Vaccinations, documentations, declarations, registrations, consternations!

Yesterday, Amy and I went to Nova Travel Clinic.  Amy needed a booster of something or other.  I just needed Dukoral and some advise on how to deal with seasickness.  I think I already mentioned somewhere on here about my nightly barf sessions in the Galapagos.  I do not want to repeat that situation.  And I don't want to sleep through half my trip.  

Apparently Canadians are made of hardier stuff than Americans because several of the anti-motion sickness medications are not available in Canada but are in the US.  

First up:  Scopolamine.  Aka, Transdermal V (Canada), Transdermal Scop (US).  This is the patch that goes behind the ear and lasts for up to three days.  Discontinued in Canada.  By prescription only in US (and no, a Canadian prescription will not count, I asked).  Next best:  Meclizine.  not sold commercially in Canada but I heard I could get it through a compounding pharmacy.  Sold in the US as Bonine, Bonamine, Dramamine II.  sleepiness factor unknown.  Last up:  Dimenhydrinate aka Dramamine or Gravol.  Readily available in Canada but gravol is what made me sleep through all sorts of exciting adventures (night sky, ship breaking down etc) in Galapagos.

I am in Washington for a visit before October so I will load up on Meclizine.  Everyone keeps telling to get one of those wrist band things too.  Seems like some new age balderdash (or ancient wisdom, same dif) but I'll probably try that too. 

Update 20 minutes later:  so, I bought one of those bands with the electric pulses.  I'm not even going to tell you what it cost.  

here is a video if you are interested. 

I may also use this post to remind myself of all of the steps we have to take to get into, through and out of various countries!  I haven't even looked at what G Adventures needs for proof of vaccinations.  

ArriveCan app for re-entry to Canada:  https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/services/arrivecan.html

Declaration for entering Uruguay: https://www.gub.uy/ingresa-uruguay-durante-emergencia-sanitaria

Affidavit to enter Argentina: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/interior/migraciones/ddjj-migraciones 

Ok, that was all detail and not much fun.  Here is a penguin, just for fun

Rain pants, who knew this was going to be the hardest part of this trip?

 I have already mentioned rain pants a few times so far.  Rain Pants, aka  rain or waterproof pants or over-pants, or over-trousers (my personal favourite), or any combo of those.  

I need water proof pants because we will be doing 'wet landings' where we have to put our feet in water to get out of the zodiac.  Here is a picture that demonstrates this nicely:

Rain pants (over the boots), wet landing, and penguins.  
All it's missing is the poop! 

So,  I think the last time we discussed my rain pant situation, I had borrowed a pair from Carolyn which were so long but I was going to make them work.  Then Amy gave me a pair which were also so long. 

My plan had been to just tuck the extra foot of pant into my boots but I found this TripAdvisor forum on rain pants 

How are boots worn?

which may be the greatest conversation ever had about rain pants.  They specifically says 'pants over boots'.  I highly encourage you to read the forum, it veers wildly into penguin poop conversation!. 

Best answer, in my humble opinion:  

Amy gave me hers because she had found a store that sold petite rain pants for a low price (Mountain Warehouse, if you are interested).  Hmm, petite is what I need! So, I ordered a pair of petite (or short in Mountain Warehouse parlance) rain pants.  I went up a size figuring that they had to go over two layers of base and regular pants.  I ordered them to be delivered to the store so I could try them on and make sure.  Good thing I did. 

They were giant.  Clown rain pants.  Since these were my third pair, I figured I would see if I could make them work.  Nope, they literally fell off me.  No amount of cinching was going to make them stay on.  So I took them back to the counter to return them.  The nice young lady pointed to a rack and said 'there's more over there'.  Well, I didn't have much hope but I grabbed two different styles.  

So, as in all things in life, there was no perfect choice.  First off, Mountain Warehouse sizing is not normal.  I think they may be a UK company?  Anyway, one pair (the Downpour) fit comfortably and was 'short'.  Which means to say only a couple of inches too long.  But I wouldn't say they are 'waterproof' because they have side zippers on the legs (and snaps in case the zippers weren't enough?).  If I remember correctly from my physics class, water can get through a zipper.  

The other pair (the Spray) was just a bit snug.  They would have worked but they weren't 'short'.  They also had side zippers but they had a flappy thing on the inside of the leg that covered the zipper.  So, I assume more waterproof (is this like more unique or more perfect? But I digress, yet again).  

