the end of the world

I am in the southernmost city in the world: Ushuaia. The rain that was here seems to have lifted, and there is a spectacular view of a blue green ocean and snow capped mountains. It could almost be Vancouver, except the town is a lot smaller, and they speak Spanish here. And Antarctica is a lot closer. I´m staying at a B&B, where the owners are incredibly welcoming and friendly. It´s a few blocks ooutside the center of town, but it is nice to escape from the bustle to a quiet street. Tomorrow I go off on a trekking, boating, off road tour to Gable Island where there are penguin colonies and apparently the perfect sampling of the local flora.

It´s 11pm, and while the sun has set it is still bright out. The orange light of the sun is reflecting off the few clouds in the sky over the harbor, and a pinkish tinge colors the snow on the mountains. It´s about 5C out and there are flowers in bloom. Hyacinths and other flowers I think of blooming first in the spring. But yet it is summer. Ushuaia is at the 54th parallel. And we are just two days after the solstice.