Tear drops are falling from my eye

Monday, January 3, 2011

I'm currently on the plane making my way to Buenos Aires.  The past three weeks have flown by (no surprise, I guess, but sad nonetheless).  I decided to forego the National Park walking today since I saw some of it yesterday, and spend time in Ushuaia packing, organizing, and sightseeing.  Time very well spent, especially considering the weather had changed drastically (much colder today with lots of clouds and a few sprinkles).

After waking up to meet people at breakfast, I went back to the room and re-packed my backpack while uploading photos to shutterfly. (The internet actually seemed to be working today so I made some progress.)  Sent some emails, gchatted with Aud, and did some research before heading out to the Maritime Museum and Ushuaia's old prision.  The museum was loaded with information, a bit too much for me, and even with an hour I barely scratched the surface.

On my way back to the hotel I ate lunch at 137 Pizza and Pasta, my first meal on my own since the trip began.  Made me realize that I'll be doing that a lot more often for the next six weeks.  I got back to the hotel just before 3pm, and hopped in the shower just as Sameena was getting back.  By the time I was ready, having spent a bit more time online and packing the last items, it was 4:40.  Everyone was supposed to be meeting in the lobby at 5 for the winetasting and my taxi was coming at 5:30.

I came downstairs, sad to be leaving my new group of friends.  The trip officially ends tomorrow morning, but because of flight availability I had to fly out today.  Slowly people made their way to the ground floor, all asking what time I was leaving.  Louise and Richard came to say goodbye even though they weren't participating in the drinking.  Ally was running slightly late, so the winetasting didn't really kick-off until 5:25 at which point my taxi was waiting outside.  I had a quick cracker with cheese and sip of the first bottle of white (very sweet, more dessert like) before saying my goodbyes.

Brad, Ted and me

Monica, Sameena and me

Andy, Richard, me, Louise and Ally

Robyn thanked me for providing humor and supporting people.  Nick gave me a warm hug from which I almost started crying (eyes watered a bit but I held back).  Ted was sweet, as always.  Sameena said to email her in BA.  Brad jokingly went to shake my hand.  Louise gave a huge hug.  Sarah and Kate walked me to the door, and Richard carried my backpack to the taxi in the rain.  And as I shut the door and looked back to the window of the hotel, I saw the faces of my new friends waving me goodbye.  Louise seemed to have tears in her eyes and Nick and Brad also appeared at the window.  As soon as the taxi drove off I burst into tears.  It was the kind of crying where you get the lump in your throat.

Ted and Nick having a romantic moment

I gazed out the window watching the rain (which had finally come) and eventually calmed down and thought how lucky I was to have shared such a wonderful journey with these no-longer strangers.  Less than three weeks ago 15 of us broke bread together in Santiago for the first time and now almost all 22 of us were a close-knit group.  I feel so blessed to have met these amazing individuals, from the older couples and men who have traveled the world to the younger women with whom I spent the last 20 days sharing rooms.  Andy drove us safely some 4,500km (according to Ally), while Ally provided heaps of information about the places we visited.  And someone up above was looking out for us in terms of the weather.  I'd like to believe that my grandparents and Bubba Chica had something to do with it.  Given all the weather horror stories from Ally, we basically had the perfect trip.

Now I'm on to the next chapter of my trip, not quite ready to let go of the last.  Luckily, Sarah, Kate and Sameena are all going to be in Buenos Aires over the next three days, so I'll get to see them again (plus they all live in England).  In addition to my fantastic friends on the Trans-Mongolian, I now have even more people to visit in Australia.  Looks like I'll have to make my way "down under" sometime in the near future... but that's another trip.

Adios Ushuaia, Hola Buenos Aires.