Figuring 'bird in the hand' and all of that, I bought the Downpour pair that fit but aren't fully waterproof.  But I went home to see if they had the Spray online in 'short'.  They did!  But what size. Honestly, their sizing makes NO sense.  So, I ordered two pairs.  Which arrived today and are currently sitting by my front door. 

Which means, I currently have FIVE pairs of rain pants in or almost in my house!  Hopefully I can narrow it down to just the ONE pair and return the rest.  I'll let you know how it goes because by now, I'm sure you are as obsessed with my rain pant options as I am (haha, no you are not, you are just wondering how long until we get to actual, real live penguins! - three months my friends, three long months!). 

July 18.  So, that package was not my rain pants.  But two pairs arrived today!  But I have since also ordered another, super cheapy pair which aren't here yet.  But I think we have a winner!  

It is very hot today, over 30 degrees but I changed into jeans (to replicate the base and top layers I will be wearing) and my boots (with wool socks, why not go all the way) so I could make sure they fit.  

They fit!. They are the right length. They are comfortable.  They seem waterproof.  They are cheap, not super cheap but under $50.  ]

Here they are with the 'waterproof' test. I have no idea if this video will work.  

Can one love rain pants?  I think one can.  Now, I have to get out of these wool socks!  

Ushuaia - sure, why not.

Our cruise ends in Ushuaia.  I have heard two things about Ushuaia:  'it is awesome, stay as long as you can' and 'it is the worst, get out as soon as you can'.  Then there's my way of thinking:  'a hotel room is cheaper than the cost difference between an evening flight and a morning flight so we might as well stay overnight'.  

I guess it's not the worst view of a city

I had a quick look at the prices of flights from Ushuaia, where we disembark, to Buenos Aires, where we fly home.  Prices are surprisingly high. Well, I guess not that surprising since it will be cruise season and rich people are basically trapped there and will pay whatever.  I can't disagree, once you've paid a million dollars for your Antarctic trip, what's another $350.  But I'm not rich, and yes I can afford $350 but that just goes against my long honed generational instinct to spend the very least amount possible (cousin John will agree I'm sure!).  

Amy wandered by as I was researching over lunch yesterday.  We had a quick look at 'what to do in Ushuaia'.  There's a train!  El Tren del Fin del Mundo (the train at the end of the world!)

here's some history

The tracks were originally built to service the prison in Ushuaia.  My mom has been there and her main (only?) memory of the place was the looming prison.  Anyway, maybe I can have a better memory of the prison and the train from which it was born.  Wait, is there a prison tour!?  (searching...) Umm ya, there is!  Our one day in Ushuaia may get longer!  

Amy and I were looking at the train info and saw a tour on the train that goes through the national park.  Oh dear, it only leaves at 8am!  Yup, that's another night.  So, to save $80 on a plane ticket by spending $50 on a hotel, this online dive into Ushuaia is going to cost me $100s extra.  I am letting down the family thriftiness gene!  But I get to mail a post card from the southernmost mail box in the world!  I think it balances out.  

And down another rabbit hole:  price of stamps in Argentina.  Trip Advisor consensus - way too much.  So, ONE of you MIGHT get a postcard.  MIGHT!  If you're nice, a couple of you might get one from the Falklands.  

Back on track (train pun!).  Amy and I booked a room in Ushuaia.  New plan (you guys are really getting to see how the sausage is made when it come to my vacation planning in this post!).  Disembark from ship in Ushuaia morning of Nov 12: Prison tour, museum, city, etc.  Nov 13 morning:  Train and Park 5.5 hrs.  Fly out that evening. Damn!  I'm back to the expensive plane ticket.  Oh well, it's worth it for that one potential post card (and I guess some other stuff).  

Oh yea, some other trip actions. I sent off my medical and insurance info to G Adventures.  And ordered some petite waterproof pants.  

G Adventures has posted our hotel in Montevideo.  The Dazzler!  I don't know about the hotel but the name totally wins!  

a nice location to finally meet our thruple
(and tell her she gets the top bunk!)

AAAAAND, this is it.  I have hit rock bottom for online scrolling:  

Come on, you heard Dazzler and 
went here too (right?)

Happy Canada Day by the way.