Thankfully, we have good traveling weather. We're happy to postpone the rough seas for as long as possible. We wake at 7:00am to a very bright room. I guess that is the danger of leaving the balcony drapes open. At breakfast, we are again impressed with the food selections. We sampled mini-waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, cheese and smoked salmon.
Next we select our red expedition jackets, which we can take home at the end of the trip. The extra small is quite roomy, but hopefully it will shrink.
We attend a mandatory IAATO briefing where we all agree not to get too close to the animals or to litter. IAATO stands for the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, which is an organization that promotes safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. During the meeting, we also meet our naturalist team. Then we go to the bridge and watch prions, albatross, and petrels and hear a short lecture about the navigation system. Interestingly, Rolls Royce, Saab and Shindler all make parts for our boat.
Lunch is another formal affair. We eat quiche, salmon salad, and fresh fruit and yet another dessert bar. Wow!
The captain announces that we will be arriving at the Falkland Islands around 8:00pm. We attend a meeting soon after to learn about our first embarkation: Grave Cove in the west Falkland Islands. The naturalists tell us that we will see a rookery of gentoo penguins, which means we will see a breeding colony and hopefully some penguin chicks.
We get ready for the formal Captain's Welcome Gala where the crew serves champagne and appetizers. Live music plays while people filter in. We aren't the best dressed as many women brought fine jewelry, and the men are donning suits. Still, we liked the idea of traveling light, so we could bring back treats and souvenirs!
The dinner following the welcome speech is a four-course meal with soup, risotto, veal, foie gras custard creme brulee and an opera pastry for dessert. The food is good as always, and it is fun chatting with new friends.
The boat makes its approach into the cove and you can really feel the boat hang a sharp right before dropping anchor. We go to the theatre to watch ''Paris,'' a singing and dancing show. It feels a little like Vegas, but it is definitely entertaining and fun.
Back in our room, we prepare our belongings for the first disembarkation in the morning.
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
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.