Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego

For me, Tierra Del Fuego has been one of those mystical names in far off places of myth and legend that are difficult to reach. To find ourselves approaching Ushuaia, the southern most city of the South American continent, with the Peaks of Tierra Del Fuego rising behind, seems like a dream. And yet, here we are!

We are the first visitors of the season to a town recently awoken from the extremes of winter. It is cold. The town itself looks very smart beneath the white of the mountains with its colourful buildings along the water front. We have decided to take a tour which will take us up into the mountains to the Garibaldi Pass on the only road to the rest of South America.

We approach the smart waterfront of Ushuaia

The airport is a vital link to this remote city.

Into the mountains we go. The bottom of the valley is peat bog.

On top of the pass, the only route over the mountains.

We are told that the winter snow had already cleared, but a couple of days before it snowed, just for us!

The old four wheel drive road snakes its way down beneath its modern cousin to the “Hidden Lake”.

On the way back down from the pass, we stop at a “Winter Resort” for a snack. This resort boasts two ski lifts up to the extensive ski fields and lots of Huskies for the sleds. We are told that this is a favourite practice stop for competitive European skiers who need to keep up their skills year round. At this time of the year, the dogs have little to do.

Feeding time …

The dog keepers house

Looks quite cuddly really …

Another tour gets lunch … only a snack for us!

These growths are the trees defence against a fungus. They are much prized by crafts people.

Lots and lots and lots of firewood.

As we leave Ushuaia, at sea once more, the sunset fires up and we spend some time on the deck just being in the beauty of the moment. What an amazing place. What is it about sunsets that fire the imagination?

Ahhhh!

Then the lights of Ushuaia bid us farewell.

Farewell to Ushuaia!

Cape Horn

Onwards we go still further south and as we sleep away the night. We have an early morning call as we pass Cape Horn with flat seas and patchy sunlight. All the stories we have heard about this dramatic stretch of water where the meeting of the Pacific and Atlantic ocean currents combined with the roaring of frequent storms have caused so much pain through the ages. Not for us today!

Cape Horn on a sunny day.

For the detail freaks among you, this is what the ship said.

Just off Cape Horn. If you look carefully, you can see the snow covered peaks of the Andes stretching into the distance.

The Falkland Islands

We arrive off the Falkland Islands in the early morning and anchor in the outer harbour to be greeted by calm seas and sunshine. It will be a long tender ride today … could be 45 minutes. We are told that, of all the stops in this part of the world, the Falklands can be one of the most difficult and sometimes ships are unable to stop here because of high winds and heavy seas.

Even if they do stop, there can be problems with the tendering process. On one occasion, several hundred visitors could not be brought back to the ship and had to stay on the island for an extra night, with the ship calling back the next day! Needless to say, finding beds for everyone was a nightmare.

No Doubt where we are!

Could we be in England? A church steeple and a Land Rover driving on the left hand side of the road.

Jubilee Villas – 1837 and a Union Jack. How english can you get?

Untended cottage gardens after the winter.

Lots of 4WD’s here!

Perhaps “Hand made in the Falklands” applies to the house as well.

Best fish and chips on the island.

Signs of Rule Britannia

Two red telephone boxes and a red post box! Apparently the stamps are really popular.

Pretty geese

This is the memorial to those lost in the Falklands war of 1982, when the Brits came and kicked the occupying Argentinians off the islands. Although there were losses, the Falkland islanders are as one in thinking that this was a good thing!

Memorial to those lost in the 1982 Falklands War

Commemorating those lost.

One day, the sea was so rough that this boat found itself half way up a lamp post.

The smell of gorse flowers in full bloom is amazing.

This memorial commemorates the rescue of the Islands from the Germans in 1914.

I’m sure they had gone past sailing ships in 1914.

The hills behind Stanley where much of the fighting took place in 1982

What ever else you might think, the Falkland Islanders have much to thank Maggie for.

Christchurch and whale jaw bones.

Do they really have a parking problem here?

As the afternoon wore on, the wind got up and, on the ride back, some people got very wet.

As we pass this beach on the way out to sea, we wonder about the black and white specs on the beach

Magnified a bit … there they are … the penguins!

Turning north once more, we have a couple of sea days before finding land once more, this time it will be Montevideo in Uruguay and then Buenos Aires. Back to the big smoke!

Enjoy
Alan