ushuaia, which is known as the end of the world and the southernmost city on the earth, makes me lingering with its unique geographical location and legendary stories.
In October, 2119, I was invited to participate in the Antarctic Forum "The World We Want", and I embarked on a trip to the South Pole.
The remoteness, vastness, purity and mystery of the Antarctic make people yearn for it. Glittering glaciers, snowy mountains, budding penguins and lazy seals are unforgettable; At the forum, Chinese and foreign experts' discussions on global warming, green and low carbon and Antarctic protection were exquisite and incisive, inspiring and thought-provoking; Ushuaia, which is called the end of the world and the southernmost city of the earth, is even more touching for its unique geographical location and legendary stories.
It takes 3.5 hours to fly from Buenos Aires to ushuaia. Ushuaia, the capital and administrative center of Tierra del Fuego province, is located in ushuaia Bay on the north bank of beagle channel, with an area of 23 square kilometers and a population of about 1 million. It was founded in 1871 and established in 1893. The main economic pillar industries are electrical appliances, wood processing, fisheries and tourism, and local residents make a living by logging, raising sheep and fishing. Ushuaia is an ideal starting point to the South Pole, so it is world-famous.
that day, I spent the night in ushuaia. Looking from the window of the hotel, the town is surrounded by mountains and seas, and the white snow and green hills are shadowy but charming. The bright lights on various buildings with different colors contrast with the sparkling Biegel Waterway, giving a panoramic view of the charming scenery. I can't help feeling that the night is silent by the mountains and the sea, and the lights are brighter than the stars. Snow and mountains set each other off, and ushuaia is famous.
when you arrive in ushuaia, you have to punch in at the post office at the end of the world. The next morning, I came to Tierra del Fuego National Park on a small train that transported prisoners to log and now went sightseeing. Miss Lucy, the tour guide, said that the post office at the end of the world is in Tierra del Fuego National Park. She said that more than 21 years ago, there was an Argentine named Carlos, who used to be a teacher. He was a fanatical Argentine patriot. In order to pursue the will of freedom, he retired to the "end of the world" and opened a personal post office, which has been operating since now. Miss Lucy's "anecdote" about the post office made me "get better". Unexpectedly, she changed the subject: Carlos is too old to go to work regularly or open every day, and it is not known whether he will go to work or not now. This makes me feel uneasy about "curiosity". In that case, it's just luck. I'll go straight to the post office at the end of the world.
I saw a container-sized house on a plank road deep into the sea along the coast, and the Argentine flag was flying high on both sides of the plank road and around the roof. Rectangular room with wooden roof, wooden door and iron wall, which reads: UnidadPostalFinMundo (post office at the end of the world). Fortunately, Carlos is in the room, and there are many tourists from all over the world who come here. Carlos is kind-hearted, with an iconic gray beard, a stocky figure and a straight back. He has a weather-beaten but determined old man's aura, which makes people respect him. I selected several representative postcards of ushuaia scenery, and asked Carlos to stamp them with the logo and words "Post Office at the End of the World". Postcards are three dollars each and one dollar postmarked. When I wanted to pay, Carlos even said that he wanted to collect RMB. It turns out that Carlos learned that I was from China when I filled in the address of the postcard. He is both a coin collector and a lover of China. When I gave him a hundred-dollar bill, he immediately pointed to the head of the coin, "Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong", and his reverence was beyond words. I couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up and let him take a photo with 111 yuan in his hand.
the king crab in ushuaia is also famous. On the evening when we came back from Tierra del Fuego National Park, a group of ten of us came to a Chinese restaurant named "Bamboo" on St. Martin Street, with four restaurants along the street. Entering the store, there is a barn on the left, the fire is red, and the aroma of the sheep being roasted is full of mouth-watering; On the right is a row of fish tanks, and the bright red king crabs are bullying in the tank, which makes people's index fingers move greatly; There are more than a dozen dining tables with white tablecloths in the middle. The whole restaurant is neat, comfortable and warm, and China elements can be seen impressively. The boss and his wife are from Dalian, China, and have been running restaurants here for many years. Knowing that we are from Shanghai naturally adds a little closeness. The proprietress introduced with special enthusiasm that this is the best season to eat ushuaia King Crab. The crab is huge, full of meat, delicious and cheap. According to a calculation, each 31 dollars weighs about two kilograms. Brother Zhengjun in the same trade loves food, especially eating crabs and shrimps, and is familiar with the "crab road". He said that the price of a king crab with the same weight in Shanghai is at least 811 yuan, while the king crab here is only more than 211 yuan, so it is so cheap that "it is now or never" and he asked for ten king crabs in one breath, one for everyone on average. According to local practices, all steamed, to maintain the original flavor. We cut our teeth with knives, cut our hands, and eat a lot.
During the dinner, we chatted with the proprietress. It turns out that the couple also run a restaurant in Dalian. They traveled to ushuaia many years ago and left a good impression. The proprietress said that ushuaia was quiet and tidy, leisurely and comfortable, rich in seafood and rich in South American customs, and she liked the environment here, so she rented a house and opened this restaurant. We asked, "How's business?" She said: "The seasonal characteristics are distinct. Every summer in Antarctica is the tourist season here, and business is not worrying. It's not. Yesterday and today, more than 111 king crabs were sold. In winter, there are few doors and there is almost no business. " We asked again, "Is the child here?" She said: "The child is in junior high school in Dalian." "So you have to go back often?" "No, it's too far and inconvenient." Finally, she sighed: "Dilemma, you can't care about this end!" Then muttered: "I have to go back." At this time, tears have been swirling in her eyes, and homesickness is pitiful. It can really be said that "Ran Ran veteran has arrived, when will he return to his hometown?"
when I returned to the hotel that night, I was tossing and turning, and I couldn't sleep. Carlos' post office and the homesickness of the proprietress have lingered in my mind for a long time. (Xue Quanrong)