Argentina was an incredible experience. Everything from flying into Ushuaia and getting a breath-taking view of the countryside, to the culture, to shops and restaurants throughout the town. The weather was a little grey with some frozen rain coming and going every so many hours. The cultural differences I really noticed were the closing of stores for siestas in the middle of the day and dinner so late into the evening, however I figure this is due to the length of days, as well as historical cultural influence. It was not only the city that was beautiful, but the surrounding environment. The trip through Terra del Fuego and voyage to sea lion island were amazing. The views of the water through the elevated forest were spectacular and the chance to see many sea lions grouped together were great activities to participate in while there. One thing, however, that took a little getting used to was the abundance of daylight, which took a couple days to get adjusted to.
Another aspect of Ushuaia that was interesting to me was the fact that their culture was so prevalent rather than basing their whole identity around the travel to Antarctica. It was nice to see that they were so proud of their own culture and heritage and not only relying on Antarctica. There were many souvenirs being sold and advertisements prevalent in the area, however that did not seem to be the only attraction to the area for many. I was also not aware of Ushuaia’s history as a prison colony which helped shape their culture.
Argentina was a beautiful country, with Buenos Aires reminding me of the Italian countryside, while Ushuaia gave me the impression of a ski town of the water. It was an amazing place that seemed full of life and culture.
