Midnight in Ushuaia, Argentina
Walking down the dock to meet a sailing boat (Ushuaia, Argentina)Ushuaia, Argentina is known as the "City at the end of the world". It is the world´s southernmost city. It is very touristy, with a delightful main street with tons of shops. Still, it is possible to eat and sleep economically. I´m currently staying at the Los Lupinos hostel (well named--the Lupines are in full bloom this time of year!--they are beautiful and smell nice too!)
The weather here is SO COLD! I was not expecting it to be this cold and windy. I don´t even have a jacket! BUT I did bring plenty of shirts to layer, and that´s exactly what I´ve been doing.
New Year´s Eve was interesting. At midnight, we made a toast, AND THE SKY STILL WASN´T DARK!!! Although the sun sets around 11pm, it doesn´t really get DARK until about 11:45, and then the sky isn´t dark for another half hour.
This means that whenever I eat dinner--even when I eat very late--which is common, it´s during full sunlight. It´s disorienting!
Ushuaia serves as the jumping-off point for the next point in my journey: my Antarctic Cruise!!! I booked a cruise, and I´ll be departing on the Marco Polo by Orient Lines on the 5th of January. I will return on the 13th of January.
I have had to buy some extra clothes, and am renting boots, waterproof pants, and a big jacket. The cruise lines provides a big parka, so I should hopefully be well equipped. I´m hoping for "good weather" while in the Antarctic... Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Until I return, this will be my last post for a while, so I hope you enjoy!
Looking up at the city and the mountains behind (Ushuaia, Argentina)
The view out my hostel window at Los Lupinos (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Cool bank building (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Lupines in full bloom. Lupines are all over the place here! (Ushuaia, Argentina)
I loved this craggy stump I encountered on the hike (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Vista encountered on the hike (Ushuaia, Argentina)
People have a hard time following instructions here, too (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Cool sidewalk art (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Beautiful berries growing in a crack in a rock (Ushuaia, Argentina)
These golfball sized fungus were all over the place. The trees where they grow seem to have large "knuckle" looking joints wherever the fungus grows. Saw these while on a hike. (Ushuaia, Argentina)
On the hike, found this very pretty little waterfall (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Let´s hope this doesn´t happen on the way to or from Antarctica! (Ushuaia, Argentina)
The entire town of Ushuaia is on a hill, so all the streets are like this, and the yellow flowering bushes are everywhere. It reminds me of Forsythia in Flagstaff (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Dramatic skies are just as common as the freezing breeze. (Ushuaia, Argentina)
Lots of the cars here are old. The occupants of this vehicle were delighted that I was taking their picture and were waving. (Ushuaia, Argentina)
3 comments:
It's great that you're going so soon! What happens to your previous reservation for late January?
if you find yourself completely burned out on the whole "Dilbert" office lifestyle, you have a great aptitude for travel writing! Awesome photos, too :)
- Jenn
I was reading some foreign language sites and came across your blog and was very surprised to see my name. I was teaching French in Flagstaff about 20 years ago. So the French teacher you refer to on your blog could be me! I'm sure you have changed a lot so I can't say I recognize your picture. Did you go by Scooter then? How cool that you are traveling and involved in learning languages. and that you dreamed in one!!! What wonderful photos and insights. I am still teaching French and Spanish in Vermont. My older son will be in Flagstaff soon to study after a year abroad in Spain and Holland! Que mundo pequeno! Estas todavia viajando? o estas en Flagstaff? buena suerte, Mme Edlund
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