Travel

Australia&NewZealand, Travel

First Days in Sydney

G’day Mate from Down Under. Does anyone know the date or time? We are completely confused – and it only becomes more confusing when we talk with the family back home. Try explaining to a grandchild that we’re already into tomorrow…

Travel

The Last Few Days and Off the Ship

We last left you in Stanley, Falkland Islands four days ago. Since leaving Antarctica and the Falklands I think we went into a bit of a slump. We were talking with our trivia friends last night on the ship about what was the best part. Each person agreed, there was no one “best part.” Experiencing…

Travel

Stanley, Falkland Islands

We awoke this morning in Stanley, Falkland Islands, and had to catch the 8:15 tender to shore to be there in time for our 9:00 am tour. It was a 20-minute tender ride, then 20-minute ride in a minibus, then 20 minutes in a 4×4 to go see the King Penguins. Alan Johnson would have…

Travel

Drake Passage and New Island, Falklands

Crossing Drake Passage was not the extreme event for us that it might be for others. Seabourn Quest uses highly sophisticated technology that tells the Captain when to wait due to bad conditions or when to hurry up along with the special build of the ship, we crossed Drake Passage with 10’ – 12’ swells. …

Antartica, Travel

Farewell to Antarctica – for now

The grandeur of Antarctica has captured both of us. We can stand on the deck or at the window and just watch… Watch the snow blow, or the birds flying by, or the water. Watch the incredible penguins swim through and under the water. Watch the elephant seal ever so slowly turn her head and…

Travel

Spectacular Evening at Lamaire Channel

We last wrote on Thursday when we were having an expedition day. Later that afternoon the Captain had to go 12 miles offshore to dump grey water. The waves picked up dramatically, and Margo got caught off-guard. Thursday evening Margo ended up in the cabin lying in bed trying to not be totally sick. She…

Travel

Half Moon Island

Today we went ashore at Half Moon Island, one of the most beautiful sites in the South Shetlands. Our scheduled departure time was 11:00 am, and everything was on schedule. Getting dressed and layered up for the trip ashore was much easier than yesterday. Getting into the Zodiac is also becoming more comfortable. The staff…

Travel

Yankee Harbor in South Shetlands Island

Wow! Our first time to step foot onto Antarctica. We were scheduled to go ashore at 12:30; however, were delayed about 30 minutes because the zodiacs from the first group (8:00 am) got iced in. While we will try to post pictures, NO picture can capture the grandeur of this place. Margo started the day…

Travel

Crossing Drake Passage

Margo appreciates all the kind comments she receives about her wonderful writing in the blog. She must clarify and give credit where credit is due. Here is our general process for documenting our journey. Margo starts a draft describing what she recalls from the day, then Mark takes a pass and adds his part, generally…

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