At the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine!!!

Yes, that is right, I am at "the end of the world" in Ushuaia, Patagonia, Argentina, the most Southerly city in the world on the island of Isla Grande Tierra Del Fuego.

After 9 months I have completed my dream journey from Alaska down to Tierra Del Fuego. Initially the excitement and realisation of what I have done, thinking back on all the places I have been to, was fantastic. Sitting on a view point overlooking Bahia Lapataia with Claire on one of the only sunny days of the year that they get down at "the end of the world".
Unless you havent guessed, "the end of the world"
slogan is a big selling point for the town.

I know it has been three months since I last updated you on my whereabouts and sorry, but I have been so busy doing the most amazing things you can think of in South America.

In case you are interested, Matt is still being a legend and updating my website with photos from our journey. All the photos from Central America are now on and should make some interesting viewing. The address is: http://www.duschkappe.com/gobby/where.htm

Since Panama I have travelled the length of South America and here are a few things that I have done!

Ecuador:
- Equator, lots of silly games and interesting facts, just North of Quito.
- Nariz del Diablo, rode on top of a shoddy train down a steep sided canyon.
- Xmas in Cuenca, NY in Montanita which was seen in by a swim in the Pacific at first light on NY day.
- Some hippy town in the south, just chilling out in a Jacuzzi watching videos.

Peru:
- Trujillo, north coast, dry and pretty rubbish, oh nice sunset though.
- Huaraz, went hiking for six hours from 3000 to 4500 metres, snowed at the top. Dropped my camera in a Glacial lake, Clever!!!
- Lima, town of eager fit women that loved foreigners.
Obviously I wasnt interested.
- Cusco, Nice colonial town with lots of Inca history.
- Machu Picchu, amazing, stunning, unbelievable and we absolutely struck gold, (nice pun hey?), on the weather when everyone else had rain.
- Lake Titicaca, abcolutely crystal clear lake with interesting indigenous characters. Uros floating islands.

At this point I have to say that myself and Nathan have formed an opinion that the Incas never existed and that it is all a big tourist rouse, especially Machu Picchu!!! I am not sure Claire, Antonia or Ellie were convinced though.

Bolivia:
- The rest of Lake Titsicaca, Copacabana, yes another one, all these towns should think of something a bit more original. Nice place though! We also visited Isla Del Sol, which is where the original Inca was meant to have been created. Yeah right, more cash from tourists.
- La Paz, amazing buzz in the city where you can buy guns off market stalls, (air guns). Highest ski run in the world (5420m), Coco museum, Valle de la Luna.
- Coroica, via the most dangerous road in the world, and they are not kidding, we needed several days rest.
- Rurrenabaque, tour of Las Pampas in the Amazon Basin, lots of animals, fed a croc, swam with pink dolphins (well nearly), very very hot, lots of mosquitos. DO NOT GO WITH INCA LAND TOURS, tell all your mates. They ran out of drinking water and told us it wasnt there problem, idiots!!!
- Uyuni Salt Flats and Bolivian desert tour.
Absolutely amazing, you have to go at some point in your life!!!

Chile:
- Atacama Desert, stunning landscapes, sunsets and stars beyond belief.
- La Serena, lovely beach town, Observatory tour, very interesting, go to starrynight.com if you get a moment.
- Santiago, huge city, lots of friendly people, kicking & cheap night life, amazing old buildings.
- Tour of the south of Chile with "Pachamama by bus".
Got to see alot of Southern mainland Chile that we wouldnt have seen without going on this tour.
Including Volcanos, Chiloe, Pucon, Penquins and alot of landscape rather like Devon.
- Again very sexy ladies in Chile!!! However, this is just a note for you other lads.

Argentina:
- Arrived through the Andes into the Patagonian Lake District and immediatley fell in love with the country. Friendly people, including the police, no Mum, I wasnt arrested. The whole lake district is amazing and is worth at least a month.
- Hired a car for two weeks to do Southern Patagonia.
- El Calafate, Moreno Glacier, the most mesmorising bit of ice you will ever see, (outside when you are drinking), huge bits of ice falling into the lake making terrific sounds.
- El Chalten, Glacier walk on a less impressive glacier, but the surrounding mountain ranges were incredible. DONT GO WITH CHALTEN TRAVEL. Another winge!
- Torres Del Paine, (Chile again), hiking in the national park cut short by dangerously high rivers and snow!!! Honestly, we werent knackered! More amazing mountains.
- Tierra Del Fuego, dull landscape until around the mountains and Ushuaia.
- Actually, most of Patagonia is pretty dull with flat horizons and monotonous driving for hours on end. Lots of Guanacos and Emus though - whoop-de-do!!!

Well that is about it really, not much of interest, but I am sure the photos will make you jealous when they are also on the website.

Now that I have finished the top to bottom journey, I feel a bit disappointed as it has all come to an end.
What I should really concentrate on is what Claire, Nathan and I will be doing in the rest of Argentina!
- Mendoza for fine wine and huge steaks, all for under three quid.
- Iguazu falls, some of the most bautiful in the world I am told.
- Buenas Aires, massive night life and after club clubs, and more fine Argentian women, (not that I will be looking).

I would love to here from you all if you get a chance and I will reply even if I am inundated.

Hope you are all well, hopefully speak to you soon.
Cheers, Rob

P.S. I have been using MSN Messenger a bit lately, so if you want to chat use robspassionwagon@hotmail.com