Getting Ready to Drive Beyond Ushuaia

It’s 12^th December. Outside, there’s more rain than snow. More fog than sunshine. And approaching X-mas makes people increasingly crazy.

But let’s go back to the beginning. Back to the 7^th of February 2023, the day we arrived in Luzern. After a long flight from Montevideo. Crammed like sardines in their tins.

Time to recover. Not from the 6-month trip from Colombia to Argentina. No, to recover from this 17-hour flight.

Not much has changed in Swizzyland.

At least, Covid is history. It looks like these coronies have become the people’s best friends. Consequently, these all-important movements fighting all measures against Covid have finally time to concentrate on internal quarrels. And Swizzy’s proud citizens seem to simply forget these heroic freedom fighters.

No doubt, the war in Ukraine is a topic to be constantly discussed in Swizzyland. Not because of the glorious Russian army’s attempts to conquer Swizzy territory. For that presumably, the brave cavalry of the Principality of Liechtenstein scares them too much. Nevertheless, the international situation highlights certain shortcomings in Swizzyland’s sanctified political concepts and politics.

Of course, our beloved right-wing nationalist-populist party, the Swizzy Vüdli Pürger (SVP), considers this situation favorable to prove their unshakeable resilience to a 1950s lifestyle of splendid isolation. After a period of increasing insignificance, they have found their way back to the world stage. At least on a local level. They rediscover their perpetual slogan: ‘freedom and security.‘ Still not realizing that security mostly contradicts freedom – at least for a part of their victims. Whatever they mean by that beautiful slogan – they translate it as the need for further isolation, stricter neutrality rooted in their muffy and libertarian definition, and a shift in priorities from social welfare to military toys.

Of course, not everybody is too enthusiastic about their vision of an improved Swizzyland. Thus, the Vüdli Pürger have to simplify their political key message. No problem, they quickly identify the reasons for all the mishappenings in the world: foreigners, especially immigrants. Great, now everybody seems to understand. During the campaign for parliamentary elections in autumn, they can fully concentrate on Swizzyland’s 1 and only problem. And, as they are so adept at identifying these incredible problems with foreigners, they even win a few seats during the elections. Although they never proposed any solutions to solve it. Great.

Perhaps this situation is just proof of deficiencies in Swizzyland’s educational system. Who knows.

By the way, they also managed to install 1 of their very competent partisans as the new Minister of Environment. Before that, the person was Swizzyland’s major oil lobbyist. In his new role, somehow, he has to support the new laws to mitigate climate change. Even if his highly praised party vehemently opposes it. Whatever, politics. One step forward, two steps back.

At the end of May we’re definitely tired of all these politics. We’re touring thru the Balkans. With our van. 3 months thru Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Slovenia. To be back in Swizzyland just in time to escape summer holiday foolishness.

A trip thru unexplored Europe. Well, maybe except Albania, which has definitely been discovered by mass tourism. And the opportunity to meet Evi’n’Martin again, the friends we’ve met for the 1^st time in 2018 on our way to Alaska.

July, August – the time when all Europeans bounce for their epic summer holidays. Salary slaves with their unruly, whining kids, limited to school holidays. Retired senior citizens locked into their routine to leave at this time of the year. And youngsters in search of the most auspicious parties in Mallorca or Rimini. Just everybody.

It’s the time we avoid any tourist hotspots. The time to discover some nearby hills in Swizzyland. No crowds – it’s simply way too expensive for most holidaymakers.

And the time to risk our lives high above the abysses of the Alps.

Of course, there’s more than hills in the Alps. E.g. music festivals in Luzern not to miss. This year with a couple of rather unknown artists. True, a few are pretty ok, for others, somehow, it’s understandable why they’re not world-famous. Still, an opportunity to experience some Asian street food Swizzy style.

Later a visit of our friends and container buddies from Panama 2 Cartagena. Amber’n’Hector from the US’n’Mexico. Now, they’re touring Europe – and of course, they also have to experience Swizzy’s exorbitant prizes.

Autumn approaches fast. Definitely, we’re not keen to endure Swizzy’s rain’n’fog for weeks. Thus, beginning of September we’re on the way to Northern Spain. To celebrate again van life and perfect our Spanish. And to visit the country’s northern coast, Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees.

Mid-October we’re back to the fog in Swizzyland. Time for some hibernation. And to organize our trip beyond Ushuaia.

To search for reasonable flights to Montevideo, to find appropriate insurance for Prado, and to bake’n’munch some X-mas cookies before we leave for Uruguay on 8^th January.

In late December, just after having munched the last X-mas cookies, we learn that the Iberia ground staff is planning a strike. Especially on 8^th of January. Maybe they’re just spicing up the whole flying experience with Iberia. Who knows?
Then New Year and January come knocking. Iberia informs us that we may fancy ourselves as VIPs, and they’ll keep our flights running – probably just for us. Or, was there a different explanation? Forgot it. Anyway, ground services in Madrid are expected to be miserable.

Finally, it’s 8^th of January. Late afternoon. We’re on the way to Montevideo.

In Zurich, we’ve got a few minutes to spare. So, the opportunity to hit Swizzy’s most appreciated gourmet temple. Not KFC, nope, it’s McDonald’s. And it’s not because we’re hungry, no it’s all about getting used to whatever culinary delights Iberia has in store for us later.
Then we’re in the air. 2h to Madrid. 2h sitting in these infamous, newly developed seats that even don’t allow any adjustments. Sure, these seats are optimized. Regrettably, not for your comfort, but to cram as many of us poor passengers as possible into the plane. Sardines in the tin know the struggle, right?

In Madrid, it’s pretty quiet. We can sense that we must be privileged guests. Flying even during a strike.

Just before midnight, we’re on the way to Montevideo. 13h. A long nap, some lousy food, and a snooze-inducing movie. In Uruguay we quickly pass immigration’n’customs. Then a taxi to town.

Montevideo, 10^th January

Time to get organized. Grabbing some cash at an ATM, snagging a SIM card, and buying all the stuff we forgot at home.

Soon later it’s already time to remember the beers Uruguayis are sipping. At least their bottles aren’t that small.

Next morning an Uber to TerraVentura (UY Storage) – Prado’s sleepery. We find the car eagerly waiting for us. All set for the next round of adventures.

Spending a bit of time hanging around with some fellow overlanders – some heading back home, others just rolling in like us.

Of course, we carefully check our tires. Admittedly, they look pretty worn out. Nevertheless, we decide to get them changed in Paraguay only. The Uruguayis are simply asking too much money for new 1s.

Some basic car cleaning and packing, and now we’re on the way back to Montevideo.

On the way a short stop to change oil, and …

… in the evening a splurge at Las Leñas. The place to munch when occasionally in Montevideo.

Then we’re absolutely ready to kick off our adventures.

Soon there will be more of our boring experiences beyond Ushuaia. Promised.

Hey guys,

enough for this post. The 1^st 1 about the leg beyond Ushuaia.

Still don’t despair. Soon we’ll be back to you. With the next boring post about our monotonous’n’ tiring adventures. Promised.

Cheeeers Monika’n’Martin