Day 5 - Friday November 24, 2023 - Ushuaia The End Of the World

By Ellen Outten

 


Everyone was on time, in the lobby before 12:45 am and on the bus at 1 am for the ride to the airport. BA still has traffic and people waiting at bus stops at this early hour.

Our new guide, for this leg of the trip, and joining Christian, is Erica. She helped get us a taxi at the airport when we learned she couldn't take us herself. She seems like a fun lady. "Many kisses" is her phrase. She and most Argentinians kiss, hello and goodbye in the Italian manner.

If you want cheap living, Argentina is perhaps the place for you. Many things are free. Colleges, including medical school, all medical care, all free. I wonder if you're well taken care of? The new government and President elected last Sunday have made many promises including privatization of most industries run by the government.  

With 40% of the population under the poverty level, there are obvious changes needed. Having traveled here now, I have a new interest to read and follow the new Argentina government progress as I have continued to read about Turkey and their recent election since being there in May.  

Travel gives can give us a wider outlook

Back to being on vacation. Oops, there is no such thing, as vacation when you are retired. You're just "not home" or maybe, just traveling

Well, we definitely had our early day today.  The first flight was uneventful leaving at 4am amd arriving in El Califate at 7:10 am.

The challenge was the 50 minute layover and the rules of the airport. Every airport is different and until you get there, you just don't know what is required. Let's just say 50 minute layovers are insufficient at almost any airport.

We deplaned and then had to exit the terminal, go through security, then thea long line to back through Passport and Immigration control. We finally cleared that hurdle and had to go through security once again before hauling ourselves to the gate.

By the time we got to the gate, most everyone had boarded and our group was just about the last to get on as the doors closed.

With only an hour and 25 minute flight, we landed in Ushuaia at 9:30. Luggage arrived and then through security again to check that we weren't bringing any fruit into the Tierra Del Fuego area.






By then, we were hungry! We stopped at a general store that had some wonderful pastries and had coffee and pastries.   

After a short ride around town to show us the sights, we had two hours of free time to wander the streets and buy souvenirs and eat lunch if we wished.

We opted for no lunch as we had just had coffee.  

Our tour guide and local guide took us on a drive through the national park of Tierra Del Fuego. This borders the country of Chile. It reminds me of being at Baxter State in north Central Maine. Isolated, pines, and many fallen trees from the string winds.








We board the ship at about 6 pm with dinner at 7:30. Argentinians do not eat early. It's not unusual for them to have dinner at 10 pm.




This will be an early night for sure.



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