Today we broke all the rules for being tourists. We went back to the hotel late yesterday afternoon and didn't leave until after lunch today. We had half a free day and did not go explore the town. Instead we sat around reading in the hotel lounge. Then this afternoon we went on a boat trip and stayed inside most of the time to stay warm and so took less photos. Finally we went and ate dinner at an irish pub and had hamburgers instead of trying more of the local cuisine. What can I say, rules are there to be broken.
But, it was actually a nice do-nothing day. The kind of rare day that comes around maybe once a year. We weren't thinking about work or planning overtime. We didn't have house cleaning or dirty dishes to do. No wedding or honeymoon planning to do. We had no where to be and no pending business waiting for our attention. After months of rushing everywhere doing everything, i will cherish this half day of completely guilt free doing sweet nothing. (we spent a solid hour laughing at buzz feed)
But eventually, we did put on our well worn warm sub-polar jackets and boots and headed out to the port. We collected our tickets and paid the maritime tax to access the port area. The boat took us out through the Beagle Channel past a few islands populated by sea lions and cormorants and white antarctic birds that spend winter in Ushuaia before going south for summer again. We went all the way out to the Los Lobos Island and round it before turning back. The island has a kind of lighthouse. A german cruise ship beached itself there long ago and so the beacon is there for visibility. We could see the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego in the near distance on the other side of the Beagle Channel.
There was a friendly Spanish couple sitting at the same table as us and we enjoyed exchanging travel stories with them.
After the cruise we returned to downtown Ushuaia and went to the Irish Pub we saw yesterday. Eben was seeking a Guinness but it was a little expensive so he settled for a german beer (still breaking the rules but a new beer to Eben's palate so the opportunity for new things was not entirely lost)
We were very excited today to see some snow falling and we are hoping to see some more landing tomorrow. Our airport transfer is only later tomorrow afternoon. We won't take another lazy day but we may just go wander the city for a while if we can find any other interesting activities within our budget. This place is has trade friendly tax laws in order to encourage economic activity in the province and so things are a bit cheaper here. Can you say Shopping Spree?!
After tomorrow we can pack away our well worn some what understandably odorous winter thermals and snow gear away. We will be off to warm up in the jungle! (from the far south to the far north we go!)
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