USHUAIA and EL GLACIER

Yesterday the weather took a dive and we had some rain, overcast skies and lower temperatures so took a museum day. All the museums have smallish displays on various of the indigenous groups which occupied the area until the white man arrived, whereupon they were fairly rapidly wiped out. They trod lightly on the earth, living very simply in shelters of wood, barks and skins. They hunted, fished and gathered. There is some interesting information in Bruce Chetwins "In Patagonia".

We went to the Museo del Fin del Mundo where there was also stuff on the early white visitors and settlers from Magellan onwards. Later I went to a very big museum set in the old prison buildings, partly a prison museum and partly the maritime museum with lots of info. on early maritime explorers, continuing with those who went into Antartica. The most interesting prisoner to me was an anarchist, who's name, shamefully, I have now lost. Will insert later.

Today being much brighter, though windy, we decided to take the chairlift up to the Glacier Martial above the town. Sue has a bit of vertigo, but swallowed her fears and bravely got into the seat at my side. Luckily it moved extremely slowly, rising above the trees at about 3cms per min. Finally we reached the top to be rewarded with stunning views of the bay and distant town.


Now its back to packing and preparing tomorrow's bus picnic - limited by not being able to take fruit, veg, animal or dairy products into Chile. However, we are excited about the move on to Punta Arenas and then Puerto Natales where hopefully we shall see Hamish and Gail.