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.