Standing on the Continent of Antarctica!

What a privilege! I wake this morning at 06.15 hrs in anticipation of an extraordinary day and I pull across the curtains to this!!!

A bright azur blue sky, a sparking white palette of icebergs, a whale blow in the ocean and I am not even dressed yet!!! I can hardly pull myself away from this magnificent sight, of the Antarctic Sound, seen by many intrepid explorers before us and some lucky tourists like ourselves. Because of strict restrictions, only a limited number of ships are allowed into tbe area at a time and no more than 100 people can be ashore at one time, so logistics are vital for the crew.

An announcement before 7 a.m. that because of wind of 35 knots and big sea swells, adjustments are being made to the planned itinerary. I am in the first group of Zodiacs leaving the ship, having scrubbed our boots, had bio security exam of outdoor attire and walked through disenfectent, to ensure we bring nothing ashore. The sea is a little choppy and the wind chill is up a little, but we are well wrapped up. Short ride to a small rocky beach on Cecilia Island, where we disembark and see dozens of Fur Seals. Our Team advise us to keep a healthy distance

as they are grumpy teenagers, mainly male, not just ready to procreate, frustrated, so don’t toy with them!!!

We find 2 penguins, ah, we thought we would see thousands, but one of the team assures me that’s at a later site. This sites’ rocks are too large for the penguins. Found the rock’s a bit difficult to manoeuvre myself and I am not a penguin!!

The members of the Expedition team, who accompany us on the Zodiacs and on land, are full of historical, ecological and etymological information. If I can absorb and remember even ten per cent of it, I will be doing well! Not easy to take notes, as one is tipping the tops of the waves of the Antarctic Ocean and holding onto the ropes for dear life!! The Sound is located at the northerly tip of the Peninsula which stretches like a tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego. We really are at Worlds End. The peace, tranquility and sound of the birds diving into the sea is absolute. Something very special to encounter.

And then of course are our fellow passengers. From all over the world, of varying ages and personalities and pretty idiosyncratic, a bit like myself I guess!

Accompanying people while travelling by land, sea and air gives one a good measure of human behaviour and boy how it varies!!! Yes, I am guilty of stereotyping people ( I think we all do a bit of that) but how often is it true to form! There are a lot of passengers travelling solo on this cruise , as there was a really good deal for singles, so stories abound as friendships are formed, even if just for the duration of the trip!

The lady from Oz who left her partner back home, a dedicated vegetarian cook who has not allowed her in tbe kitchen for 2 years; the lady from UK who once worked in a casino in Israel owned by Palestinians….that was an interesting chat! The chap who prefers to travel on this type of trip alone, but brings his wife to the European sun, which she prefers. The couple who are on their third trip to Antarctica and who continue onto South Georgia when finished on this trip, but are annoyed they won’t be able to walk to a waterfall there, as the arrival of avian flu means no landings on tbe Island for now! I am sure comments about me and my travel habits would be interesting to hear!

Long trip on the sea this afternoon with a fascinating commentary, had us looking overboard into marine vegation in crystal clear sea, watching penguins ducking and diving for fish, petrels and skuas hovering constantly overhead, but alas no whales today.

Thousands of Gentoo penguins strutted on their highways on Balianthos Island where we were able to walk for over an hour and see the moulting chick’s, hear their plaintive cry to their Mums for food ( typical kids) see the remnants of their nests and smell the pungent penguin poo!!

Afternoon tea calls now after a fantastic busy day and more to come tomorrow!