Phil and Mavis's Holiday in Antarctica, 2005

Day 5 - 27 November 2005

Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (S 54° 47' 54" W 68° 17' 48").  1474 miles.

Nightmare city.  We left the hotel at about 8:30 to get to the airport in plenty of time to allow for the strike.  We were initially told that we couldn't be checked in, but then Mavis begged that we had a boat to catch and we were given boarding cards.  Airside, the departure boards showed our flight (due to leave at 10:40) as estimated departure of 13:15.  Ah well, at least we had a time.  We settled down to wait.  13:15 became 13:30.  13:30 went to 14:00. Then 14:30.  Starting to worry badly.  Then the flight disappeared from the departure boards.  I was getting very nervous.  The agents (who had an awful job, being attacked on all sides by irate passengers) said it definitely hadn't been cancelled, but that they had no time.  After a while we asked again, to be told the aircraft was at the airport, but no-one knew when it would leave.  Then, at about 2:30 one of our fellow hopeful travellers gesticulated wildly at the gate, and lo!  Our flight was listed at gate 7.  After a brief scrum we got on board and took off at 3:00 or so.  I can't say how relieved I was - even the same meal for the 3rd flight on the run didn't matter.  We touched down just before 7 p.m. and got a taxi to the Patagonia Villas.

The reception was a private cabin in the woods, but I knocked and the door was opened by the owner with "you must be Phil".  I think she'd been almost as worried as us.  No matter.  We're installed in a lovely cabin with wine and beer and food, so we're going to chill.  Still very light at 8:30 p.m. as I type this.

Photo Gallery

The room in the villa.  Playing with my GPS.	The view from the bedroom

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