As we make our way out of Chile, we are going through the Beagle Strait (yes, that Beagle Channel named after the boat Charles Darwin used).

First though, we paid a visit to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas claims to be the southernmost city in the world. Argentina begs to differ and cites Ushuaia, where we are headed next. But, as Chile points out, Punta Arenas is a city—it has a population of about 150,000 while the population of Ushuaia is only a few thousand. Apparently Chile and Argentina will always find something to fight about. 

While we were in Punta Arenas we visited an outdoor museum of equipment from a sheep farm, which was big business back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sara Braun and the Menedez family helped put Punta Arenas on the (European) map with their business acumen with respect to sheep farming. Then there was the discovery of gold and a gold rush was on. 

While Sara Braun & Co. were instrumental in the creation of Punta Arenas thriving economy, later scholarship uncovered their role in the genocide of the indigenous  Selk’nam people.  

Anyway, we are on our way through various straits (including the Magellan strait) to Argentina where  Ushuaia is the first stop. Shortly afterward we are scheduled to stop in the Falkland Islands, although that appears to be dependent on weather conditions. 

We’ll check in when we get there. 

Joe Benning & Mary Anne McDonald