Saturday, January 1, 2011

Off to "Malos Aires"

Buenos Aires was named by Spanish sailors who sailed in this vicinity in the 16th century. Literally, it means "good airs," or in sailing terms, "fair winds."

As you go south from here, the "airs" get progressively worse, culminating in the foul and fierce winds that frequent the area around Cape Horn. "Rounding the Horn" was always a challenge, especially in the clipper ships of the day, which did not point (sail at a tight angle into the wind) as well as sailboats of today.

So today, we fly to the closest city to Cape Horn, the small Argentinian city of Ushuaia, which also has the distinction of being the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia is subject to the fierce weather common to the region, hence my nickname "Malos Aires," meaning "foul winds.".

I don't think the chamber of commerce will go for it though :-) Rob

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