Carcass Island, Falklands
This was our second visit to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. The only new thing in BA was this unusual metal sculpture that was a blossom that opens in the day and closes at night.
Ushuaia is called the city at “the “end of the world”.
Our first zodiac landing was on January 17 at New Island in the West Falklands. It was exciting to see the cute Rock hopper Penguins, Black-Browed Albatross high on the rocks overlooking the crashing waves.
One of many lost vessels to the unpredictable seas in this area.
Penguins return to the same place to mate and raise their young. We saw thousands of Rock hoppers in the colony on the cliffs here. In colonial days when needed, they were rounded up in pits like above and slaughtered for food and oil.
Andes Mountains form the border with Argentina and Chile.
When left on our own for dinner in BA we had baby goat and sweetbreads at El Mirasol [above]. Just prior to embarkation on the Hanseatic we drove into the mountains and had a fabulous bar-b-qued lamb lunch at Las Cotoras [left]. Bueno!
Albatrosses are the largest seabirds. They make a conical nest of mud and lay a single egg. The chick is tended by both parents for many months before fledging. Once they leave the nest, they spend their first years at sea, seldom returning to land.
Magellanic penguins in burrows.
Our second landing in the West Falklands was at Carcass Island. We hiked about 2 miles taking in scenic vistas of dramatic contrast: clear teal water, white sand, gray rocks and yellow and green grasses, with red parkas dotting the hills! At the end of the hike we were invited into McGill’s Settlement for tea and homemade sweets-a very civilized British custom!
Some of the beaches and water reminded us of Tahiti and the Caribbean!
