The trip to Antarctica began when Brynne dropped us off at the Philadelphia International Airport, and the check-in kiosk would not accept my passport. We were sent to an agent who checked us in. We took our carry-on bags with us to the gate, since we had limited connection times and could not afford to wait at baggage claim. Because the flight was full and space for carry-on luggage was limited, Kent asked if I could have extra time to board. The agent wanted to see my boarding pass, and waved us through.
The 15:45 flight from PHL to MIA/Miami was on time, but we were surprised to be met by a wheelchair assistant holding an iPad with my name! It was difficult to disengage from this service without talking to a manager on duty.
Uh-oh, the 20:10 flight from MIA to EZE/Buenos Aires was delayed...
Monday, December 5, 2022
...which meant we were an hour late arriving in Buenos Aires. Passport control took another hour. As soon as possible we paid for a Tienda Leon driver to take us from the EZE to the AEP airport in Buenos Aires, a trip that averages one hour and 20 minutes. Our driver managed to get us to AEP in one hour and 10 minutes in heavy traffic, arriving at 10:30. Unfortunately, that was when our Aerolineas Argentinas flight departed.
We rebooked on the next flight to USH/Ushuaia, but it cost us over $500. Due to American Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas changing our flight times before the actual trip, we ran out of the number of times we could change the flights to coordinate with each other.
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| The Martial Mountains, at the southern tip of the Andes Mountain range that runs east-west in this area |
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| Ushuaia Airport from the plane |
Arrived in Ushuaia at 16:35 and were transferred to the Hotel Albatros wth other Quark Expedition passengers.
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| Hotel Albatros |
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| Hotel room |
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| Hotel bathroom |
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| We started uphill, where there are steps along the sidewalk |
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| Garbage holders for businesses and residences |
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| Mural by Alejandra Zeme Marila Tarabay (2019) (circa 1884-1900, a genocide of the coastal indigenous people took place by European cattle ranchers and sheep farmers) |
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| Parque Yatana with Nothofagus pumilio/ Lenga beech trees, a native along with Nothofagus antarctica/Antarctic beech or ñire, and Nothofagus dombeyi/Dombey's beech or coigüe |
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| A view down to the harbor (KSS) |
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| Whale mural |
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| Cytisus scoparius/Scotch Broom |
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| Scotch Broom variety |
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| Lupinus polyphyllus/Large-leaf lupines |
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| "The sea symbolizes majesty and power, marked by the union of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the geographical location of Ushuaia. Between the waves the republic emerges, guarded by three dolphins that represent the components of the Navy (ships, marine infantry, and naval aviation), and that symbolize the fidelity and protection of the freedom of the homeland." |
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| A local band was being recorded |
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| Kent and Tamiko at Ushuaia: "the End of the World" as it is considered the southernmost city in the world |
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| Monumento Antiguos Pobladores de Ushuaia/Monument to the Early Residents of Ushuaia (2017, by Antonino Pillelo) depicts an albatross whose wings form a mountain or wave |
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| Monument to the Early Residents of Ushuaia |
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| Antigua Casa de Gobierno/Old Government House (1890-1893 as the governor's residence, then as the seat of government; now an annex of the End of the World Museum) |
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| Marker of the birth of Ushuaia on October 12, 1884 (KSS) |
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| Almacén de Ramos Generales/Ramos General Store (founded 1906) preserves merchandise from the 20th century... |
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| ... but now functions as a restaurant and bakery |
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| Kent awaits dinner |
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| A microbrewery beer |
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| Empanadas de carne/Meat empanadas |
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| Risotto vegetariano/Vegetarian risotto |
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| Local specialty: Alfajor/Caramel cookie: tasted like shortbread with a filling of dulce de leche/ caramelized milk and ground almonds |
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| Monumento a los Héroes de Malvinas/Monument to the Heroes of Malvinas (1994 by Vilma Natero, cast by Humberto Colatruglio) commemorates those who died in the Malvinas/Falklands War |
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| In 2012, an eternal flame was added along with a wall listing the names of the 649 Argentinian fallen (designed by Micaela Barroca and Alberto Santos) |
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| An image of the Virgin Mary that was blessed by Pope Francis in 2014; it is a replica of the Virgin of Our Lady of Luján (the patron saint of Argentina), dedicated to Our Lady of Malvinas |
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| The Martial Mountains above Ushuaia |
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| Kent and Tamiko |
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| Apparently this used to be a casino, but the signs have been removed |
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