Into Tierra Del Fuego - Land of Fire!

Today we're heading into Tierra Del Fuego (Land of Fire!). It's still in Argentina but due to some weird land division the only road there passes through Chili!? So it's into Chili we head via a Ferry over the Strait of Magellan. It's out of season for the tourist ferry so we take the bog standard transport ferry. It's such a tight squeeze for all the vehicles that only us skinny people are able to get off the truck to visit the tiny crowded observation deck.

But we're please we do because we get to see... Dolphins! Lots and lots of strange black & white, cow coloured dolphins speedily weaving through the clear water next to the motoring ferry. They would jump up, dive off and shoot back again. They made everyone happy!

At the Chilean border all fresh food was confiscated and thrown into an underground pit. Fair enough. But what surprised me was that the officer, considering he does this all day every day, threw the goods (eggs, apples, etc) into the pit with such gusto it was akin to a Nazi officer burning books!

The excursion into Chili was dull. We just drove down the road for a bit until we reached the Argentinean border. Whereby I followed signs for the public banos (toilets), relieved myself and met up with the others outside. They were all coo-ing over their new passport stamps. It was only then they asked to see my Argentinean entry stamp that I replied, "Bollocks" and walked back into Chili to visit passport control. This seems to be turning into a bad habit!

As I always jump off the truck from the top step I was interested in seeing how everyone else exits. So I filmed them at a border crossing. Nothing much to note, everyone does it a little differently. But it does take 1:30 minutes for all 24 people to exit in a hurry - which seems a little long to me in the event of a fire or other emergency.

For the rest of the drive Isi and I made plans to steal Michelle's teddy in a frog suit which she seems to have suddenly become overly attached to. e.g. "Ooo, lets have a look at this... does he have a name?" "Give me back my fucking teddy bear, now!" We reckon Shelly's sweet personality changed when she stopped wearing her pink flip flops and donned her hard stomper walking boots instead. Her shoes command her personality.

We arrive in Ushuaia, and not wanting to cook, we head straight into town to find restaurants to eat at. Isi, Michelle and I find a quaint little place (and are followed by a few of the others). The long days on the crowded truck were starting to get to us, so it's a bottle of house white each for us on the table! Everyone originally wanted a night out in Ushuaia, but after setting up tents and a few beers in the camp site bar, unsurprisingly they all give in and have yet another early night. That is, of course, all except me and Isi!

We chat to the bar people and head out to a Karaoke club called Centro Beagle. By day the venue puts on dinner shows about Darwin and his Beagle cruise. By night it's a Karaoke club for locals! We were the only Gringos there. It was less Karaoke and more entertainment for one woman dominated the mike - she had an excellent strong voice. A few blokes tried their hand at singing - they didn't last long - they were crap. Somehow time flew and we left when it closed at 05:30. So, bed (well, tent) for 06:00 then!

Posted by Steve Eynon