You Should in Ushuaia

Did you know that Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world? The end of the world.  That’s what they say. I was there, three times, in fact. First time in 2003. That’s when the population was somewhere around 45,000. Then again in 2016 and now in 2019, where the population has grown to about 80,000. All three times I’ve been here it’s been sunny and windy but warm out of the wind. It’s the 2nd windiest city in the world too, from what I’m told. I can believe it.  The city was settled in the late 1800's and is known as the capital of Tierra Del Fuego.  The Pan American highway, which runs from Alaska all the way down to here, ends in Ushuaia.  I think it's about a 12,000 mile ride if you want to drive the whole distance.

Main sources of revenue for this city is from sheep, lumber, fishing, and tourism.

Today was a day to visit the National Park, and get some easy hiking in while we were at it.  6 of us from the ship took a private tour to the park.  Our guide led us on the hikes and it was a great day to be outdoors, on terra firma.  My pictures are a bit out of order (kind of like me, I suppose), but I'll do my best to label them properly.

Tierra Del Fuego National Park was created in 1960.  It consists of almost 70,000 hectares of the southern tip of the Andes, running from the north of Lake Kami (Fagnano) in the Beauvoir or Injoo Goiyin range and south to the coast of the Beagle Channel.

Lake Roca

Hiking above Beagle Channel

Lunch in town after our hikes.  This is king crab in garlic sauce.

Lots of berries and flowers in the Park

Our lovely little ship, the Prinsendam

Ticket!!

View of Usuaia from the ship.  That snow-capped mountain in the middle there is called the Four Brothers, as there are 4 peaks.

This is a beaver dam out in the park.  Beavers have become a real problem here and the government is quietly getting rid of them.  They were first brought here from Canada, but since there are no predators here, the population has gotten way out of hand.

Beagle Channel

There is a VERY small post office here at the end of the world.  You can buy a postcard or  mail a letter home from here.  2 postcards and one postcard inside an envelope?  $19 USD.  ACK!!!!!  Snort was just glad I didn't try to mail him home.

Beagle Channel area near the post office.  Isn't this lovely?

This here's the post office, folks!

This new city sign wasn't here 3 years ago.

Andrea and I posed for a picture during one of our hikes.

Views from Lake Roca

South American geese family.  The little ones are babies and will be ready to migrate in March over to the Pampas area of Argentina, where it is warmer through their winter.

Father Goose, guarding his flock.  Or is it his gaggle??

Always like to try a local beer.  Andrea and I shared two different ones.  The winner was the Cape Horn red.  Very good.

This is the little dock that the little post office at the end of the world sits

View of Ushuaia from the ship later in the day

Lake Roca

Part of the king crab lunch.  Under that shell was loose crab meat, freshly steamed

Is this the final walkway that marks the end of the world???

Travel quote:  "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes".  Marcel Proust

Stay tuned for more Pig Tales!!