Train at the End of the World

· 4 min read

Most of what we see here in Ushuaia markets itself as the ‘_____ at the end of the world’, and most of the time, they are right!

Ushuaia - where almost everything is the end of the world

Ushuaia - where almost everything is the end of the world

I mentioned in my Canal Beagle Tour that it was by the prisoners’ handiwork that the lighthouse was made. Well, another thing they made was the El Tren del Fin del Mundo, the train at the end of the world!

Flags decorate the train station *at the end of the world*

Flags decorate the train station *at the end of the world*

The walls of the station also display the history of the train

The walls of the station also display the history of the train

The original trains used to run on coal, but they now use a chemical that recreates the look of the steam, but is more environmentally friendly

The original trains used to run on coal, but they now use a chemical that recreates the look of the steam, but is more environmentally friendly

Hmm since we can't really buy things from our travels (uhh we live with just two luggages each), maybe stickers would be a compromise?

Hmm since we can't really buy things from our travels (uhh we live with just two luggages each), maybe stickers would be a compromise?

The cash register was designed by Tiffany! Cool stuff

The cash register was designed by Tiffany! Cool stuff

Guests with the original train

Guests with the original train

I just had to sign the guest book, since we were waiting anyway! When people find out I'm from the Philippines, they are delighted to see someone all the way from there, here!

I just had to sign the guest book, since we were waiting anyway! When people find out I'm from the Philippines, they are delighted to see someone all the way from there, here!

I tried warming my hands on this to no avail, it was too cold

I tried warming my hands on this to no avail, it was too cold

You can see men in prisoner's constume in town inviting you to go here (look at that hand placement, I thought it was a person!)

You can see men in prisoner's constume in town inviting you to go here (look at that hand placement, I thought it was a person!)

Only repeat offenders were sent to Ushuaia to construct the prison

Only repeat offenders were sent to Ushuaia to construct the prison

Some funny gifts - why do these prisoners look like jolly pirates?

Some funny gifts - why do these prisoners look like jolly pirates?

A sad prisoner!

A sad prisoner!

The conductor of the train welcoming everyone

The conductor of the train welcoming everyone

They have you take photos with the prisoners before boarding! This grandma was nice enough to point out to the conductor that were foreigners, so we were informed that we can choose English for the audio tour

They have you take photos with the prisoners before boarding! This grandma was nice enough to point out to the conductor that were foreigners, so we were informed that we can choose English for the audio tour

A view of Monte Susana while boarding the train - am I finally going to Hogwarts?!

A view of Monte Susana while boarding the train - am I finally going to Hogwarts?!

It was a 2 hour tour to travel the last 7km of the prisoners' journey

It was a 2 hour tour to travel the last 7km of the prisoners' journey

It's winter here right now, so everything was covered in snow or frozen - otherwise we would be in a green forest

It's winter here right now, so everything was covered in snow or frozen - otherwise we would be in a green forest

There was a 15 minute stop here to view a river - Alex suggests that they should play the Macarena song here! Haha

There was a 15 minute stop here to view a river - Alex suggests that they should play the Macarena song here! Haha

You would really feel that you were in Patagonia, seeing all these snow capped mountains!

You would really feel that you were in Patagonia, seeing all these snow capped mountains!

We were bamboozled! They said we can view the river if we go down the train, but they didn't tell us it was frozen! Such jokesters

We were bamboozled! They said we can view the river if we go down the train, but they didn't tell us it was frozen! Such jokesters

Tren del Presidio - Prison train!

Tren del Presidio - Prison train!

In the Macarena stop, this is where the prisoners loaded the train with wood for burning

In the Macarena stop, this is where the prisoners loaded the train with wood for burning

Present day, they use this train for construction work

Present day, they use this train for construction work

I couldn't feel three of my toes, they were so numb from the cold

I couldn't feel three of my toes, they were so numb from the cold

A dramatic tree calls for a dramatic photo

A dramatic tree calls for a dramatic photo

I was only using a 35mm lens, but if you zoom in, you can see wild horses grazing!

I was only using a 35mm lens, but if you zoom in, you can see wild horses grazing!

The prisoners would use the train to go deeper into the forests to cut lumber

The prisoners would use the train to go deeper into the forests to cut lumber

Everything was just white...

Everything was just white...

... and frozen...

... and frozen...

The train was really slow - really gives you the authentic feel of how it was before!

The train was really slow - really gives you the authentic feel of how it was before!

I'm sure we would be in a lush forest if it wasn't winter

I'm sure we would be in a lush forest if it wasn't winter

Seeing this reminds me of Skyrim snow mountains I would just shimmy up to

Seeing this reminds me of Skyrim snow mountains I would just shimmy up to

The moon saying hi - I was also waiting for the James Webb Telescope first image at this time

The moon saying hi - I was also waiting for the James Webb Telescope first image at this time

The wild horses!!! I have never seen wild horses in my life before...

The wild horses!!! I have never seen wild horses in my life before...

Cool that they were in different colors

Cool that they were in different colors

The train stops at the entrance of Tierra del Fuego National Park - where you can continue on to do more hiking, the train then just goes back to the train station for the end of the tour

The train stops at the entrance of Tierra del Fuego National Park - where you can continue on to do more hiking, the train then just goes back to the train station for the end of the tour

I wanted to capture the browns, oranges, reds, and yellows in the sea of white

I wanted to capture the browns, oranges, reds, and yellows in the sea of white

This was a great date! After Alex fell on his back when he slipped on ice earlier that day :(

This was a great date! After Alex fell on his back when he slipped on ice earlier that day :(

Overall, it was a nice tour to be on since you get to listen to the history of Ushuaia – its prisoners made to construct their own prison.

They even said that they chose to just be out to cut lumber and do hard labor, to be able breathe fresh air and have the time pass quicker. Better than being in a damp, cold, prison cell!

We rented a car to see more of Ushuaia in our last days here. It’s so dofficult to get a taxi, and very inconvenient to walk because it’s freezing.

Hoping to get more practice in taking photos! And blogging them! Hope you all at least get to enjoy them too! :)

Chantal

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