31.10.19 Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego Day 12

Last time waking up with a view of the sea and Ushuaia.

Today we have breakfast between 8 and 9 o'clock, we have to pick up our passports again (the exit stamp from Chile and the entry stamp from Argentina are already in the passport) and so we leave the ship.

We take a taxi to our hotel and meet Gaby and Rainer for a hike at 10 o'clock.

We walk to the hotel of the two and take a taxi from there to Laguna Esmeralda.

I have a little currency problem, and believe that 1000 Argentine pesos are €1.50 and round generously to €3.00. In Chilean pesos it would have been the same....but 1000 Argentine pesos are actually €15....one place off 🤦‍♀️

The taxi driver is delighted, but since he will pick us up again, he makes the return trip cheaper.

So we start the hike to Laguna Esmeralda and soon realize that the path is either still covered in snow or very muddy.

The trail has apparently not been repaired after the winter.

We sink alternately in the mud, always looking for the best way.

The path to the lagoon is quite long, and when we arrive there, it starts to rain and storm, so we make our way back.

Gaby sinks knee-deep in the mud on the way back and beneath me the snow gives way and I sink with one leg up to my hip in nothingness (in a crevasse, 😂😂😂)

The weather isn't great, but it's a lot of fun.

Towards the end of the hike, the sky clears up and we take a break in front of a dreamlike backdrop.

Jürgen once again turns water into wine, Gaby has some treats with her and afterwards we have to hurry back to the parking lot to catch our taxi.

During our hike, forest workers build a bridge out of a tree.

 We look like pigs.

For dinner, we meet up and go to the hotel to shower first.

The hotel has a fancy lobby, but the rooms are more like Eastern Bloc style.

We walk to Gaby and Rainer's hotel on foot.

There is a main street here with many cafes, shops and even a Hard Rock Café.

The taxi driver recommended the La Estancia restaurant.

We get huge portions of meat, almost impossible to finish, and spend another nice evening together.

We say goodbye, but we will definitely meet again.

We walk back to our hotel on foot and fall into bed, full and tired.