Today started very early… the alarm going off well before any sane person should be awake. A 4:00am start, bags packed and downstairs ready for a 5:30am bus to the airport.
By 7:00am we were airborne from Buenos Aires, heading south to the bottom of the continent. A few hours later, around 11:00am, we landed in Ushuaia, often described as the southernmost city in the world. From the plane you could immediately see the dramatic setting — mountains dropping down to the Beagle Channel and a harbour full of ships heading to Antarctica.
After arriving, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) provided lunch before boarding later in the afternoon, which gave us a few hours to explore.
Kim and I headed out for a wander through town.
First stop was an ice-cream shop, where we were tempted with a free sample (which of course worked perfectly as we ended up buying some!). Then we picked up some chocolate supplies for the cruise — always good to be prepared.
We wandered along the waterfront past the big Ushuaia sign, the harbour full of yachts, and the old shipwreck that sits quietly in the bay. The port area was buzzing with cruise ships and expedition vessels preparing for Antarctic departures.
Not surprisingly, we spotted our ship – the Fridtjof Nansen – several times while walking around the harbour. Seeing it sitting there made the whole adventure feel very real.
We also found the local artisan markets just outside the port and had a look through the stalls selling handmade crafts, woodwork and souvenirs.
Then, in the interest of important research, we located the Patagonia Brewing Company. It seemed only appropriate to test the local beer before heading off to Antarctica. Verdict: research successful. 🍺
Now we’re back near the port waiting for 4:00pm boarding, when we finally step onto the Fridtjof Nansen and begin the next stage of the journey.
From the tropical Amazon earlier in the trip… to the very bottom of South America.
10. marts, Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C