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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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

My logbook : 9 DECEMBER 2008

by globetrott

We had the whole day for excursions from Ushuaia or for shopping. Ea. Haberton was one of the day-excursions, but we had been there two times already. Read more about this interesting place in my Haberton-page !Breakfast, lunch and dinner was held at the ordinary times onboard the Bark Europa and there was a farewell-party as well after dinner. Every passenger got a present from the ship: a DVD including all facts, dates and details of our cruise.The extras like barbills, souvenirs etc. could have been payed in the evening, US $, ARG $ and Euros in cash are accepted for these bills. After having payed the bills, our passport had been given back. It was certainly a good idea to have some spartime at the end of the trip, so we were not in a rush to catch a flight. b.t.w. flights will be confermed by the tourguides of the ship, you just have to fill out your flight-details on a list !

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My logbook : 8 DECEMBER 2008

by globetrott

This was now the 2ndlast-but-one day of our cruise, we arrived east of Haberton in the morning around 09.00am and had to wait some time for the pilot, who arrived around 11.00am. The cruise through the Beagle-channel was quiet and mostly sunny. After all of the rolling seas of the last 6 days we somehow were happy to be back again. At 07pm we arrived in Ushuaia and were able to go ashore. We did not get boardingcards to go ashore, but in case that we were asked at the checkpoint, they had our names on a list. I was also glad that I could still show the original letter that was provided by the cruisecompany for the embarkation-day.

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My logbook : 30 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

Melchior Island was originally on the schedule for this day, but unfortunately we had to skip it, due to the bad weather-situation again. Almost everybody was seasick and the ship was rolling all day long in heavy seas, it was hard to stand anywhere and so I stayed most of the time in bed, reading a book. I did not feel very good, but at least I was not really seasick, but instead I was sick of that ship, also because I knew the situation will stay like this for another 5-6 days...

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My logbook : Dec 1st till Dec. 7th, 2008

by globetrott

5 full days and nights of a heavily rolling ship, big waves smashing a lot of water on deck and an icy wind that makes any minute out on deck a terrible experience. In my berth the condens-water-problem is getting really bad,because of the extremely cold weather outside and the warm cabin inside. The water is gathering at some shelf and dropping down into my matress every few minutes. After complaining I was offered another berth, but did not want to move because that other berth would have been an upper berth and steping up and down in heavy seas is also not a lot of fun. Instead I asked for another blanket, that would soak the water and after 2 days the worst time was over. I decided to spend most of these 6 days in my berth, reading several books and leaving from there only to get something to eat or to powder my nose.

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My logbook : SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

In our itinerary there should have been a visit of Port Lockroy today, but due to a very bad weather-forecast we had done Port Lockroy already one day before and left there today very early in the morning in order to avoid sailing into the worst area of the bad-weather-front that was scheduled for our part of Antarctica. Not very far from us another cruisehip stranded in a storm and more than 100 passengers had to leave the ship, named M/S Ushuaia, I am glad that in our area we did not have severe problems except some seasickness..

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My logbook : FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

At 04.00am we had left our anchoring-place in Trinity Island and were arriving at the scenic Graham Passage at around 10.00am. A lot of great icebergs we were passing by in a perfect weather with sunshine and only a bit of a wind it was nice standing out on deck and enjoying the landscape. at 02.00pm we had been at the ship-wreck of the Gouvernren, that was a Norwegian whaler-ship that had stranded here in 1916 after a fire. We were sailing next to the wreck and fixed the Bark Europa on the wreck and stayed like that for about 30 minutes. I guess there are not many ships that could do this !Cuverville was on the schedule for 07.30pm, but we did not do it in time and so this excursion had to be cancelled ! Sailing through a carpet of icebergs in perfect sunshine was the best experience we had today !

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My logbook : WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

Our daily program had scheduled 3 different excurions for today on Deception Island :1) Telephone bay : walk round some of Deception's newest landscapesUnfortuantely it had to be cancelled due to strong winds and rain2) Swimming at Pendulum CoveUnfortunately we did not even go to this other anchor-place, it was so cold and windy that everybody gave up of thinking of taking a swim at a place, where you cannot change your clothings afterwards and have to do it in an icy rain...3) A walk in Whalers Bay and to Neptune's Window At least this is what we have done, although it as still very cold and windy and heavily raining It was great to walk between the ruins of Whalers Bay and to step inside of the one of the large tanks. I got home soakingly wet all over, but it was a lot of fun anyway and I am glad that my small new camera, a Panasonic Lumix LX3 was able to withstand the rain, beeing...

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My Logbook : TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

09.30 Landing on Half Moon Island and it is really cold again and raining, but who cares, we payed a lot of money to get here and now we also want to go ashore !!The landing by Zodiak is not easy, there is a lot of gravel on the beach and we have to step into high water, when stepping out of the zodiaks.On the beach: an old boat, maybe 100 years old, a boat that once was used by whalers and left back here.Climbing uphill through the soft and high snow is not easy because of the Wellies that we are wearing and they are feeling really cold, although I amwearing 3 pairs of socks...We are climbing to the other side of the mountain, no good view from there and only some penguins an a seal in the distance.Finally we are walking to the former scientific station and our zodiaks will get us back to the ship from there. 02.00 Yankee Harbor :The weather is a lot better now, and the landscape there...

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My Logbook : Monday 24 November 2008

by globetrott

02.00pm :Today we will have our first landing in the South Shetland Islands, a group of islands in Antarctica : Barrientos, an island that is part of the Aitcho Islands, will be, where we start our first excursion to.At the arrival it is first foggy and a freezing wind is blowing, but as soon as we get into the Zodiaks it is getting sunny, at least for some time, then it is snowing again, followed by sunshine and fog...all types of weather within a rather short time, it is like in April ! When cruising in the zodiak you always have to wear a life-west, one of the flat type that you may blow up by a string that you tear in case of an emergency. As soon as you go ashore you give back your lifevest that is taken back to the ships by the zodiaks for the next 6-8 people waiting there for the next chance to go ashore.6-8 persons - depending on the waves etc. - will take place inside the...

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My logbook : SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2008

by globetrott

We are getting closer and closer to Antarctica and it is also getting colder and colder out on deck with a freezing wind. We are crossing the so-called Antarctical Convergence Zone, where the warmer water-currants of the Atlantic are mixing with the cold Antarctic water.Out on deck you need extra gloves now and a really warm coat in order to be able to stay on foredeck for the watchout or on the big wheel in the backpart of the ship. For everyone cruising to the Antarctic it is madatory to learn about the right behaviour and about the rules, what to do and what not to do when meeting the wildlife in Antartica. This so-called IAATO-lecture was held today in the lounge in 3 terms, so all of our 3 sailing-watch-teams could attend it easily.This lecture was madatory for everyone and on a list we had to sign that we attened and are willing to obey these rules.

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Questions and Answers

crazy4ocean profile photo

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 -... 

globetrott profile photo

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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