Ushuaia

Up very early today to join the Sunrise Club in the Sky Lounge for the sail in.  Mickey Live started his narration at 5:30 and it was indeed informative.  But just sailing in to such a remote port is amazing.  Tucked at the base of the mountains against the channel is a white city.  Sailboats are a surprise but the weather is managed by the seawater temperature so has a 20 degree range.  Normally it can be as cool as 40F but as warm as 60F.  The mountains peak at about 800 feet so they are not snow-capped but the Martial Glacier can be seen behind them.

Breakfast at the buffet and now I can get a cell signal for the first time so will check emails and feel like I am in the real world!  Didn’t miss the constant interruptions caused by my lack of digital discipline but will really enjoy reconnecting today!   

Anna and I had a 10:30 bus ride around town scheduled.  I thought it was a HOHO but there was only one stop and the tour was about an hour.  I walked off a little before nine and met Anna at the information center.  She went for an early walk about.  I got my Passport stamped again so I will have to look back and see just when I was here before.  I think 2012.  We picked up maps of the city and checked e-mail.  Then asked if we could join the 9:30 tour and that was fine. 

We drove out to the country on one main street and stopped where we could climb up for an overview of the town.  Driving through a variety of neighborhoods on the other main street, I was particularly struck by the amount of Public Housing.  There was a neighborhood that was up on a hill that seemed to be newer and have a few very nice, modern, maybe built in the late 1980’s or early ‘90’s single family homes.  But mostly things were ramshackle.  I suspect a lack of materials is one issue and the other is the age of the settlement.  This is also, perhaps, enhanced by the laid back attitude of a fishing society and expeditionary supply economy.  The people that settled here were adventurers or prisoners!

The tree line is clearly marked.  Our ship is less than 3,000 passengers and yet is the biggest 'building' in town!

After the tour we walked from one end of the town to the other.  Out on the lower, seaside street of shops, museums, and hotels.  Then we climbed the steep side street to St. Martin’s and walked all the way to the other side past souvenir shops and restaurants.  Lots of people and lots of messiness.  Construction was going on to refurbish a few buildings.  Sidewalks needed definite repair.  The tiles are cracked, broken, missing, or completely at odd angles.  In one spot there were a few locals selling thread bracelets and woven shawls or ponchos.  There were plenty of police officers posted in every block. 

Expedition ships set out from Ushuaia regularly during the short summer season.  If there are less than 500 total on board then you can walk on the continent or at least the out-islands.

Small outdoor museum acknowledging indigenous peoples.

My friends all went on exciting tours but I did not want to repeat something I had done previously as tour costs really add up.  And in checking options I discovered that Celebrity has ridiculously expensive tour prices.  So today we walked, and talked, and people watched.  Then went back to the ship.  Kind of wish I had found another option but then again I really enjoyed a quiet visit to this unique village.  The southernmost town in the world!

I had lunch, took lots of photos, read for a while and then joined Fred and Linda who had returned from their visit to the National Park.  They did this time what I did last time but for about 3 times the price.  We met Sue Ann and Gary for dinner while Anna opted to eat in the buffet and then go to the early show.  It was singer Lizzie Ball.  I am not big on girl singers and we had so much fun just hanging out I was happy to skip the formal theater presentation. Sue Ann likes to gamble after dinner so we talked Gary into coming with us to the Card Room.   Because we were still in port Sue Ann soon turned up just as we finished BananaGrams.  Shipboard shops and Casinos are never open when the ship is docked.  We all played 7-Up for about two hours.  The chatting, teasing and laughing was so much fun!  It was a great pulmonary workout!

Back in my cabin with my usual cup of tea, Anna was already asleep.  I got my stuff ready for Friday’s early rising for the sail to Cape Horn!  A little reading and lights out!