After nearly three weeks of smooth crossings, overwhelming landscapes, untold numbers of wildlife and great company the National Geographic Explorer is Ushuaia bound once more. The last two days were spent in the Falklands Islands, also known as Islas Malvinas by Argentinians. Over 300 nautical miles of open ocean separate these islands from mainland south America and the crossing, as has been our trend, has been smooth sailing.
Staten Island was the first sign of land this morning and emerged mountainous and clear beneath the late morning sky. As we sailed along its east/west orientation our Falkland Island born expedition leader, Russ Evans and our Argentine born naturalist, Santiago Imberti offered their perspectives on the 1982 Falkland Conflict between the two nations. It was a timely look at the perspectives of those living in the islands we just left and the people living in the country our voyage will end in tomorrow.
The next waterway to emerge was the Beagle Channel. Our afternoon was spent beneath sun bursts and the occasional sei whale sighting as we entered the channel just north of Cape Horn. With our first look at a forested landscape in 20 days the next few hours en route to Ushuaia were a perfect transition back into a world of cars and people and humanity that will contrast so remarkably with the world of Zodiacs and friends and wildlife we have become so familiar with.
