Today I once again woke up to calm conditions. We have been very lucky with a smooth Drake on the way over and now a smooth Drake on our return. Already as breakfast is announced, the South American continent was coming into view.
The day's program began with the Wellington Boot return party, half way interrupted by our closest approach to Cape Horn at about 9:30 am. The light on the Horn was very nice and we approached unusually close, perhaps the Chilean authorities were in a better mood than usual considering today is New Year's Eve?!
Once the ship had made its turn the lecture program continued with Christian's presentation on the early discoveries of penguins by the first naturalists, and Saskia later on explaining how animals like plants have developed amazing adaptations to survive the cold.
After our last lunch aboard the Ortelius, the afternoon was spent doing the account settlements. Later on, Delphine gave us a slide show about the other voyages Oceanwide Expeditions has to offer. A lot of temptation between the Polar bears in the High arctic and the myriad of King Penguins in South Georgia!
By late afternoon we were already at anchor in the Beagle Channel. It was soon time for Captain's farewell cocktails and a superb New Year's Eve dinner. Before midnight the New Year's Eve official party started both in the bar and on the outside deck behind the bridge for some bubbly and cheers at midnight. Some of us kept on partying much later in the early hours of the morning. . .love my new friends: Colin, CarlHeinz, the three Davids, Susan, Debroah, Heidi, etc. Hoping you ALL continue to explore this earth as authentically and adventurously as we did on this Antarctica Expedition!!!!!
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.