Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ushuaia: Tierra del Fuego National Park
and a luxury hotel treat!
Saturday 1st December 2018
 
 
 
An overnight stay in Ushuaia was a last minute change to the itinerary. Four weeks before we were due to start the trip, our travel agent was advised that the domestic airport in Buenos Aires would be closed for the day today in order to accommodate VIP's attending the G20 summit. They had no choice but to accommodate us here in Ushuaia for one night, instead of taking us straight from the ship to the airport. For us, it was a bonus. We got to see something of the local area and stay in a fabulous hotel, at no extra cost!
 
 
 
The National Park is reasonably close to the town (about a thirty minute coach ride to its entrance). Tarred roads don't extend far beyond the town, but the untarred ones are in good condition. It was a very calm, wind-free day, which is quite unusual here, we were told. Our first stop was at this beautiful, tranquil place.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The rock formations here suggest an interesting geological past.
 
 
Cyttaria darwinii (Darwin's fungus)
 
 
 
We were treated to coffee and delicious sweet cakes at the visitors centre.
 
 
Views from the visitors centre
 
 
Another short drive before we stopped again to walk along one of the trails.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here, we are very close to the Chilean border, over which there have been disputes in the past.
 
After a very interesting tour, we were driven back to Ushuaia...
 
...and on through the town to our hotel up the hill...
 
 
...where a delicious buffet lunch was awaiting us.
(Not my photo, but it looked exactly like this, including the view!)
 
After lunch, we were given the keys to our room, also with a fabulous view.
 
Derek was intrigued by the bathroom with a view, which seems to be the new standard for hotels. Geoff and I had seen several of these in Vietnam and Cambodia last year.
 
The view from our room. What a pity we were only here for one night.
 
Dinner was served in the same restaurant as lunch, but there was no buffet this time. I had another early night, in anticipation of another somewhat daunting day of coaches, airports, flights and trying to keep track of my seemingly vast amount of (heavy) luggage!
 
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble