Antarctic Islands

Here is your ice cube, now get a glass and the Scotch …

Bettina’s daily updates:

Day 8: Arriving in the Antarctic Sound was a big relief – not only were the waters calm and the ship stopped rolling in all directions but the vista that presented itself was mindboggling: Icebergs everywhere, huge mountains and wildlife galore - penguins, whales, arctic birds and various seals. We were sailing through “iceberg alley”, and remembered the ‘Titanic experience’… The weather played along beautifully. The skies were blue and the sun was shining. What more could one ask for?

Day 9: We were sailing south along the Antarctic Peninsula, going into various bays and inlets to get closer to the wildlife. We passed “Esperanza Station” in Hope Bay, a science research base with many red roofed containers. After lunch I took my first serious exercise session after a lazy week on board and walked 13 laps around outside deck 6 which makes for 5.2 km! I never had a view like this before walking for health – sun, blue sky, sparkling sea dotted with small and large icebergs, penguins frolicking in the water, sea lions lazing on ice floes and huge humpback whales showing off beside the ship by displaying their dorsal fin and waving with their lovely tail fins. It was warm enough even to walk without the otherwise very necessary tuque, shawl and gloves.

Day 10: At 6 am we picked up 10 American scientists from “Palmer Station” in one of the Antarctic Bays. They came aboard in a Zodiac to give 2 presentations to the passengers and to answer questions about their work. We are right now sitting in the showroom and awaiting their speeches. More about it later…