Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego Argentina

Enough with the Spanish!

Woke this morning about 5:30am. The hotel´s elevator is 1 metre square. Like the one in Paris. Only room for two people and two suitcases and NO more. Breakfast was food I had purchased from a supermarket I found last night. It was something lemony and sweet not quite sure what it was. Taxi took me to the airport. The tall buidings are narrow and thin. Maybe two to four apartments on each floor. In the poorest areas, the homes are made of whatever is available. Yesterday on the tour I made a friend. She was in the check- in line at the airport today. She was off to Paraguay. Tried calling home but could not get through. We were bused to our plane which took off at 8:30am. Met a gentleman from Milan who was sailing with a crew of 6 around the cape. Sounds like too much work for me. Exciting though! My nosiness is being squellshed. It is very difficult listening in on conversations when they are speaking a different language. So I ask alot of questions. As we prepared to land we hit a number of sudden and deep airpockets. Some people let out yells. It was like being on a rollercoaster and not having to worry about my neck. I loved it. The airport in Ushuaia made me think of a Scadinavian scene. It is rugged and elegant. I met Bridgette and Peter from London England. They were here 7 years ago and Bridgette said she swore she would never come back. She hates the cold. They appear to be in their 70´s. The town of Ushuaia is surrounded by the Andes Mountains (majestic snow covered). The temperature is 6 degree C. Hotel Los Ñires(it is the name of a famous tree in the area) also has a Scandinavian appearance. Lots of wood and rocks. I am staying in a room by myself. After the bellboy left, I sat on my bed, looked out my window and cried. The view was incredible, awe inspiring. I think I am a little tired too. I also am very aware of the silence. I know what they mean when they say deafening silence. OK I´ve had enought of the power outage too. I was happily writing this blog when POOF! the power went out again. Fortunately, this program realized those kinds of things happen and now half an hour later, the power is on and the blog was saved. Ventured to town on my own at 5:10pm. My plan was to sample a local fish dinner. Problem was, the major restuarants don´t open until 7:00pm and my bus back to the hotel leaves at 7:30pm. Next best thing, ask for a suggestion. Tante Sara was suggested. What fun! I thought I ordered tuna salad with a boiled egg and a glass of tap water. Nope! I got wine grilled shrimp with lettuce and a yummy ceasar dressing and a bottle of sparkling mineral water. It was only $8. As I sat and watched the world go by I noticed that here in Urshaia it is the opposite to the islands. Here the locals all go around with sweaters. No hats or gloves while the tourists are bundled up with coats, hats, and gloves. After all it is almost summer here.
It´s 10:00pm. I´m going to go back to my room and read for awhile. Tomorrow we have a tour of Urshaia and then on to the ship. I still cant believe I am at the other end of the world.
Love and hugs, Sue

Buenos Aries

Buenos Aries

OK nobody told me that EVERYTHING including all the direction on this computer would be in Spanish. Go Figure. Most of the letters have been worn off these keys so good luck trying to read this.I had an omltete at a quaint cafe next door to my hotel and I am leavign on a 3 hour tour of Buenos Aries in 5 minutes.I am so proud of myself!I´ll be intouch again as soon as possible. ---I´m back.I´m going back to my leaving yesterday and giving you a run down of the trip thus far---When Billy and I pulled out of the driveway there was a van with the name SERENITY the side. We picked up Sarah and off to TO. Easy trip along the 401.Kisses and hugs at security and I was on my own. Settled down once I reached Dallas.Rode up and down the longest escalator I have ever seen. Was going to try the skyride but wasn´t sure how long it would take and surely did not want to miss my flight.Left Dallas at 7:35 right on time.Our take off speed was 332km/hr.Love it!Slept fairly well considering the bumpy ride. I tried to imagine I was in a hamock on a windy day.Only 20 minutes to landing when I woke. MP3 player was playing EVERGREEN.Lots of people with signs displying names.There it was Susan Gaskell. That´s me.7 lanes of traffic.Similar city to Sao Paulo Brazil.There are beautiful purple flowered trees everywhere.Bus trip was well worth the $15.We saw the palace where Maddona sang Evita(actually it was the presidence wife who spoke to the people before she died. We visited the oldest home in Buenos Aries.I could have spent hours there.Just down the street was an artisan area.There was music, laughter, dancing, paintings and the like. The football (soccer field was amazing. I´m of to bed now. Love SueG

Antarctic Adventure

November 19, 2007. Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 20th, I leave Toronto Pearson Airport at 3:20pm and fly to Dallas, Texas. At 5:55pm the same day I fly from Dallas to Buenos Aires, Brazil arriving at 9:20am. I plan to tour Buenos Aries that day, if I can keep my eyes open. I'm so excited!At 8:50am the next morning, Thursday, November 22nd, I fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), Argentina, the world's southern most city. Wow! On Thursday, November 23rd, we have a guided tour of a nearby National Park, followed by a traditional Argentine asado barbecue (as most of your know, I'll eat anything). By late afternoon we will be sailing down the Beagle Channel towards the Antarctic. My heart is pounding just thinking about it!