Antarctica Favorites

  Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
by 850prc
 
  • Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
      Fernando's artwork on Sara's bed.
    by 850prc
  • Asst Exp Leader Danny stamping at Vernadsky Stn
      Asst Exp Leader Danny stamping at...
    by 850prc
  • Everybody JUMP.
      Everybody JUMP.
    by 850prc
  • Ok, head back under water.
      Ok, head back under water.
    by 850prc
  • Now jump again. :)
      Now jump again. :)
    by 850prc
 
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Cookouts, Antarctic style

by 850prc

For one of our on-board lunches, the crew of the Ushuaia chose to fire up outside grills and have a (what they called) Antarctic Barbecue. The weather was clear and sunny - albeit it a bit cooler than your standard outdoor barbecue. And, the plan was never to EAT outside, given the coolness. But, a lot of folks hung around outdoors drinking Quilmes (Argentine beer) and enjoying the delightful smells coming from the giant cookers.The menu included barbecued chicken, beefsteak, and several different kinds of sausages - including chorizo and blood sausages. When it was time to eat, we assembled in the dining room, and they brought plate after plate of barbecue to us. One member of our table (the intrepid and clinically insane - ha ha - Samantha Browning of Perth, Australia) chose to try one of the blood sausages. I couldn't imagine why, they didn't really look like anything I wanted to try...

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Make friends with the bartender

by 850prc

Do I really need to write this tip? Is anyone out there stupid enough to get on a cruise ship and pay no attention to "becoming friends" with the bartender?Let's list a few reasons to be good friend with your bartender...He'll notice YOU quickly when everyone wants a drink.He'll set aside the last bottle of a pretty decent little cabernet and deliver it to your dinner table later, fibbing to everyone else and telling them that he's sold the last bottle.He'll make sure that you get an EXTRA COLD can of Quilmes, the very drinkable Argentine brew of choice on board.He'll find you some snacks when you need them.And on our boat, he was in charge of selling t-shirts and stuff, so he'll dig though his entire supply in his spare time to find the last one of the size and color you really, really wanted. Thanks, Alvaro.Our terrific bartender on the Ushuaia was the enigmatic and gregarious Alvaro...

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Antarctica synchonized swimming, a la Penguin

by 850prc

I'd seen many many penguins in zoos, and I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what they were like. I figured the trip to Antarctica would show me penguins in their native habitat and in unimaginable numbers. But, I was surprised and delighted to see them SWIM. They generally will go for little swims in groups, and they really do look like "little porpoises", zipping along and hopping up into the air along the way. They actually seem to synchronize the hops a bit, because it seemed to me that groups of 8 or 10 penguins would almost always be out of the water at the same time.My pictures probably don't do it justice, but if you look at several of them, you'll maybe get the idea. Seeing these little guys on a synchronized swim just brings a smile to your face. Seeing my first penguin swim show, and at first thinking they were porpoises or some other type of sleek swimming water mammal...

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Get your passport stamped!

by 850prc

Antarctica really isn't a country or sovereign nation. They have no foreign ministry, passport offices or customs officers. In general, the interests of the continent are a world concern, and the area is overseen in the interest of all the world by a group of treaty-signing nations. There ARE nations who have territorial "claims" on Antarctica, including Argentina. However, that notion seems to be a thought of past centuries. It seems that, for the foreseeable future, the treasure and unique place that is Antarctica will be protected by a large group of concerned and committed governments and their citizenry.That being said, you DO want to have evidence and bragging rights to visiting such an incredible destination - a place that very few people EVER get to see. So, at several of the research and weather stations on the continent, they'll stamp your passport with local information. In...

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Love your head waiter and waitresses

by 850prc

Seating on the Ushuaia - and to my knowledge on most of the smaller expedition ships - is quite informal and open. In theory, you can sit anywhere you want to anytime. That being said, people are creatures of habit. It seemed to me that everyone pretty much kept sitting with the same little group all the time. We were no exception, and a special thanks for the fun to our table mates, Andrew Povah and Rachael Best (who are "kind of" a married couple... from Britain but now living in Sydney, Oz) and the Browning family of Perth, Australia - Steve, Samantha and Jasmine. Add the three Chamlis travelers, and you had table one.Our two waitresses - Nicole and Veronica, and our head waiter Hector took excellent care of us... and quite honestly, they really seemed to "like" us. I guess we did a good job of showing our appreciation for their help and kindness. There's something very comforting...

