Plans Undone
Today was a day that did not go to plan, but it also shows why I try to be flexible while travelling, as things never go smoothly, despite how much or how little you plan.
I started the morning with a quick breakfast before heading into town for a coffee. My plans for the day were to spend the morning walking around and exploring the town, and taking a boat in the afternoon to see sea lions, birds, and penguins. The morning was going to be quieter to recover from the ~20 km hike the day before.
Going outside, it was quick to see that the weather today was not going to be the best. Wind was strong, temperatures were colder, and there was intermittent precipitation. I simply put on every layer I had, about 5 at this point, and then took a stroll along the water.
It did not take too long for me to get cold and need some warmth, so I made my way to a Cafe Martinez which I found to have a better breakfast - the hostel only offered medialunas, which were not really enough sustenance for me. I grabbed a yoghurt bowl with fruits and nuts, along with a coffee, and just enjoyed the warmth in between chats with friends and family.
By now, I could see that the precipitation had stopped, and I was not going to let a bit of wind stop me from a walk, so that’s what I did. I took a stroll through the main strip of the city, before venturing a little higher up the hills into the suburbs, in hopes of finding a trail of sorts. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a trail anywhere but I kept walking, taking in the beautiful views of the city from above.
It started snowing at some point, which was a sign for me to go back to warmth. I had no intention of being stuck outside in a snowstorm - there’s a reason I left Canada and this was it. Luckily, the snow was not sticking and I did not get too wet. Back at my hostel, it was almost time to head towards the docks for my boat ride, so I took the time to warm up again and charge my phone before the 6 hours boat ride.
When I reached the docks, I was met with the disappointing news that the boat ride had been cancelled, as the winds were too strong and the coast guard was not allowing tours to depart, especially after an incident with one of the returning Antarctic cruises that took place a few days ago (Google Viking Polaris for more information). I rescheduled the tour for the next afternoon and headed back to the hostel to assess all my options.
My initial plan had been to do the cruise this afternoon and a shorter hike the next morning, so was now stuck with the task of filling up my afternoon with something else. After contemplating the possible options, and observing the miserable weather, I decided that my best option was to stay behind and take the day to relax some more. This was going to be a long trip anyway, and I might want the rest later on in my trip so it only made sense to take it now.
I laid for a few hours in bed, in between chats, writing blogs, and working on the website, which honestly was not a disappointing option in the end.
If this was me from a few years ago, I would be very disappointed at being somewhere new and spending the day doing nothing. However, through multiple trips, I have learned to appreciate “off-days”, as they are important for recharging the batteries and making sure you do not burn out while travelling - yes, it is a possibility!
In the evening, I went for a quick dinner with part of the group from the previous night and that was all. The meal was supposed to be special, although ended up being not too memorable, so won’t go too much into it here. It did the job it nothing more and nothing less. After that, it was time for bed as tomorrow was going to my last full day in Ushuaia, with a hike and a boat tour.
What did you think of my off day? Have you had off days while travelling before? Do you make it a point to schedule off days to rest up? Let me know your thoughts in the comment below, but till then, stay positive!
