SOUTH AMERICA PASSAGE, Report #6, Ushuaia, Argentina Wow! The extreme southern tip of South America: Cape Horn. Fabled for its rough seas and frigid temperatures we can easily visualize tall sailing ships of yesteryear making this passage – sailors taking down sail in whipping winds, ship violently rolling and pitching, climbing high on ice covered shrouds with frozen fingers. For us the comfort of a warm sanctuary indoors, but the sea scape so dramatic the entire ship’s compliment braving

bone-chilling wind to be out on deck enraptured. The southernmost point is marked by an iconic landmark silhouette of an albatross – in our photo memento an actual albatross above the monument. Can you see it?

Ushuaia, Argentina

Remembrance Day, 11 Nov, a day for us to remember not only our defenders, but, also our day in Ushuaia. A narrow gauge train with the theme

repeated everywhere here, this is “the end of the world”. Originally a penal colony from which there was few escape options for Argentina’s most notorious prisoners (even less than Devil’s Island reported in our previous travel adventures). Today this tax-free city, “the most southernmost city In the world”, economy now vibrant, is indeed the end of the Pan America Highway – contiguous from Alaska all the way to Ushuaia. With 2 cruise buddies, Steve and Denise, we hire a taxi to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Do you know where it

gets its name, Land of Fire? Astounding to us, humans, having crossed from what is now Siberia to Alaska, colonized the coast that vast distance south to here in just 13 thousand years! Encountered by European explorers the indigenous inhabitants, Yahgan, not always characterized in the most flattering light, warmed themselves in this cold climate with many fires – i.e. Land of Fire, aka Tierra del Fuego in Spanish. The Tierra del Fuego archipelago is nearly 30,000 square miles in size! With our view at breakfast (top, left), in the ’steps of Charles Darwin’ – named after his ship, Beagle Channel, excitement mounts as we contemplate a fabulous day in Ushuaia. ‘Till next time we have the

pleasure of seeing you, cheers, Bob and Kerrell https://lincolnshome.wordpress.com/