We arrived in Ushuaia at 8pm ...i think. Our plan in this town was just to get a stamp in our passports to confirm that we had indeed reached the end of the world. Now thinking of it, with all the bus tickets, food and hostels, it has been an expensive stamp! But well worth the trip down. That smug Kiwi bastard Shaun (god love him) from El Calafate made the wise choice to fly down, so he is waiting for us in our hostel Antarctica, fresh as a daisy. The 19hr bus journey has left us undeterred, and we popped to a Perilla buffet restaurant and eat like kings for 24 pesos! As if that wasnt enough, cheap drinks in yet another Irish bar ´Dublin´ ended the long day. The boys drinking Beagle, the local beer, and me with cosmopolitan coctails, we look like a right bunch of prats. I didnt realise how much i missed vodka, unitl it was taken away from me (well it´s always been there, just too expensive) But what do i care, im at the end of the world baby!!

Steve and Martin stay out drinking, Shaun and i are pooped. This is where i find i am a connect 4 and Jenga genius (El Calafate i thought was a fluke game) back at the hostel. So i have found a new talent, Master at kids games, among other things i might add... The boys get back quite late, having found 2 ropey strip clubs on the way home ´by accident´, tsk.

Not content with horse-riding in the Andes, i thought it best to try it again in ´Narnia´. A guy had said that horseriding in mount Susana was like nothing on earth, and he was right. Being a pro at riding now, i was confident on the horse... back at the ranch...before we started out on the ice and snow...and rivers... and steep slopes... It was a pretty terrifying experience, but our guide Adolf had been riding these paths for 20 years so it was safe (hmm). Picturesque views, literally of Narnia are amazing, more mountains and snow! Ill let the pictures speak for themselves...

Our horses ride through a part of the Beagle channel before we stop for a rest.

More galloping on the way back - of course. Get back just in time to catch a boat trip from the pier out to a few islands. I brush past this like it was nothing, but we got a metre away from a sea-lion island, with them jumpping around the boat next to us. Also get off the boat onto an island called ´the gateway to Ushuaia´ for a trek. This is situated between the Chile/Argentina border and can see both countries from the peak. The sunset over the bay as usual was beautiful ( ahh i sound so gay when i say that don´t i!). Back to dry land around 7 and early to bed for the next adventure in the morning.

Someone had the bright idea to hire a car between the 5 of us (Shaun, Steve, Martin, me and a lady from our dorm). Being that its minus 5 and ice on the road at all times, not such a good idea looking back. Shaun steps up to take on driving, being the extreme nutter he is. Our aim today is to go Husky-dog sledding and pop up to the national park. Luckily the sledding is ony 5 miles away, but still takes us most of an hour to get there in the mountains. The Husky-dog sledding was excellent fun, taking 2 of us at a time on a deep snow course throught the woods.

As if that wasnt extreme enough, we drive a bit further up the mountain to check out Snow-mobiling. With awesome results. Our guide took us around a half hour course of snow and bumps, telling us the controls are just like driving. I just smile quietly, knowing i have failed my driving test twice, im probably not the best candidate for such a dangerous sport. But what the hell, im here now. Get up to 45 miles an hour, despite being told that was too dangerous and almost lose control. But the main thing is that i didn´t, and i was the fastest out of the lot of us, ha! Adrenaline pumping, i look around for a ramp, to no avail, i give up and park. Im now a hardcore extremist. Phew what an intersting day so far and its only 1pm! Our Renault Laguna is serving us well on the icy roads, we get about an hour up into the mountains before we realise that we are alomost out of petrol on the most dangerous (and quiet) road in Argentina. Such a shame as we almost got the the park, but as we had a deadline for the England game we had to hurry back. Just manage to get back to camp, with minute petrol left in the tank, living on the edge is turning out to be a trend for us. Yet another bus is booked for our getaway to our next destination, Puerto Natales to board the Navimag boat. Unfortunalty this leaves at 5:30 the next morning, so the only thing left to do today is visit the Museo Maritimo prison. This once held 600 naughty inmates and contained exhibitsfrom expeditions, as well as information of the history of the prisoners. Found myself stroking one of the guards chins, as you can see from the picture he wasnt too impressed, but let me out with a caution. There is always time to shop for tacky souvineers and send postcards home, which i did next, as if that wasnt enough, i ventured to a cafe at 12pm to attempt to conquer what felt like a Kg of Black Forest Gataux. It won in the end, with me leaving 2 spoonfuls. Damn cake.

written by  Vegtibbles on June 18, 2006 from Ushuaia, Argentina
from the travel blog: The Crazy Adventures of the Tibbler
tagged HuskySleddingSnowMobilingAndJenga
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You certainly seem to have overcome your fears of horses and dogs now Laura! Fantastic photos. Miss you loads. xxxx

written by  Amanda Tibbles on July 2, 2006

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