This was a truly incredible port with beautiful scenery. The catamaran ride through the Strait of Magellan to the Beagle Channel, with its views of Seawolves Island and final destination of Tierra Del Fuego National Park and all of its lakes and views, were simply amazing. It was also very cool to have visited "the end of the world", as this is where navigation by land stops on the South American continent and you can only proceed south on the water from this point.
Our first view of the area from our balcony was beautiful:
After meeting our tour guide, we started out our day with a catamaran cruise through the Strait of Magellan to the Beagle Channel. The catamaran was very comfortable - completely covered and heated on both decks, plenty of room to walk around, bar with coffee and other drinks, decent bathrooms and roomy decks outside for picture taking. I was impressed after the ferry the day before, which was pretty bare-bones.
The first thing we saw on our trip was a glimpse of Seawolves Island, with tons of sea lions/seals (I never can keep the difference straight) and cormorants (the birds that look like penguins in the picture.)
We then arrived at Tierra Del Fuego National Park - here's a map showing the overview of the area we were in and some of the main sections of it.
Here's me entering the park:
Laguna Verde, inside the park:
me standing on the shores of the Beagle Channel:
The water was as smooth as glass and very beautiful, surrounded by mountains all around:
I really like this picture of me and Jim:
After a beautiful day, we headed back to the ship dock and I bought a really cool cat figurine made from Argentine Ruby. It sounds like it would be red, but it is a coppery-brown mix, and looks like the coloring of a calico cat. I'll take a picture of it and show it as soon as I get a chance to take pictures of it and some of the other souvenirs we bought. Maybe that will make a good separate post as I'm not sure which exact days I bought some of the other things, and I also have artwork I bought that I want to show (two pieces haven't arrived yet but are en route from Park West, the ship's art auction firm.)
Next up? A few days at sea with a formal night on the first and some warmer weather on the second. I will cover both of those in one post tomorrow after scanning in some formal night photos taken by the ship's staff.
A little bit of knitting content now:
Here's the Sweetheart Vest I started yesterday - I got a lot done very quickly. Gotta love those 3.5 stitches to the inch projects! Lately I don't seem to have the patience for anything else, so my other projects are going to hibernate in the yarn closet til I feel like working on them.
Have a great weekend!
Gorgeous pictures again! Looks like you guys had a really great time! What was the temperature there?
Posted by: Michelle | March 28, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Great pictures! I loved Ushuaia. But how in the world did you manage to take pictures without getting other people in the frame? Lovely knitting too!
Posted by: Veronique | March 28, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Just SO beautiful. thanks for sharing your photos with us.
Posted by: lisa | March 28, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Holy smokes! You're cranking on that vest! That is a really cute picture of you guys. :)
Posted by: Jenny | March 28, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Those views are amazing -- thank you for sharing a part of the world we so seldom see!
You are really going to town on that vest. I know what you mean about not wanting to work on some projects. My current ones are boring me but I refuse to start anything else til I finish one. Thankfully the Noni is almost there!
Posted by: Debby | March 28, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Beautiful pics!!! Your vest is coming along great!!!
Posted by: adrienne | March 28, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Mmmm! More beautiful pics :) .
Posted by: Kat | March 28, 2008 at 03:49 PM
The pics are great Robin! I love that one of you and Jim too :)
And your vest looks great! Can't wait to see your progress as it knits up. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: knittymuggins | March 28, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Oh I like it when you go on vacation! You got some great photos. Love the vest! Your colorwork is super!
Posted by: Carol | March 28, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Great pics and the vest is coming out nicely.. and I'm a vest fan... I will have to add that to my winter knit list.
Posted by: sheila | March 28, 2008 at 11:07 PM
There is just something about seeing color work on the needle that just seems so inviting.
Posted by: Tina | March 29, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Wow. That is incredible. All those seals in one place--it looks straight out of National Geographic
Posted by: marjorie | March 29, 2008 at 04:33 PM
More lovely pictures! I've really been enjoying these posts because I just finished reading Around the Horn, which is a history of exploration and sailing around Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego, and now I'm getting to see some of the places on your blog!
Posted by: Emily | March 29, 2008 at 07:20 PM