Ushuaia

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Ushuaia

From Rio Gallegos we caught 18 hour bus to Ushuaia. It’s not the Ushuaia is all that far from Rio Gallegos it’s the fact that you cross boarders into Chile, then cross back to Argentina, and then you have to cross the Magellan straight (a huge river).  For one, crossing borders on a bus is a long ordeal. Everyone has to get off the bus with their passport, stand in line to have it checked and stamped, have dogs sniff your legs and luggage, use the loo, then the bus has to be cleared, and then finally after 1-2 hours you get to enter.

The most amazing part about driving down to Ushuaia is crossing the Magellan straight. Everyone gets off the bus and loads onto a vehicle transport ferry thing (which the bus gets on too, but you can’t stay in the bus). The ferry ride was about 30 minutes of pure joy as dolphins swarmed around the boat jumping and diving in pure delight. The dolphins looked like baby killer whales, it was awesome. We also saw penguins but before we were able to snap a photo they duck dove under the water to avoid the boat. 

 Mike about the board the bus cargo ship

Us enjoying the windy ride across the Magellen Straight

A little funny story from the bus ride:

There was this hilarious gay couple (we think the girl is really a guy) sitting not to far from us on the bus ride. The whole time they were talking, laughing, and making out extremely loud. They were hilarious, the guy was learning English and so he was saying all the few English words he knew and then the girl (or guy were still not sure) would laugh and correct his bad grammar. When we got off the bus to board the ship they wanted us to take a picture of them and then email it to them. Seriously, just a funny couple.

When we got to Ushuaia we ended up camping at Camp Andino’s which is a ski resort in the winter and a camp site in the summer. They had hot showers, toilets that had toilet seats (I was extremely happy about that), and wifi triple score. Ushuaia is a small city located on the southern-most tip of Argentina known as the “El Fin Del Mundo” aka “The End of the World”. This city has claim to being the most southern city in the entire world. The city sits nestled in between towering mountains and the swirling ocean, truly picturesque.

View from our camp grounds over the city and water, so beautiful!

We enjoyed a rather strenuous hike up to one of their glaciers, which in the end, the view of the city turned out to be much more appealing than the glacier. Along the way we met a really cool couple from Spain that are also doing the backpack thing.

 

During our hike we got lost in the woods for about 1 hour walking everywhere but on the trail; it was a funny little adventure :)

 

The view from the top of the hike 

 

The glacier, I thought it was just a small piece of ice but they say it's a glacier lol

 

Mike and this cool couple from Spain, we found them up the trail and then hiked up to the glacier with them

Funny little story: we were hitchhiking back down from the hike (because 1/3 of the hike is going up a steep paved road) and this truck pulls over. I laugh and made a little joke that they are probably just stopping to take a picture because the view was gorgeous. Mike and the two people from Spain run up to the truck all excited that we finally got a ride. Yep, I was right they were just pulling over to take a picture and were a  little surprised when backpackers came rush to their truck. Thank goodness they were nice enough to let us just in the bed of their truck and take us down the mountain. This picture is taken and we were driving down. 

Blessings and tender mercies that come from the Lord: Being totally taken care of by ward members

We were pleased to find that Ushuaia had two churches located within walking distance from our camp site so on Sunday at 10 am sharp there we sat. We were greeted with kisses (everyone you greet here gives you a kiss on the check, similar to Hawaiian style), which I love the custom and tradition, many following eyes (you know the look, oh wow new people), and invitations for lunch from the branch president, which ended up being 100% Spanish so of course I ended up with a splitting headache but the food was great, and a day out on the town with Gregorio, Carina, and little baby Camila.

Yummy food, thanks branch president :)

Gregorio and Carina were awesome they took us around the city and to their beautiful National Park .

The cutest family in Ushuaia, thanks guys we love you!

The official sign of Ushuaia being the city at the end of the world

 

The mountains here are breathtaking!!!

 

The far mountains in the back ground (the kinda gray looking ones) are Chile. The National Park Terra del Fuego sits right on Argentina's and Chile's boarder. 

During our drive through the national park this curious fox came trotting by our car. As soon as we pulled over and started snapping pictures we stood still and stuck his pose. 

After the National park Gregorio and Carina took us over to another members house Nancy & Ruben.

 

Rubin, Mike, Me, & Nancy

Side note: upon arriving in Ushuaia and learning about the world class fly fishing in Patagonia Mike and I decided that that was a sport that we wanted to take up. We made the logical decision that if we’re ever going to learn to fly fish why not start in one of the best places on earth; so we trotted down to the local fishing hut bought the gear and learned the basics.

Nancy & Ruben’s family welcomed us in their home fed us and planned our next two days consisting of leaving for a fishing trip, staying over in their cabin, and having a whole lot of good fun and food. This family showed us the most beautiful form of charity I have ever witnessed. They dropped everything and for two days became our tour guides, chefs, personal fishing instructor, Spanish teachers, and most of all our friends for life. This is a couple that Mike and I aspire to be like. Thank you guys, we love you!

On our way to the lake

The trip was a blast, we went to Lago Escondido (hidden lake) up in the mountains and stayed in this cozy little wooden cabin. In the morning we were excited for our first round of fishing but unfortunately it was too windy for fly fishing so we just played around with one of his traditional poles. After no luck there we went back for lunch and enjoyed fresh breads, cheeses, meats, nuts, chips, and drink.

 

A yummy dinner full of meats :)

 

Rubin, Nancy, Gregorio, Carina, Mike, and I 

Me fishing at our first lake, super windy and no luck :( 

Yep, the only thing I caught, a stinkin stick!

Round two of fishing was a lot more successful the wind was still and the lake was like glass. Mike caught his first little rainbow trout unfortunately it was to small to keep so he let it go and I had fun trying to catch something (note to future fly fishers – it’s a lot harder than it looks :)

After fishing we again enjoyed another amazing meal of meat and breads. Trust me when I say Argentinians love their meat. Over all the trip was a once in a life time opportunity and we enjoyed every second of it! One thing Mike and I have learned while on this trip is how much we love smaller cities. Our picture of paradise would be living in a small city surrounded by mountains and the ocean, tons of outdoor activities, and four seasons.  (Mom I think it’s time to move back home to New Zealand, Kimo what do you think, you in? :)

Round two of meats. 

Check out that huge chunk of meat on our make-shift grill, seriously people Argentinians love their meat :)

The lake right before we left to head home, it was gorgeous!

One of our nights in Ushuaia we camped in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. I know I have said a million times how beautiful and amazing Patagonia is but truly my eyes have never beheld so much beauty! This place is an outdoor lovers paradise! Ok, enough about how much I LOVE this place and back to the National Park. Well our night in the NP was freezing! I was dressed from head to toe in clothes, socks, gloves, head warmer, and wrapped in a mummy sleeping bag and still I felt a slight chill.

Ushuaia's beautiful harbor

These two pictures are from our self guided tour (thanks to Nichole) of Ushuaia's once prison. It was a place of exile where convicts got sent when no other prison wanted them. They were the ones who build Ushuaia.

This funny old prison guard. He doesn't look like he enjoys his job much lol

Ushuaia End of the World, awesome spray paint in the city central

Ushuaia, we LOVE you!!!

Another quick little funny: Mike and I wanted a picture with with the sign above so we found this guy who had a really nice camera around his neck (thinking that since he was carrying a super nice camera then for sure he knows how to take good photos) and asked him to take a picture of us with the sign. The picture below is what he took lol!!! Lesson learned - just because you have a nice camera doesn't mean that you know how to use it