The Adventure: Day 3

Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

"Oh my God, I've never been this far away from home"

The placards and protesters at Jorge Newbery airport suggested to me things would not be going to plan. This was confirmed by all the 'cancelled' messages on the departure screens: Aerolineas Argentinas pilots were on strike.

Worse still, I could see no one with large yellow Lowepro camera rucksacks, and that worried me most of all.

Then I saw him: my knight in shining, well, cardboard. A sign bearing the message 'Luminous Landscape' was hanging from a loop of string around his neck. You see it was Luminous Landscape, more particularly, Michael Reichmann who was organising the trip I was supposed to be joining, and who had issued all members with the large yellow waterproof camera bags we were to use to identify each other.

I was quickly despatched in another taxi to the international airport. The driver told me his name, I told him I was English, and we set off.

This time when I arrived at the airport, I saw the other 40+ members of the expedition. There would be a delay, everything was re-scheduled, everything was going to be okay. The trip was still on.

While I waited, I bought a postcard (with envelope) to send home. Then I had a coffee and the Argentinian speciality, a ham and cheese sandwich. Just the one coffee, though as the machine broke down.

Another day, another 747. We swung off over the Atlantic, and headed for Tierra del Fuego and the city of Ushuaia. We ate crustless cheese and ham sandwiches. I think I fell asleep.

The Andes mountain range that forms the border between Argentina and Chile, disappears under the sea just after Ushuaia - apart from the rocky islands of the Beagle Passage - before surfacing again to form the Antarctic Peninsula. I mention this because, as the plane comes in to its final approach to the airport, it banks over in a great u-turn above the mountains giving spectacular views of their snow-capped peaks.

Another cab to the hotel, then we settle down for dinner and a chance to meet some of the other people on the trip, including Paul (my roommate), and Brian (Big Bear). We have hours to talk while we wait for the food, and I enjoyed the evening immensely.

Then, for me, its time for bed. Others take advantage of the wi-fi hotspot in the lobby to check their emails.

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