By evening, we were aboard our ship and sailing down the Beagle Channel.
The soaring albatrosses that followed the ship were to be constant companions along our journey.
We were expecting large penguin rookeries and beautiful seabirds. We knew we would see icebergs and glaciers. What we did not realize is how these elements come together to create immensely powerful scenes bursting with life. We loved the convoluted geology of places like Brown Bluff and Bailey Head and how the wildlife adapted to it. The uniqueness of the landscape at each landing amazed us. The light also surprised us with its beauty, constantly changing during the long austral days. The sunsets, beams of light glowing off distant icebergs, the occasional blue raft covered with penguins, the sunrises. We were always the last lingerers on the outer decks, as well as the first ashore and the last to board the ship during shore excursions!
We were extremely fortunate with the weather. We know we had more than our fair share of clear blue skies. Even the dreaded Drake Passage turned into a glassy lake! We made every landing, although our stay at Salisbury Plains was cut short by fierce Katabatic winds. We met Tim and Pauline in Grytviken and members of the British Antarctic Survey team at King Edward Point. It was inspiring to share conversation, a joke, and a beer with all of them.
The staff on the ship was great. Everyone was enthusiastic, dedicated, and fun to hang out with. We were by far the youngest passengers aboard the ship, and we had a lot more in common with the staff. From knocking on our door at 1am to let us know about the rising full moon to sharing a wealth of information and a lot of laughs, the staff contributed enormously to our experience. We are quite certain that we'll be organizing a trip together with at least one staff member in the near future.
One aspect of the expedition leadership that we greatly appreciated was the sincere and personal commitment to education, conservation, and environmental stewardship. We are certainly not the only passengers who will continue to follow and support conservation issues in Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands.
In closing, thank you very much for helping us to make this trip happen. You provided us with helpful logistical information and a great cabin. We will certainly recommend Polar Cruises to anyone who is interested in traveling these locations. As for ourselves, we are already ready to return to the Ice!
