We Are Off … Almost!

Our next adventure starts in about 21.5 hours … when the driver picks us up from our house in Colorado Springs for an overnight stay at a hotel near Denver Airport [DEN].
I used a new feature ofLæs mere
O/N Near DEN

An uneventful drive this afternoon brought us to the Residence Inn by Marriott for our overnight stay in advance of tomorrow’s outbound flights.
Once we were settled into our room, we walked acrossLæs mere
Outbound Leg 1: DEN-IAH

Busy day at DEN.
We arrived at the Jeppesen Terminal around 9:00a … it took 45 minutes to drop off bags; use the TSA Pre✔️ line to get through security; and take the automated train (packed toLæs mere
Layover @ IAH

UA738 was on the ground at Houston IAH 20 minutes ahead of its 2:46p CST scheduled arrival.
Once we deplaned at Terminal C, we used the Skyway — an automated people-mover that runs on an elevatedLæs mere
Outbound Leg 2: DEN-EZE

The aircraft that will be taking us to Buenos Aires just pulled up to the jetway.
Any other time, I’d be thinking that we will have a delay departing. But this aircraft arrived from London thisLæs mere
Welcome to Argentina

A slight delay leaving Houston, but otherwise an uneventful flight. The meal service started as soon as the aircraft reached cruising altitude. Tummies sated, we put our seats in lie-flat mode andLæs mere
A-Wander in Buenos Aires

It wasn’t quite noon when we arrived at the Bulnes Eco Suites for our overnight in Buenos Aires. Our room, wasn’t available for check-in. So we dropped off our bags for safe-keeping and went outLæs mere
Off to Cataratas del Iguazú

We’re back at the airport. This time at Aeroparque Jorge Newberry [AEP] … for a domestic flight to Iguazú Falls … a 2-night/3-day stay.
It’s raining in Buenos Aires … deluge, with the windLæs mere
Welcome to Puerto Iguazú

Although boarding was delayed 30 minutes at AEP, we were in the air on time at 8:10a, leaving the rain behind.
An uneventful flight brought us to Iguazu Falls International Airport [IGR] 9 minutesLæs mere
Iguazú: Hito Tres Fronteras

A small aircraft + a small airport + no checked bags = getting off the plane and through the terminal easy-peasy.
Outside the terminal, we were met by Ernesto, our driver for today. The plan, heLæs mere
Iguazú: Madero Tango

Our tour package included a tango show that I’d categorize more as a tango and folklore show.
There was a bit of a communication mishap in that our tickets actually included a 7-course degustationLæs mere
Iguazú: Exploring the Argentinian Falls

This morning we joined 10 other people to explore the Argentinian side of Iguazú Falls.
Once we purchased our admission to the park, Jorge (our guide) got shuttle train reservations for the ride toLæs mere
Iguazú: Gran Aventura

We knew about the boat adventure that sails up Rio Iguazú Inferior … the section of the river below the falls.
We really had no plans for doing it. Instead, we were going to walk the Lower CircuitLæs mere
Iguazú: Gran Aventura in Motion

A short snippet of our boat ride to take a ‘falls shower’ … thanks to Mui’s GoPro footage we have a record of our adventure.
Iguaçu: The Falls from Brazil

“Argentina has the falls; we have the view!”
So joke the Brazilians … or so Jorge told us on our way to Brazil to see the falls from a different perspective. I can categorically say that theLæs mere
Bye Bye BsAs … Again

Following a post-Iguazú Falls hotel stay in Buenos Aires [BsAs] last night, this morning we returned to AEP for our next domestic flight with Aerolineas Argentinas.
This time we are flying south toLæs mere
Welcome to Fin Del Mundo

Welcome to "Ushuaia, fin del mundo, principio de todo."
The slogan of the city, located at the southern tip of Argentina, translates as "Ushuaia, end of the world, beginning of everything."
ThoughLæs mere
A-wander in Ushuaia

This is our fifth time in Ushuaia. We’ve pretty much seen and done much of what the city and area have to offer visitors.
The main reason we give ourselves extra days in Ushuaia prior to embarkingLæs mere
Ushuaia: Birds @ Bahia Encerrada

The plan for today was to go back to Bahia Encerrada, the nature reserve in the city … to visit with the birds and take photos, but also to circumnavigate it for exercise and sightseeing.
ButLæs mere
Ushuaia: Empanadas & Murals

To get out of the chill and wind that developed suddenly, we headed up to Doña Lupita, an empanada place that came highly recommended. We were not steered wrong.
After a casual, but tasty lunch, weLæs mere
Ushuaia: Our Kaupé Tradition

Kaupé = We are home … in the local indigenous language.
Having dinner at this family-owned and operated restaurant is one of our pre-Antarctica expedition traditions. The ambiance is warm. TheLæs mere
Ortelius in Ushuaia

Ortelius — the Oceanwide Expeditions vessel that will be taking us on our polar adventure — is snug in its berth at the pier in Ushuaia.
Embarkation day is nearly upon us. One more sleep on landLæs mere
Ushuaia: One Last Wander

Rat-a-tat-tat! Throughout the night heavy rain pounded the picture window.
What we didn’t know until we pulled open the drapes when we woke up was if that rain had changed to snow at some point. ItLæs mere
Remote Weddell Sea

If the ice conditions allow it once we cross the Antarctic Circle, this is where we will be going!
Red is not a good color for us!
And We Are Off!

Embarked Ortelius … ✅
Settled into our cabin … ✅
Got reacquainted with the ship … ✅
Completed the mandatory safety briefing and muster drill … ✅
Enjoyed the sailaway from the openLæs mere
Sonia GelmanThat is cool. Save travels!
Two to TravelThanks … see you in March.
RejsendeAntarktika ya gitmenin en uygun zamanı. Daha sonra iyice soğuyacak. Gerçi şimdi de eksi derece ama! İyi tatil ve gezmeler. Selamlar. Vasıf
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