We’ve made it to Ushuaia – also called the Fin del Mundo (the end of the world). The name makes sense when you see it on a map. It sits at the base of South America’s curly tail – further south than Australia and New Zealand, and close to Antarctica’s north-bound tendril.
Our plane was crowded with people who looked just like us – hiking packs, Kathmandu and Colombia-branded gear, hiking boots. We left Ushuaia’s wood-beamed airport to a brisk, summery 10 degrees or so.
So started the enormous contrast to the northern supercities we’ve been exploring. This city is small, and ringed with snow-capped mountains – some reflected in the waters of the Beagle Channel. The architecture in the town is multi-coloured and distinctly chalet-style.
During our afternoon strolls, I became obsessed with photographing all the amazing flowers popping up in the grass and in people’s gardens. There’s also amazing street art and knitted colourful decorations adorning the railings near the sailing dock.
But most distinctive impression is just how exposed you are to the sky here. While grey, it stretches dramatically from mountain to mountain. It feels so refreshing to be somewhere so – extensive.
We have so many seeds of ideas for our time here, but we haven’t planted them yet. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds.
VRPS
[Ushuaia]
The Two Swords 