It's a three and a half hour flight to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires. I had hoped to sleep on the plane but no such luck. Maybe I was too excited to arrive in Ushuaia, the world's most southerly city?
When I went to New Zealand in 2002, I made it as far south as I could there, to 45' south. It's amazing to think that I'm now at 54.5 degrees and in a few days will be even MORE south!
I arrived at the 'end of the world' and instantly had to accept that summer's over for a while! Brrrr! Out came the long johns, fleece and my ever faithful toque (how I do love that word!). I felt like hibernating but forced myself out for a walk along San Martin, the main shopping strip in town.
I got my bearings and made plans for the next day. I was going to stay at the posh hotel one more night and go on a tour into the Tierra del Fuego national park. I was eager to get out and do some hiking.
I had to think hard about how long I had here before the cruise started. It worked out to three full and two half days here. There were times throughout the day, particularly when I felt the cold, that I wished I was back in Buenos Aires tango dancing. Why had I booked my flight on the 21st and not the 23rd?!
As I had dinner on the fourth floor of my hotel, I looked out at the view of the harbour at sunset.
There were ships at the docks, a vast expanse of chilly waters leading to the Atlantic to the left and the Pacific to the right, and snow-capped mountains in the distance. It was then that it really hit me and I had a heightened awareness of how far away from home I am and what a truly special place I am in!
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