As I walk up the flight of stairs to breakfast, the pressure has lessened. It somehow seems easier to walk in a zigzag pattern to my seat. Clanging of dishes can be heard as the boat takes a dip toward the sun already high in the eastern sky. Only four hours or less of night makes the sun rise ahead of even an early riser.
As of 0030 this morning, I am in the Antarctic Sea!!! Birds still follow, but not as many as before.
People are getting to know each other and laughter can be heard along with the clashing of silverware. It’s quite something to see tea sloughing for no apparent reason except for the tipping of the boat. I continue to study the art of the waiters and still don't know how they manage to serve on such uneven ground.
I am not quite sure why babies find comfort in the rocking back and forth motion. Maybe it is more of a steady rhythm than that of the sea which continues to shove and yank the boat. The ocean has triumphed over a few travelers who haven't been out of their cabins since yesterday. Poor Cedee...he's sick, but is still out and about. He's part of a group from Hong Kong filming a documentary on Antarctica. I guess two of the guys are famous, one an actor and the other a musician. They broadcast a show call “One Earth, One Life” and several have traveled all over the world. An innovative group, I love talking to them. Anyways, they all decided NOT to take any type of seasickness medications, and then proceeded to take bets on who would throw up first. Cedee lost. Beads of sweat on his forehead, he looked miserable behind the video camera. I’m grateful I took medicine and can enjoy the beauty of the water.
The ocean...
Cool, refreshing, full of life with shades of blue
Azure, cobalt, sapphire, indigo
Powerful, strong and unpredictable
Water...deep clear blue water..icy blue
Nothing around for miles...nothing but water
It's a desert.
It's seems like a contradiction, a barren desert of water? Poles apart from the stereotypical, but I fully agree with this term. How can you not? I look out and see nothing…nothing in any direction but water…water all the way to the horizon.
Its late now...11:13pm and still it is only the beginning of twilight. Half of the group from Hong Kong are being dropped off on one of the South Shetland Islands near Maxwell Bay, where they will stay at the Great Wall Chinese base. Yes that is right...there is land! Through the haze are ice-capped snow covered islands. I love land.
The info on the website was laid out very well. I did some comparisons with other tours and found Adventure Life met a lot of what I wanted in an Antarctica trip at the cheapest price. Requested a quote on Claudia contacted me right away. She answered a lot of questions the I had via email even though she offered to discuss via phone call. I’m more of an email person so appreciated how she accommodated that and answered all my questions. And when I was ready to book, she quickly got the ball rolling with getting our spots reserved on the trip my friend and I wanted. Thanks again, Claudia!
Hazel Araza
10 hours ago
(1) great information on the website and throughout all the "materials." (2) Jane Packer is great: knowledgeable, responsive, takes a personal interest and tone, seems to care about the customer as a person not a sale.
Larry Bethune
18 hours ago
great people doing a wonderful job to make our voyages happen.
trudy
1 day ago
For our first trip to Costa Rica, Adventure Life designed a tour that meets the interests, ecological and adventure, of our party; but also takes into account our physical limitations sine we are all septuagenarian. We are looking forward to the trip.
John Zent
2 days ago
Adventure Life is my favorite travel company due to their genuine care for their customers. They make every effort to ensure a wonderful travel experience for you. Their personal touch really gives the customer a lot of confidence with their travel plans and the trip leaders are always outstanding. They are truly consistent and accountable with the great service they provide. I can't thank Adventure Life enough for the incredible trips I have enjoyed thanks to them and their attention to detail.