Ushuaia is going to remind me of beautiful music. Our hostel plays dreamy relaxing music, the restaurants play good music and Argentinians have no problem singing along to the good music being played in the supermarket while they are shopping.

This lively and lovely little place is literally the end of the road. The national park slightly south has the southernmost road on earth and a sign that is well photographed by intrepid travellers who go the whole length of the Americas from Alaska to Ushuaia.

For us this is to be the place we board our ship, for the most southerly destination on earth - Antarctica! We arrived several days early to acclimatize to the cold, enjoy the sights and catch up with diary writing, blog writing and booking future buses and hostels.

Our hostel, aptly named the Antarctica Hostel, is beyond all expectations. It has underfloor heating, comfortable and homely common room with well equipped kitchen. Our room has a king size bed, with a duck down feather quilt. It doesn't have a bathroom but in this case a shared bathroom is no real hardship, as the shower and toilet blocks are clean and no waiting as there are plenty of cubicles.

As I write this I am in the "Hotel Ushuaia" where we spent last night for our pre-cruise meeting. Today is the day we embark on the trip of a lifetime - our expedition to Antarctica. The hotel is set high on a hill and the sun is shining on the snow clad mountains surrounding Ushuaia and the port below where our expedition ship is taking on supplies. 

Lovely music is playing (Norah Jones right now) and there is an air of excitement in the lounge as fellow passengers pass the time until we board. Next story will be about our expedition!