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Make friends with your cabin steward

by 850prc

We were so very blessed on our Antarctic cruise. Our cabin steward was a wonderful fellow, Fernando Otero. Fernando took great care of our rooms and always had a smile for us. Suffice to say and especially on a small expedition ship, being "in good" with your cabin steward is a good thing. The kindness that Fernancdo showed us was varied and constant. We particular appreciated his "sharing" the staff dryer with us. The ship officially doesn't have laundry services for passengers, but of course they have laundry - they have to clean sheets, etc. Anyway, Fernando would notice us making special setups in our room to position parkas and waterproof pants to get them dry between landings. He just took them away to the "staff area" and put them in the dryer. He did this for us and for the folks in the cabin across the hall. He also was very creative in making little shapes out of towels and...

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Ancient ice - frozen history

by 850prc

One afternoon, as our zodiac was heading back to the Ushuaia, our driver spotted something in the distance and immediately headed that way. He said something about "ice" and that confused us.... heck, we had ice all around us, nothing special about THAT. But when we got there, I have to admit that it was truly amazing. We were looking into the past.There is an item that they call "ancient ice" in Antarctica, and basically it's floating ice that has BEEN ice so very long that it's literally become crystal clear. And whatever is frozen in the ice.... a leaf, a small fish, etc. may well have been frozen in that ice for thousands and thousands of years. I was told later by our expedition leader that we were very fortunate to have seen this rarity.Take a look at the accompanying photos, and imagine the thrill of staring through this crystal clear ice into the earth's distant past. When this...

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Krill - it's what's for Antarctic dinner

by 850prc

Most of you have probably heard the whales feed almost exclusive on plankton and krill. And of course, that's a scientific fact. However, it seems almost unbelievable once one realizes what krill are, and more rightly how SMALL krill are.In the accompanying photos, our friend Steve Browning from Australia has found a single "krill" and is holding it above his open mouth. (BTW, right after the first photo was taken, his daughter bumped his arm on purpose and it fell into his mouth.) Can you imagine how much of this krill it would take to feed just one meal to a hungry orca? Incredible.And considering that whales aren't the only critter in Antarctic waters feeding on krill (penguins eat a lot of it), let's just say that mother nature is making a whole bunch of krill down south. Watching Steve's face and reaction after Jasmine bumped that krill into his mouth and down his throat....

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Will there be any NIGHTtime?

by 850prc

Depending on the time of year you visit Antarctica, you may well see very little "dark". When you're well beyond 60 degrees south in their summer, the sun will be up at least 21-22 hours per day. The "longest" day of their summer is December 21st. Due to weather patterns, most cruise operators have their first trips in mid-November, so even if you're going at that time, you're still going to see far more daylight than dark. The two days of "equal night and day" are September 21 and March 21. So, if you're like us and you cruise in March, you will have a far more normal "nighttime" occur - which can be a bit comforting. I've always had problems sleeping well when it's bright and sunny outside. We dealt with that in Alaska a few years ago.Anyway, to answer the tip question, you'll see very little darkness for tours running from mid-late November through maybe the middle of January. After...

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Cameras, lenses, & general protection info

by 850prc

A little general information regarding photography and planning for photographs in Antarctica. First of all, I am assuming that everyone is doing digital now....but if not, bring twice as much film as you ever imagined needing. The natural beauty is THAT spectacular, and unlike almost any other trip, there will be NOWHERE to buy more film.OK first things first.... you're going to be carrying your camera and lenses in a wet environment, landing in zodiac-style craft. If you choose to carry just a camera and a lens, then you can safely put it inside your parka, or safely in your waterproof jacket pockets. Make sure you have it zipped securely, it would be very easy to have an accident involving gravity and water if you don't.Now if you're a camera psycho like me and you need multiples lenses, filters and the like, I'd suggest that you look into getting a Dry-Zone style waterproof backpack,...

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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Favorites  French Southern and Antarctic Lands Favorites  Heard Island and McDonald Islands Favorites 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hello, I'm so excited about my trip to Antarctica on 2/19 on Quark. Questions for those who've been there - 1. packing -... 

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A: There is a tiny place on Deception Island, where the ground is so hot that you can dig out a hole and let the sea-water in that will allow you to take a bath in hot... 

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