cancelled, due to volcanic ash from Chile ... or air strikes.  Not sure which.  But we are here!!!!!

 

This is the Hotel Bresia where we are staying .... 4th floor and big glass windows to enjoy the fabulous view of snow capped mountains all around.  Spectacular!!!

Off to find some breakfast - still can't believe that the boys took us to a chocolate shop for breakfast!!!! But they did serve breakfast.  Some of us had banana and chocolate (of dulce de leche ... carmel) pancakes - filled with THICK gooey chocolate.  No it wasn't me!!!!

Duty free shopping here .... mmmmm

Met our Tucan tour guide and other passengers later in the afternoon. Tour briefing and out to dinner with the group - we (6 'family' members) make up half the group.  Others are young travellers from Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada and Belgium. Really enjoy hearing their stories.

Tip from Zac ... try the King Crab, or salmon here in Ushuaia - so we did.  Had seen many plates coming out of the kitchen covered in a large crab shell .... but I ordered a hot crab dish so didn't get the shell experience. I enjoyed mine.... and we saw one of the live crabs being displayed around the restaurant too.

 

Lex enjoyed his salmon in lemon cream sauce too!!!!

Ushuaia - Most southerly town in the world - "fin del mundo" - end of the world - departure point for cruise ships to Antarctica - snow capped mountains right outside our window - the Beagle Channel a block away - magnificient scenery all around - refreshingly cold outside and warm inside - duty free shopping - great food - nice cold beer and cider - shops, pubs and restaurants with heaps of character - beautiful sunny days - rain showers - long walks. We like Ushaia.

Thursday we went on a cruise on the Beagle Channel which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, named after the ship Darwin sailed on. We got to see sea lions, birds, penguins.  Apparently this place is a favourite with bird watchers - many well-equipped, experienced bird watchers on our boat trip!!!

Where we stopped to see the penguins, the boat pulled right into the shore ... ever so quietly, and the penguins carried on regardless!!!  As if we weren't even there.  Amazing

 

When the boat was under way ... it was COLD outside on deck.  Inside was warm and very comfortable.  Changing temperatures is a little tricky to get used to here.  First day was mostly due to differences between shade and warm sunshine, but mostly it's because the buildings are heated.... and outside ranges from chilly to COLD!!!

About 5 hours on the Beagle Channel - then off to find one of Zac's recommendations - a place for salmon sandwiches for lunch.  And they were GOOD!!!  Large toasted panini stuffed with marinated salmon.  

Cloudy day - but very little rain.  But daylight lasts well into the evening.  We didn't didn't go out for dinner until 9pm - still daylight!!!  Have found a really nice cider here in Argentina - REAL, refreshing!!

On our way home .... 11pm!!

Long days - early mornings, and late evenings, makes uploading photos and blogging a little difficult!!!