Sail Away To Antarctica And Discover The Last Wild July 29, 2010
Posted by janey in : travel general , trackbackDrake’s Passage lies in all its frightening glory between the continent of Antarctica and the southern tip of South America. Although the passage is only 400 miles wide, it has the worst known sea weather in the whole world. It’s a place where currents crash together, and it’s at a latitude where no speck of land could slow it down. I was only expecting to see penguins and icebergs. Because I didn?t research Antarctica, I knew nothing about its geography or its history. I didn?t know what to expect, and I certainly wasn?t thinking the continent would amaze me like it did.
We were prepared for Drake’s Passage’s fury, but our cruise was uneventful on the way there. However, it was not so on our way back up. On our initial morning in Antarctica we arose to a gray, but tranquil, sea.Your one-stop resource on antarctica cruise prices is waiting for you.
After spying tall mountains of gray-brown with snow capped peaks, we were treated to our first glimpse of ice. Chunks of ice bobbed up and down like little marshmallows in a cup of hot cocoa. Everyone is issued a bold, red expedition parka when they arrive. I threw mine on and secured my camera inside it before I dashed out into the brisk, heavy air.
In addition to rushing outside every time someone spotted a dolphin, whale or penguin, we listed to slide presentations offered by the ship?s naturalist. As we set off in a small raft, parting ways with the mother ship to get up close and personal with some floating chunks of ice, were were in high spirits. We could finally see the rocky, icy coast. The edge was rimmed by penguins thinking about getting in the sea.
We were totally encircled by penguins. A group of researchers shared this bit of land in Paradise Harbor with these disheveled and gentle little penguins. They waddled to and fro with a purpose we could only begin to guess at. A few of these birds stood a bit apart, watching the funny red people who invaded their land. Soon they went about the business of their day. The baby penguins were left alone by their parents and had to fend for themselves. It appeared as if some of the little penguins were in denial regarding their condition.They enjoy eating krill, and have had it delivered directly to them by their parents until recently. Further resources about adventure antarctica cruises are located there.
The chicks were all at various stages of molting. During the molting, most of the baby coat had been replaced by sleek feathers. But in some spots, the grey down remained and the birds looked like they had on earmuffs and hats. Some just looked like they?d gone to a very bad barber. Heading back to ship, we went through ice floating on the bay. Upon one such jagged, little mountain of ice that our driver took us past rested a lone majestic seal. Seeing him and his huge, pink tongued yawn [perhaps an editorial comment on how much he cared about us] was the perfect ending to a really wonderful day.
What is that undefinable thing about penguins that makes them beyond charming? The waddle brought smiles to all of our faces. Or maybe it’s the way their black and white tuxedos clash so terribly with their bright orange, webbed feet. The particular island they lived on was covered in rocks. There was little dirt to muddy up our penguins, so they maintained their very proper look. There was even a thin little black line under their chinny chin chins that gave them a jaunty little dash of style which made their cheeks look chubby and cute.
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