Sunday, December 11, 2011

12/10 Glacier Martial

We head back to town from the mountains and end up taking a wrong turn at the roundabout – but one that brings us to the more rural side of Ushuaia. It’s great! It’s an area we’ve not seen – with apartments and houses and commercial buildings – very local and colorful. The architecture here runs from plain block construction to chalet style houses to just odd half timber and shale rock structures. There is always something to see and something different/vibrant to catch your eye.

Back in town – we cop a great parking space on the main port road and head up to San Martin (the main touristic shopping road) for lunch. We end up at Tanta Sara – we know they have great beer and wine – and they have a good sandwich menu – so we share a steak and cheese sandwich and a jam and cheese torta.

Then it’s up the the Martial glacier to hike the ski slope.  We wind our way through the local part of town again, past schools and local retail shops, bars, restaurants, you name it.  We approach the Glacier resort through a dilapidated, run down construction site with huge wrought iron gates – making it look like you are completely not allowed to go there.  But, once you are through and up the road – you are on your way through the alpine forest, past the resort hotels and finally to the Glacier.

It is totally picturesque – and so close!  It looks like you can walk right up to it – but of course – you can’t!  We walk up the ski slope – which is all dirt and gravel in the summer – and summer being relative – because as we are heading back down – it starts to SNOW!  It is supposed to be SUMMER here!  Amazing.

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The photo opps are amazing too – as you can see below. We end our hike at the little chalet restaurant at the base with double espresso and a cappuccino. 

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Back at the hotel – we are blogging (duh!) before heading downtown for parilla dinner.  More later!

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