AmyHuang
The Antarctica Diaries - Part 3
(...continued from previous posts...)
10th March 2010
Today is our last day in Antarctica before we head back to Ushuaia (and crossing the Drake Passage again!!).
We were told to get up extra early today for an excursion to Deception Island, which is a circular volcanic island. We sailed into the caldera of Deception Island (through its narrow entrance called Neptune’s Bellow – as strong winds often blow through it) to the water body named Port Foster.
We landed on Whalers Bay where a Norwegian whaling station operated from 1919 to 1931, and it was destroyed due to volcano eruption in the 70s. So we got to see the ruins of the whaling station and a colony of elephant seals.
We did a short hike which led up to a break in the rocky ramparts called Neptune’s Window, and this is where an American couple from our tour group decided to get married. The wedding ceremony was conducted by our expedition leader, and we all stood around them as they exchanged rings and vows. It was a short and sweet ceremony.
As we walk around the relatively sandy beach along Whalers Bay, some people decided that they wanted to go for a quick ‘swim’ in the freezing cold Antarctic water. Very brave of them! Even though for most of them, it was just running in then running out rather than actually swim in the water. It was fun to watch!
During lunchtime back onboard, the restaurant staff set up a nice little wedding reception for the newly wedded couple. They had their own bridal table which filled with balloons, ribbons, champagnes and a wedding cake. A few waiters and housekeeping staff also teamed up for a live performance which one of them playing guitar and the others singing Ronan Keating’s ‘When you say nothing at all’… it was all very sweet.
In the afternoon we went out for our very last excursion to Half Moon Island; it is located in a bay of Livingston Island whose high ice covered peaks formed a magnificent backdrop.
We were greeted by a few fur seals as we got off the zodiacs, and we walked up towards inland, we were almost deafened by the loud noises made by hundreds of chinstrap penguins.
It was a bit sad at the end of the day as we have come to the realization that the next penguins we will see are probably going to be in the zoos.
11th – 13th March 2010
We were once again facing the extremely rough conditions of Drake Passage, and it was another couple of days of staying in bed with lots of sea sickness tablets.
We arrived at Ushuaia Port on the night of 12th, and slept onboard for the night, got up at 6am on the 13th to have our very last meal before we finally disembarked the ship.
It’s been a wonderfully tiring trip… we got to see and experience so many things that we’d never see in other parts of the world… it was money well spent.
--- The End ---
Details
The couple travelled with GAP Adventures on their Antarctica Classic tour which starts from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia.
Airfares from Sydney to Buenos Aires, starts around AUD$1998 with LAN Chile Airways (sourced today) via Auckland, and Qantas has direct flights for around the same price, but do shop around for specials. Domestic connections with Aerolineas Argentinas available from Buenos Aires.
10th March 2010
Today is our last day in Antarctica before we head back to Ushuaia (and crossing the Drake Passage again!!).
We were told to get up extra early today for an excursion to Deception Island, which is a circular volcanic island. We sailed into the caldera of Deception Island (through its narrow entrance called Neptune’s Bellow – as strong winds often blow through it) to the water body named Port Foster.
We landed on Whalers Bay where a Norwegian whaling station operated from 1919 to 1931, and it was destroyed due to volcano eruption in the 70s. So we got to see the ruins of the whaling station and a colony of elephant seals.
We did a short hike which led up to a break in the rocky ramparts called Neptune’s Window, and this is where an American couple from our tour group decided to get married. The wedding ceremony was conducted by our expedition leader, and we all stood around them as they exchanged rings and vows. It was a short and sweet ceremony.
As we walk around the relatively sandy beach along Whalers Bay, some people decided that they wanted to go for a quick ‘swim’ in the freezing cold Antarctic water. Very brave of them! Even though for most of them, it was just running in then running out rather than actually swim in the water. It was fun to watch!
During lunchtime back onboard, the restaurant staff set up a nice little wedding reception for the newly wedded couple. They had their own bridal table which filled with balloons, ribbons, champagnes and a wedding cake. A few waiters and housekeeping staff also teamed up for a live performance which one of them playing guitar and the others singing Ronan Keating’s ‘When you say nothing at all’… it was all very sweet.
In the afternoon we went out for our very last excursion to Half Moon Island; it is located in a bay of Livingston Island whose high ice covered peaks formed a magnificent backdrop.
We were greeted by a few fur seals as we got off the zodiacs, and we walked up towards inland, we were almost deafened by the loud noises made by hundreds of chinstrap penguins.
It was a bit sad at the end of the day as we have come to the realization that the next penguins we will see are probably going to be in the zoos.
11th – 13th March 2010
We were once again facing the extremely rough conditions of Drake Passage, and it was another couple of days of staying in bed with lots of sea sickness tablets.
We arrived at Ushuaia Port on the night of 12th, and slept onboard for the night, got up at 6am on the 13th to have our very last meal before we finally disembarked the ship.
It’s been a wonderfully tiring trip… we got to see and experience so many things that we’d never see in other parts of the world… it was money well spent.
--- The End ---
Details
The couple travelled with GAP Adventures on their Antarctica Classic tour which starts from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia.
Airfares from Sydney to Buenos Aires, starts around AUD$1998 with LAN Chile Airways (sourced today) via Auckland, and Qantas has direct flights for around the same price, but do shop around for specials. Domestic connections with Aerolineas Argentinas available from Buenos Aires.
