End of the World

Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my last week in Buenos Aires. Took in more of the sights and museums but also spent a lot of time just pottering around the harbour area and shopping districts... Marc arrived on the Saturday evening and Sunday was spent doing a whistlestop tour of the main attractions, the Boca area, San Telmo with its colourful street markets and Puerto Madero. Xmas eve we went to a fantastic tango show out in the sticks and well off the beaten tourist track, great to experience a Christmas with a difference. Luckily we managed to find a taxi home but quite a minefield getting back to the hotel, the streets were empty of cars and instead people were setting of dodgy fireworks slap bang in the middle of the road. Bit scary when our driver drove straight over one!

Not easy dragging ourselves out of bed on Christmas morning for our early flight to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Spectacular views over the Beagle Channel as we landed at the end of the world. Our friends, Rebecca and Mike, joined us there and we spent the afternoon exploring Ushuaia, didn't take long as not a huge deal to see! Boxing day we headed out to kayak our way along the Beagle Channel to Estancia Harberton, an old ranch once run by missionaries. We were blessed by sunshine, which brought out the sea lions, a whole family just basking in the sun! Then took a boat trip to see a penguin colony, Magellanic penguins, so cute! Heading off again this afternoon to see more and this time also to get to walk like penguins with the penguins and, as our guide said, make new friends here in South America!

Another real highlight was a walk along the coast in the Tierra del Fuego national park. Beautiful landscapes and an amazing amount of birdlife, have never seen so many woodpeckers from close up, along with ibis and local species of waterfowl. Tomorrow we leave for Torres del Paine national park where we'll be seeing in the New Year. A Happy Hogmanay to all!