Day 30: Ushuaia - The End of the World

On today's sea day, we circumnavigated Cape Horn, the southernmost point of South America, with AIDAmar. Here, the two world oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, meet. The cape, located on the 56th southern latitude, has a reputation in historical sailing as being particularly difficult to conquer. This is because the waves from the Southern Ocean here are not interrupted by any land masses and therefore crash onto Cape Horn in towering heights. The passage of Cape Horn proved to be an incredibly adventurous test of courage, especially for seafarers. The first sailor to successfully conquer the cape in 1616 was the Dutchman Jacob le Maire.

According to the pilot and captain, we had excellent weather, which initially sounded reassuring. However, the gusty wind was still so strong that I always had to hold on with one hand to avoid being blown away. Not to mention the 6-meter waves.

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the Argentine Republic and the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego. It stretches along the northern shore of the Beagle Channel on the Great Island of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America, covering an area of 9,390 square kilometers. This natural waterway connects the South Atlantic with the Pacific and separates Argentina from Chile. Ushuaia has a population of 70,000 and is located 3,200 kilometers away from the national capital, Buenos Aires. The city is considered the last outpost before Antarctica.

"The bay that turns towards the sunset" - as poetic as the literal translation of the Yamama word "ushuaia" sounds, it cannot describe the overwhelming natural scenery that greets us at this very special end of the world. The gently rippling water of the Beagle Channel, the natural bay of Ushuaia, the colorfully painted houses of the city, and behind them, the snow-covered peaks of the Andes: this is truly a breathtaking panorama, especially when the sun is shining during the entrance to the port.

Today is a sunny day with 9 degrees Celsius and strong gusts of wind, although the weather is expected to deteriorate throughout the day.
When leaving the port, we pass by the sign describing Ushuaia as the end of the world. The souvenir photo is a must. We continue on Avenida San Maipu to Avenida San Martin, the promenade with shops and restaurants. We have reserved a table at La Cantina Fueguina de Freddy to eat the legendary king crab. Complete, in the style of the house, or au gratin. All variations are delicious, and the portions are generous. The pub is crowded, the staff is friendly, and we enjoy the two hours. We skip the Hard Rock Café around the corner.