DEN to Buenos Aires and then to Ushuaia!

 

 

Our trip started the way most four trips do, up early, check in, Club Room, Plane and fly to destination. Today was just a bit different. All went well till we were in Houston ready to board our flight to Buenos Aires (BA). 15 minutes from our boarding time and boom the flight is cancelled. This was due to a crew delay. We were provided with a hotel for the night and meal vouchers. The flight was rescheduled to 0800 the next morning. 

Off to the Hilton Garden near the airport for a few hours sleep. Morning shower was refreshing as there was plenty of cold water. (No hot water) Back to the airport and to a Club Room and finally we were soon on our way to BA.

This is why we always plan on arriving a day early to ease these kinds of events and get used to a new time zone.  

Very nice flight with a great cabin crew. 

Arrived in BA, and made our way to Passport Control. We happened to choose unwisely and got the person who was a tad slow. No problem as we eventually gather our bags and meet a representative for our transfer to the Sofitel Recoleta. Got checked in, laundered some travel clothes and crashed. 

We did receive a welcome letter outlining the next couple of days. The Plan Unfolds As Follows: We will check in with our guides to receive luggage identifier tags, test for COVID, we are asked to try and limit our contact with others.

On 1/31 we will fly to Ushuaia and our bags need to outside our door by 2200 hrs the night before and a to go breakfast will be available at 0300 and we leave at 0400 for the airport. 

Our plan for today (1/30) is to repack our bags making ready for the Ushuaia flight.  We will go out and gather take away food. We know of a great empanada shop and a nice deli nearby. This will get us some walking and a bit of outside time. 

Most folks will probably head out for some Argentinian beef. Yes it is good and is almost as good as Wyoming beef. 

Talked to a couple from BA in the club room who knew of the empanada place I remembered. He was very pleased with my desire to get a spicy beef empanada, which he highly recommended. 

In Ushuaia the plan will be to have lunch at a restaurant and get COVID tested again before boarding the ship.

Stay tuned as we progress on our Journey South.
1/30/2022

Up about 0530 and made our way to breakfast. After breakfast we chilled in our room reading and repacking our bags for tomorrows flight.  We did have another medical form to fill out and were cleared to travel. 

Sadly, we discovered our most excellent Empanada place is closed for refurbishment. We went to a food court in the mall across the way and procured food for lunch and the evening meal. This is to avoid people contact. 

Today, 1/30, we have a COVID test at 1430. The reason we are being super careful is should one test COVID positive we wouldn’t be allowed on tomorrows flight to Ushuaia. In Ushuaia we will be tested again. A positive test means no boarding the ship. We will be tested 1/2 way through the cruise, again if positive quarantine in your room.
 
And so it begins, 0300 wake up and to the lobby at 0400.

The morning seems to be a series of endless lines, bus, get bags, check in, security, and wait, board flight, get bags, get on bus.  Then off to a local rugby club for COVID testing. Lines :). Good news is all are testing negative.

Lunch at a local restaurant which included empanadas, salad, fried potatoes, and a nice assortment of grilled meats. Ice cream for desert. 

Then a drive for a couple photo ops. Then we board the ship. 

As there are only 130 guests, we received an upgrade. Our single room was opened up into an adjoining cabin so we have double space. Nice and roomy. 

There is the crew introductions and safety drill.  Gather for a sail away and depart from Ushuaia. 

Explored the ship a bit and noted there were NO NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS in the library.WHAT!! Glad I brought one.   

We had a simple meal of soup and salad. We also spent a little bit of time visiting with other travelers. 

Off to finish organizing the room and then to bed.  


 


In 1578 Sir Frances Drake was sailing the Golden Hind around the world. When he reached the end of South America he opted for the safe Straits of Magellan to enter the Pacific Ocean. His flotilla encounter stormy weather and his ship the Golden Hind was blown into the Drake Passage. This incident demonstrated to the English that there was open water south of South America.

The Drake Passage is known for rough seas. This is due to a combination of a few factors.  The Drake Passage is the shortest route from Antarctica to the rest of the world, (620 miles) making it an area where the winds have less area to disperse. While the passage is deep (11,500’), there is a feature known as the Antarctic convergence. Simply put, between 50 and 60 degrees South Latitude the Antarctic Ocean and the other oceans meet.

It is here the warm water of the Northern Oceans (Pacific and Atlantic) meets the cold water of the Antarctic Ocean causing an upwelling. This contributes to creating a nutrient rich environment of plankton and krill. It is these small elements that sustain all animal life in Antarctica.