Antarctica Shopping

 
by JessieLang
 
  •   Shopping
    by JessieLang
  •   Shopping
    by JessieLang
  • Fluffy penguin purchases with Shamus from Dublin
      Fluffy penguin purchases with Shamus...
    by LynCod
  • Queue for Port Lockroy Post Office
      Queue for Port Lockroy Post Office
    by LynCod
  • Calm
      Calm
    by Ekahau
 
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Collectable Antarctic Coins

by tiabunna

Internet shopping - you don't need to be in the Antarctic. In 2004, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Mawson Station in February 1954, the Australian (Perth) Mint issued a very limited edition of a special $1 coin. The total production run was limited to 7500 and they were made available only as high quality proof coins. The coins are 1oz of 99.9% pure silver with colour incorporated into the reverse side. They are 40mm across and come in a sealed clear plastic container, itself within a velvet lined metal case, that in a cardboard box (second photo). Now that’s packing! The coins come accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity and (to the best of my knowledge) are the first 'Antarctic' coins issued anywhere.It seems the initial “Mawson Commemorative” coins were so popular that further 'Antarctic' coins have been produced in 2005 (a leopard seal and...

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Antarctic souvenirs: a way to say I have been there

by Ekahau

Where there is a tourist--a souvenir shop will follow-- true even for Antarctic souvenirs The Chilean President Frei Base and their neighbor the Russian Bellinghausen Station and more South, the Great Wall Chinese Base, all have a place to buy souvenirs. T shirts, hats, cups, stamps. I now am a proud owner of the Chile Antarctic flag for my bedroom. a beautiful photo, post card to mail from Antarctica. or Antartica t shirts in Spanish Russian or Chinese. I found you could use dollars to pay for things at every one of the country's bases which made it easy also euros are welcome.If you like to collect passport stamps like I do you also get your passport stamped (free) at all the bases which is great. It seems some countries still claim part of the Antarctica and like to thing things like passport stamps and postage stamps make the land claim more valid. And, you can send a card or letter...

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Vernadsky Station: World's Southernmost gift shop?

by JessieLang

The Vernadsky Station (a Ukrainian research station) also has a small gift shop. Selection is more limited than at Port Lockroy, but you might find a treasure. There are some items from the Ukraine as well as Antarctica merchandise.

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Port Lockroy gift shop: Not available elsewhere...

by JessieLang

Port Lockroy is now a Historic Site and museum, and the gift shop is run by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. Profits from the gift shop go toward upkeep of the site. They had a good variety of souvenir items for sale. I got a great penguin mug and a Port Lockroy cloth tote bag. There is a post office, and you can mail a postcard to anywhere for $2. Send one to yourself too. Prices were fairly high, but where else can you say "I picked this up in Antarctica." (and it was cheaper than the ship's gift shop!" The tote bag was $10, and I think I paid @ $15 for the mug. Everything is in U.S. dollars, and you need them.

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Shopping onboard/at base stations

by leigh767

Shopping onboard the ship and at base stations can be very expensive, so pack well and be prepared for the weather conditions ahead of time. (Refer to my other Packing Tips regarding appropriate clothing) My one regret was not buying the postcards onboard the Orlova. Instead, I waited until we landed at Port Lockroy, the British base station but their postcard collection is much more limited and are the same price. So buy your postcards and stamps beforehand, write them all and all you have to do is pop them in the red mail box at Lockroy. Now all you have to do is start the Amazing Antarctic Postcard Race by telling your family/friends to notify you as soon as their postcards arrive! (Anywhere between 2 weeks to 8 months!)

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Port Lockroy: another great souvenir-shop

by globetrott

Port Lockroy has its own british postoffice and that postoffice is inside the well-sorted souvenirshop of the British Antarctical Thrust, who had rebuilt that station again and runs it more as a heritage-site than a real research-station.This place is british, BUT only US $ are accepted in the shop and postoffice ! They have lots of great books, postcards, T-shirts, fridge-magnets etc. but their most favorite souvenir are the local stamps of course, because you will get them only on this small island inhabited by these 3 people working for the thrust.I sent my postcards on Dec. 2nd 2008 and now I wonder how long they will take to get home !! ;-)) 2 US $ is what you pay for each stamp, no matter where you send your postcards, the great postcards will also cost 2 US $

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Vernadsky Point: The southernmost souvenirshop on earth

by globetrott

Inside of the Ukrainian Research-station Vernadsky Point you will find the southernmost souvenirshop on earth, it is quite small and you will find it in the 1st floor (USA: 2nd floor) of the mainbuilding of the scientific station. The shop offers some badges, handmade clothings,and even a Matrioska Doll made like a penguin. That was 70 US $ and I did not want to spend so much money, although it looked quite nice.A funny souvenir might be also the shirt that had lots of stamps of various antactic stations on it. These guys in Vernadsky obviously have a lot of time besides of their jobs and have to search for some way to make some extra money.

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Antarctica Region: Maybe the least shops in the World

by LynCod

The only shops on my trip(excluding the Falklands) were the Ship's Shop, Port Lockroy Post Office and Grytviken Museum Shop. Ship's Shop sells a good variety of clothing items, souvenirs, soaps toothpaste etc also large bottles of water approx £2 handy for your cabin.Port Lockroy Post Office sells good quality clothing, fluffy penguins, maps, souvenirs etc not cheap but proceeds go to the restoration of buildings in the area.Grytviken Museum similar also sells stamps as combines the post office with the Museum.Great fun shopping in the middle of nowhere. Postcards to get franked and sent home, they arrive a month or so after you.Port Lockroy fluffy gentoo penguins. Fairly expensive but goods have to travel vast distances for you to buy them justifying the cost.

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....: Ship Store

by Anita_Porec

MS Explorer has a mall souvenir store.You can get T-Shirts, pullovers, fleeces...etc. with the Explorer logo.Postcards are available (but you can get nicer ones in Ushuaia) and so are maps (very popular) and books.The ship store does not sell stamps nor does it have a post office (makes sense)Also, they don't sell convertes...memory cards...and such....The bar (besides drinks) sells - Snickers and Bounty ($1 usd) and Toblorone (4$ usd)If you want munchies - Ushuaia has the best chocolate of South America (mmm, they do). Postcards. ...it's Antarctica.

Anywhere.: Shop out of season.

by peeweekathi

Most Army Disposal or Sporting specialist type stores. Hiking Stick, Mittens, Gloves, Hats, Wet Weather gear, warm clothing. Do I really need to tell you? Maybe not! But still, just shop out of season. If you are going to the Antarctic next season (November to February) do your shopping now, during summer, or once the winter is over. Every warm, wooly or water resistant thing you need, is always cheaper out of season. Expect to pay half of what you usually would. Less than usual/half price.

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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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