Welcome to Travel Journaling: Antarctica Entry 8 November

Please note, a few people have the same name. I typically, distinguish them by including which group they are with. For example, there are two Br people. The first is traveling with his friend B (see previous blog post on 7 November, 2025). The second Br is the ship's doctor's husband. He is technically not staff, but he also wasn't a tour participant. He was cool to talk to.

8 November, 2025 

National Geographic Explorer

20:42

Today was very long and exciting. C.C. and I rose around 8:00. I was ready in about 15 minutes. C.C. took her time. We left our luggage near our door for the porters to take to the ship. We took our carry-ons to breakfast with us. 

At breakfast, C.C. and I were sat with a group of women and Br (the second we met on the trip). This Br is the husband of the ship's doctor, Ay. Breakfast was a buffet with options to select items off the menu. C.C. and I were some of the last to arrive. C.C. checked us out of our room while I bought water bottles at the restaurant.

Our hotel was the green building half way up the mountain.

We met up again with D in the lobby before boarding the bus to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. At 10:30 we surrendered our passports to the travel coordinator, E, and boarded bus two. We had an amazing tour guide who provided a lot of information on Ushuaia and the national park. My favorite fact about Ushuaia was that rugby and hocky are the two most popular sports. The city has multiple teams for both. C.C., D, and I sat at the back of the bus with a really nice couple. 

I've noticed that C.C. is a lot better at recognizing everyone and remember all their names than I am. I will have to ask her to help me keep track of everyone.

We entered the national park and were given our entrance tickets as souvenirs. C.C. pointed out that they were labeled for Tuesday the 4th and not today. The birds on the ticket are commonly sighted in the park. I got a few pictures of them. 

According to my Merlin app, this is an Upland Goose.

[Side note: I taped the ticket into the journal as a memory.]

We had three stops and were always to return to bus two. The first stop was at Lago Roca (or Lake Roca - named after an Argentine president). The weather was chilly and rainy, but D and I got great pictures. There was even one of the birds from the ticket posting near where we were walking. 

Lake Roca is very clean.

Our second stop was at the Alakush Visitor's Center in the park. I took a peek into the gift shop and saw a funny book called Che Boludo! A Gringo's Guide to Understanding the Argentines. I also walked through the information area to read more about the conservation and history of the area. Two indigenous peoples were the first to settle in the national park area and make contact with Europeans - neither have representation today. 

Our guide explained that when the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, entered the Bay of Beagle (named for British General), all he could see were camp fires from the local peoples. However, no one was seen. Hence the name Tierra del Fuego or Land of Fire. I also liked that she often said the Indigenous names of places as the real names, then followed with the English and Spanish names. 

I'd like to paint this if I can.

Our third, and final, stop was where Route 3 - which spans North and South America - begins or ends (depending on how you interpret it). From Argentina, Route 3 goes all the way to Alaska. There were also archeological digs being conducted in the area. 

D, C.C. and I were some of the last to board the catamaran (our sight-seeing boat) - which was good since we were able to sit on the second level where it was quieter. Lunch was a salad, chicken stew, and chocolate covered ice cream made from the local berries called calafate (they sort of look like blueberries).

The whole area looks like a Ghibli film.

The catamaran took us back to Ushuaia via the Beagle Bay. On the way back we saw tons of birds and a few sealions. I managed to get some nice pictures despite the cold wind and icy rain. I got a cute one of a sealion leaning over the water. 

Can't decide if he wants to be in the water or not.

We left the boat and returned to bus number two for the final 50 meter trip to the ship. We were told this was done for safety reasons. It was the shortest bus trip ever. 

As we went to check-in, we passed one of the bars and saw a pink suitcase. It turned out C.C.'s tag had detached and they couldn't identify whose bag it was. Good thing C.C. loves pink. 

We are in Room 202, at the center of the ship and next to the gallery and gift shop. D is on the deck below us and has his own room (sometimes single travelers have to bunk together). Our room already had our rented gear and water bottles. We get to keep the parkas and water bottles; everything else must be returned when we get to Chile. I made C.C. watch the safety video while we tried everything on to make sure it all fit. Then, we explored the ship.

We found the lounge and wellness area above us, while deep below is "base camp" or the "mud room" where our gear can be stored between excursions. We also found the chart room with unlimited tea and coffee, the library, and the bridge. We are, in fact, allowed on the bridge. 

We were in group two again for the safety drill. If we hear the emergency signal (seven short beeps followed by a long one), we are to go to our cabins, dress warm, grab our medications, and put on a lift vest. We then wait to go to the muster station - which will usually be the lounge, but the captain will always direct us where to go. They will do a roll call to make sure everyone is present before determining next steps. It is very rare for the captain to call for the ship to be abandoned. 

At around 18:30, we had a debrief in the lounge, followed by dinner. Tonight it was buffet style, but most nights we are to order a head. They have zero proof alcohol wine and beer, along with a few mocktails (for an extra price). 

Teddy at dinner.

Our room is a rare twin bed share. C.C. picked the bed under the window and I am by the bathroom. I've unpacked, but C.C. says she will tomorrow. We may end up switching beds if she wants to be closer to the bathroom. There is also a TV and two framed pictures (one of a walrus and the other of a puffin). We also have a chair and desk - though I am writing this in bed.

Our room

Our bathroom is fairly big and we can flush the toilet paper (you had to toss it in the garbage in the national park and on the catamaran - a new experience for me). 

I've finally achieved a childhood dream of mine to see Tierra del Fuego. Though fires are no longer allowed in the park (nor are dogs), the fog made it look smoky. It was amazing. I'll have to come back to Ushuaia. 

Until the next post. 

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