USHUAIA:The End of the World

Next, we decided it was time to head south, all the way down to Ushuaia. So we caught a bus into Calafate where you can connect to other places and arrived around 9pm (no direct buses from Chalten to anywhere). The next bus to Ushuaia was leaving that morning at 3am...well, we may as well keep on truckin'. So we got filled up with a good meal in town and spent 3 hours at the bus station before our bus left (this time consisted of sleeping on the station benches and standing by the old school heating units).

Once on the bus we realized how complex the trip to Ushuaia, AR, would be. First, you have to leave Argentina and cross into Chile and then leave Chile and cross back into Argentina. Included in this bus trip was a ferry ride over the Strait of Magellan which was a very cold and windy experience but in the end great as we saw some “skunk” dolphins. The bus ride was full of get-ons and get-offs and our passports picked up a few unnecessary stamps, but oh-well.

view from the drive to Ushuaia

Finally, we made it to the southern most city of the world, Ushuaia. While in U-town we went on a boat ride, walked a lot (and in the rain), visited museums, and got some cool Ushuaia stamps in the back of our passports (we asked for all three). We also ate at a wierd but good all-you-can-eat parilla. The meat was alright but the buffet was a welcomed change to our palettes. Although the meat was Argentinian, the buffet was full of chinese food and cheese sticks-at that point in the trip we were down for anything.

A prison that has been converted into a museum.

SEALS! view from a boat ride in the Beagle Canal

Love, love, love

Happy Bobby

But above all else, our dog sledding adventure was our favorite part of Ushuaia. Winter had just ended in Patagonia, but with a bit of luck, we were able to participate in the last day of dogsledding. Now this was not your average sit in the sled and enjoy the ride; instead we actually learned how to drive the sleds and were let loose with our very own team of dogs. If you ever get a chance to do this-make it happen.

Poncho was injured and his barks lets us know he was very sad to not be sledding.

This guys was huge and lazy.  He would only move 3 inches forward so Natalie could pet him.

Poncho again

For speed and racing, they cross-breed a pointer and a husky to make these dogs.  Therefore, the pure huskys are just for show.

After a long run, the dogs would wiggle around on the snow to cool off.

friends

We got to take turns driving our own sled!!

That guy is small...but that dog is huge!! (also lazy like the dog above...he didn't put up any fight)

Our sled dogs!!  the one on the right was crazy

our dogs again

one of the best days ever!!!