Ushuaia, Argentina

December 28, 2016

Today we drove to the Central Train Station and took a ride on Tierra del Fuego Southern Railway, Train to the End of the World. This railway uses the original narrow gauge line that was part of the small train for prisoners that ran until 1947. Upon arrival at the Park Station, we boarded our coach for a drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park to Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the road which is 2,010 miles from Buenos Aires. We then got on a catamaran for our return to the ship via the Beagle Channel. While sailing, we saw the historic lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, as well as Seal Island, Isla de Los Lobos, and Island of the Birds, whose names express the abundant wildlife you can view from the deck on our journey back to the ship.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Punta Arenas, Chile

End of the World Train Ride

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse

Seal Island

Punta Del Este, Uruguay

December 22, 2016

Today we had a private tour set up with Jaime the tour guide we met in Montevideo. He took us driving around Punta Del Este. The first place we visited was Casa Pueblo, the residence, atelier, and museum of late internationally-renowned artist Carlos Paez Vilaró. After visiting this unique home, we drove around and saw some neat houses with thatched roofs. We also stopped and looked at a hotel called Hotel L’Auberge. We decided to treat Jaime to lunch since he gave us another fantastic tour of Uruguay.

Follow us on our journey our next destination is Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Casapueblo – Carlos Páez Vilaró
Maria & John

Casapueblo theatre

Maria & John
Maria

Street shopping
Maria

Trump Hotel
Hotel L’Auberge

 

Montevideo, Uruguay

December 16, 2016 and December 21, 2016

December 16, 2016

We went to Montevideo for two days flooding kept us from Punta Del Este.  Before we arrived in Montevideo Terry Bishop the lecturer on the ship told us all about the saga of the famous WWII German warship, Graf Spee, whose sunken remains rest on the floor of the ocean a short distance outside the harbour. John and I decided to walk to the pier and get a cab to drive us around. We were lucky to meet this guy named Jaime he was such an excellent guide he was very knowledgeable and spoke perfect English.  The first stop on our tour with Jaime was Battle Park named for Jose Battle y Ordonez, Uruguay’s president from 1911-1915. We also saw the monument dedicated to the Fallen Soldiers of the Navy.

We visited the nicest hotel in Carrasco called Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco, an imposing building which overlooks the coast and is full of Uruguayan tradition and history.

Jaime also took us to this neat building which was the Gaucho Museum. The inside of this house was fabulous. To end a great day we had lunch at the famous meat market. It’s this big building full of different restaurants that all have tons of meat being cooked on spinning grills.

December 21, 2016 – Second time to Montevideo (back to back cruise)

Today we drove north to the Carrau Winery, a major exporter of Uruguayan wines located in the Colon residential area. Situated in a park-like setting, this winery was constructed in 1894 and is the site of an ancient granite cave. We were treated to a tasting of fine Uruguayan wine and champagne, accompanied by a light snack of cheese and ham. The only problem we had with the winery was the room was too big, and it was full of people, and you couldn’t hear the sommelier explaining the wine even though he had a microphone.

After the wine tour, we took a steam train ride and took some photos of the landscaping of Uruguay.

Our tour ended with a visit to Casona Mauá for a Tango Show. Casona Mauá was built in the 1870s and has an outstanding architectural and heritage significance. The venue belonged to Baron and Viscount Mauá, an influential businessman, visionary, and entrepreneur who founded among other things, Mauá Bank, the first bank in Uruguay which opened its doors in 1857 and the first one to print currency within the country. Nowadays and after an excellent restoration process, Casona Mauá maintains its original beveled glass, Carrara marble, floors, ceilings, skylight, and moldings, making it a bastion of Montevideo’s historic Old Town.

John and I had such great lunch the last time we were in Montevideo at the meat market that we chose to grab a bite to eat there again today and once again it was great.

Follow us on our journey the next destination is Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I found it amazing that they were turning this huge cargo boat with such ease that I posted this video.

The story we heard behind all these sunken ships was that the Asian fisherman would come to Uruguay and they fell in love with it so they sank their ships as an excuse to not have to go back.

Maria

Gaucho Museum
Front doors of the Gaucho Museum
Gaucho Museum Staircase
Gaucho Museum Staircase
Gaucho Museum Staircase

Maria & John
Fallen Soldier Tomb
Guards of the Fallen Soldier

Maria & John at Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Inside the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Maria & John Inside the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Maria Inside the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Men’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Women’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
inside the women’s restroom in the Hotel Sofitel Casino Carrasco
Iglesia de las Carmelitas in Prado
Inside of Iglesia de las Carmelitas
Inside of Iglesia de las Carmelitas
Inside of Iglesia de las Carmelitas
John
Maria & John with our tour guide Jaime
Montevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)
Montevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)
Montevideo Meat Market (Mercado del Puerto)

Carra Winery
Carrau Winery

Steam Train Ride
Maria

Maria & John – with our friends George and Richard