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Dear All
Yep, 2 blogs in as many days. However today was kinda amusing and as I recover from the walk I thought I'd do so by writing the blog and giving you my feelings about Ushuaia. I really like this place, not because it's the most beautiful place in the world, nor because it's Tierra Del Fuego or the end of the world (or as 1 local said given me in a kilt 'The Arse of the World'- she's seen Braveheart) but because of the people. I felt accepted and the people seemed to accept everyone naturally without any sense of them and us. And that's excellent. Yes I walked in the natural park (hello Scotland, including drizzle) and got to the End of the Road. Literally. You can drive no further (and barely walk any further south unless you have $5000 to go to Antarctica- trips available on the door step). Yes today I walked up to a local if titchy glaciar and am so grateful the weather lifted to allow me to do so and get the views of the stunning ragged, snow topped peaks north in Argentina, and then south over the Beagle Channel to Chile. The last 2 days have been drizzly and overcast so you couldn't see anything and climbing was out of the question.
On the way to the national park there were 2 others in my mini bus and I ended up walking with them. A lovely young american woman and a quiet japanese guy. It meant another day in company. And I am glad to say I felt fine, but more importantly I felt on a par with them, equal, not a rung lower and fearful of my conversational skills as usual. Yes Amanda was good at conversation, but I felt I did well too In the evening I went out for a meal with enough confidence to simply speak Spanish too. Again that felt good. And I did my second good deed of the day (I can't remember the first one tho') as I shifted tables to allow a group of women to sit closer together. My reward, real local people talking to me. And an ability for me to be able to communicate in Spanish. No, nothing deep, but it was meaningful. And today was kilt day. It was really overcast upon getting up and I could only hope for it to clear to allow me to visit the glaciar and get the views. And yes again those who noticed would see the kilt and often not know what to say. Bar a few young kids however the reactions were positive. People shouting "Go Scotland!!" (in Spanish of course). And other people making an effort to talk. However the really amusing thing was that again I did not spend the day's walk alone. I had my own personal Santa Clause. Yep, the real one. From New Zealand. No joke- people (teenagers no less) asking their mates to take pictures of Papa Santo next to them on their mobile phones!! No stigma just real pleasure- something lacking in our 'advanced' culture. David Stewart (he's originally Scots and it was the kilt that started the chat, but no he's not the musician, yes he does get paid to do Santa adverts by photo or TV and it is VERY well paid- guess who goes to Antarctica tomorow) and I made a wonderful odd couple as some saw Santa and some saw a Scots guy in a kilt. And again there was meaning as he is another widower, both travelling for fundamentally similar reasons. And the sun shone on us. And inside too. I also had a lovely chat with a woman and her son as I walked along the street and she simply started to talk to me. Because of the kilt but hey, it was an open and lovely contact with other human beings. And that's why I like Ushuaia so much. This has made my visit here- people from all over the world accepting and being open to each other.
So, on to Chile tomorrow, another long bus journey starting 08.00 arrival 22.00. The people there have a high target to achieve after today. But I simply want to see and feel them. I look forward to the ongoing challenge and wonder if my first travel hiccup (I had planned to go to Chile today but it's a public holiday for easter so no busses) was meant to be. I certainly am glad for the way today has gone. Santa and me as his little helper, who'd have thought it (please note this does NOT mean I will do Santa for work....)
I read at home you have snow, enjoy. I was in kilt (doh, of course as a true Scot- it saves some minor clothes washing )and T shirt (okay + sweater) as to me it's not cold (oddly locals find it cold) even up at the snow line by the glaciar. I am lucky to cope with both and like the thought that now I go further north each step of my journey towards the sun (probably useful given I also head towards winter and high altitude walks on the way)
I'll no doubt write from Puerto Natales (no time to go to Punta Arenas as per my intinery on the blog- but time to do some trekking in Torres del Paine) in a few days time.
Meanwhile, take care. Love to all,
Alan xx
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