6 Continents, 1 to go!

We left Africa behind and returned to the Western Hemisphere for the first time in 5 months.  It's strange to me how it can feel like we've been gone for so long, yet when I write it down it looks like just a short period of time.  We are truly blessed to have been able to see and do all of the things we have done this far, and although we have a lot left on the agenda before returning home, I know it will fly by.

Our first class flight from Nairobi to Buenos Aires was amazing. Like our friend Matt saids...”you know why first class is so expensive, because it is worth it!” We couldn't agree more. Having seats that lay completely flat, and a nice pillow and blanket made the 11 hr plane ride mostly enjoyable. I say mostly because there was about 8 straight hours of turbulence, and even flying first class can't make me like turbulence! Of course the only way we got first class tickets was using points, and only because it was fewer points to fly first class then coach, go figure! We arrived in Buenos Aires with just enough time to grab dinner, fall asleep and then catch a cab back to the airport at 6:30 the next morning. There we caught our flight to Ushuaia (the end of the world). It was the first time we didn't have tickets next to each other, not bad for as much traveling as we have done lately.

Upon arriving in Ushuaia we were met by our tour company and brought to our hotel. We spent the afternoon wandering around town looking for a laundry mat. All we could find was a drop off place, and since it was Saturday she said the clothes won't be ready hoy (today) or manana (tomorrow), she said Martes, which we assumed ment Monday. When we got back to the hotel we discovered Martes is really Tuesday, so we had 3 days to kill with 1 pair of pants and 1 pair of underwear....at least it would all be clean by the time we boarded our ship to Antarctica!

On Sunday we took a canoe/hiking trip through the Beagle Channel to Gabel Island an island full of penguins. The weather was amazing with no wind and lots of sunshine. The guides all say they only get 4-5 days a year like that in Ushuaia. We were pretty convinced we could move here (once we practice up on our Spanish skills a little more).

On Monday we headed off to Tierra Del Fugo for some more hiking and canoeing. This morning began with us socked in by fog (our guide said he had never seen that happen here) and as we began our hike the fog slowly lifted revealing the beautiful Beagle Channel and surrounding peaks. It turned out to be another beautiful windless day. Our canoe trip ended at the end of the PanAmerica Highway, which leads from Ushuaia all the way to Alaska. It is the southern most point that you can drive a car to in the world! Now we just need a picture from the Alaska side (or maybe I have one from my family trip up there 5 years ago).

Tuesday we spent the day picking up odds and ends for our Antarctica cruise. At home we both have plenty of warm clothes and gear for the trip, but of course we didn't bring much with us (a good rain jacket, extra gloves, neck gators). We also each bought a pair of heavy duty boots that will hopefully fit crampons and allow us to go mountaineering in Antarctica. At 4 PM we hauled all of our gear down to the dock and loaded up on MV Plancius. By 7 PM we were headed down the Beagle Channel on our way to the Drake Passage and then Antarctica!

You can check out more of our Ushuaia adventures here