Today is embarkation day on the National Geographic Explorer, so all I see of one of my favourite cities (Buenos Aires) is through the window of the bus taking us to the airport for the charter flight to Ushuaia. It’s a relaxed charter flight for everyone except those waiting in the queue at the gate that look like they have a heavy rolling bag as carry on. Most of them are asked to check their bags. Otherwise the 4 hour flight is relatively quick on a chartered 737. Arrival at Ushuaia airport is also straightforward, the most complicated part finding the (chartered) bus. As we are way too early to embark on the ship, we are scheduled to take a cruise on a catamaran to Seal Island.
Lunch on the catamaran through the Beagle Channel whilst we are waiting to board the ship is good, and the weather is a balmy 8 degrees Celsius and a little lower than that in the Channel with the effect of wind chill.
The National Geographic Explorer departs on schedule at 7pm in nice light. Alongside the wharf is one of the Cruceros Australia ships that ply the Chilean fjords between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia (well worth doing). Otherwise the wharf is only occupied by some large fishing trawlers. As we head out, I spot a few unexpected whale breaths as we sail into the darkness in the Beagle Channel.
