Reflections from the end of the world.
Ushuaia. The southernmost city in the world and the end of our rally. The southern part of Tierra del Fuego was a revelation after the desolation of the north. It became quite beautiful with petrified forest, azure lakes and rivers with a backdrop of snow capped mountains.
The rally grouped together in the muddy forecourt of a filling station at the entrance to the town as the final destination was reached. It was deemed far too insensitive to make a fuss in the city centre as it will be the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war in a couple of days time. Ushuaia is called the capital of 'the Capital of The Malvinas' down here!
Its been a long, tiring, scenically stupendous rally with some very tricky stages and all the crews in the old cars should be feeling very, very proud of their fantastic achievement. The rally family is breaking up and disappearing to homes all over the world, always a rather sad moment. Very close bonds are formed on a long endurance rally such as this and life long friendships established. Getting back into 'normal' life will take a while.
A couple of days in Ushauia is more than enough and the stragglers that are left are just waiting for our flights or of here. It's a strange place, attractively situated on the Beagle Channel, but a rag bag of scruffy architecture, gloomy climate and tatty shops. Good king crab though!
A few of us went out to look at the sea lions and, most thrillingly for me, some penguins. We also went on the train to the end of the world. A tiny steam train, all quite neat and tiny, but a very slow, not too interesting journey. A gentle pleasure that didn't even thrill the train man! Maybe we have just seen and experienced so many astonishing things on our drive through this wondrous land that we are spoiled.
We've loved this enchanting continent and it has been a real privilege to drive through it. Apart from a few surly Bolivians we have been treated with great courtesy and warmth everywhere. From Britain it is not an obvious holiday destination, but it really should be.
We're off to Buenos Aires in the morning for just two nights and then home. Back to normality and real life where we always know what day it is and what's happening in the world. Where we don't drive the equivalent of London to Edinburgh every day and sleep in a strange bed every night. Until the next time!
The rally grouped together in the muddy forecourt of a filling station at the entrance to the town as the final destination was reached. It was deemed far too insensitive to make a fuss in the city centre as it will be the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war in a couple of days time. Ushuaia is called the capital of 'the Capital of The Malvinas' down here!
Its been a long, tiring, scenically stupendous rally with some very tricky stages and all the crews in the old cars should be feeling very, very proud of their fantastic achievement. The rally family is breaking up and disappearing to homes all over the world, always a rather sad moment. Very close bonds are formed on a long endurance rally such as this and life long friendships established. Getting back into 'normal' life will take a while.
A couple of days in Ushauia is more than enough and the stragglers that are left are just waiting for our flights or of here. It's a strange place, attractively situated on the Beagle Channel, but a rag bag of scruffy architecture, gloomy climate and tatty shops. Good king crab though!
A few of us went out to look at the sea lions and, most thrillingly for me, some penguins. We also went on the train to the end of the world. A tiny steam train, all quite neat and tiny, but a very slow, not too interesting journey. A gentle pleasure that didn't even thrill the train man! Maybe we have just seen and experienced so many astonishing things on our drive through this wondrous land that we are spoiled.
We've loved this enchanting continent and it has been a real privilege to drive through it. Apart from a few surly Bolivians we have been treated with great courtesy and warmth everywhere. From Britain it is not an obvious holiday destination, but it really should be.
We're off to Buenos Aires in the morning for just two nights and then home. Back to normality and real life where we always know what day it is and what's happening in the world. Where we don't drive the equivalent of London to Edinburgh every day and sleep in a strange bed every night. Until the next time!
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