So, first of all I had to go to the Southern Hemisphere to find summer. Thankfully, Buenos Aires cooled down to a reasonable level while I was there, but Montevideo was just plain hot & cloudless on the return trip.
I cooled down in Antarctica in between, so it was a good trip.
Two things about traveling to Antarctica:
- Everyone should go through the Drake’s Passage. It is the most formidable stretch of water on our planet & it is a rite of passage for going to the southern polar regions. Our trip was “Not a bad Drake” as the ship crew said. We had 4 meter swells with following seas going down & smaller swell going into the sea coming back. Thanks to the ship’s stabilizers, I thought it was a walk in the park. High point – sitting eating in the dining room on level 2 (the first level above water) & watching the waves go above the window.
- The most stunning thing about Antarctica was the thickness of the ice/snow. It covered everything by several meters & had been there for generations. Every fissure revealed blue ice. I’ve seen glaciers and pack ice all over the world, but no where has it been so prevalent & thick & pure.
Smithsonian once again provided excellent lecturers for the trip & Ponant (cruise line) provided great guides who managed to lecture in English despite it being their second or third language. It was a great way to suffer in style.
So, now, here are the pics. There aren’t a lot because there was not a lot of variety in the terrain & wildlife. Sorry.
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