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Easter Carpets in Antigua, Guatemala

Easter in Guatemala: The Legendary Carpets of Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZEED4iMv8c&w=420&h=315] Guatemala’s Semana Santa — the Easter Festival — in the former colonial capital are beyond comparison to anything in the northern hemisphere. Along cobblestone streets, intricate carpets of colored sawdust are painstakingly laid down. Later, a solemn procession of Roman centurions march over the carpets, carrying an image of Christ on the cross. Music and swinging incense burners accompany the robed cofradia. During these lively days leading up [...]

 

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Holiday card from our travelers!

A Holiday Poem from Adventure Life travelers, Sandi and Joe Costa

We received the most charming holiday card in the mail last week from our travelers, Sandi and Joe Costa, who joined us on a custom Peru adventure in October. And while I’d like to take credit for the Mick Jagger sighting, I’ll admit, that wasn’t part of the original itinerary. Enjoy a little holiday cheer, compliments of the Costas… Saludos! Twas a year full of wonder and shiny new things [...]

 

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Bariloche's main city square

Argentina Travel Update: Bariloche Airport Closed Until February 2012

Since the eruption of Chile’s Puyehue Volcano in early June, flights in Argentina’s Bariloche region have experienced disruptions. Waiting for the dust to settle, the airport is taking advantage of this time to do a little updating and maintenance work. Originally scheduled to reopen in this month, it was announced that the Bariloche will now be closed until Feb. 2012. Here is an official statement released today (Dec. 12, 2011) [...]

 

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Weddell Seal in Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Dec 3 and Dec 4: Wildlife of Macquarie Island

December 3, 2011 We arrived at Macquarie Island about 7am. The sea was calm and the weather was foggy with light mist. We were met by park rangers from the ANARE station for a walk around the Isthmus. The Isthmus was teaming with wildlife including huge male elephant seals, king penguins and rock hoppers. We spent about 2.5 hours on the Isthmus and then took a quick zodiac ride to [...]

 

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Antarctic iceberg

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 27 thru Nov 30: Ross Ice Shelf and Kapitan Klebnikov Final Days in the Ross Sea

November 27, 2011 The Ross Ice Shelf came into view about noon. Size of France and is about 600 miles The vastness cannot be captured in with any lens. The icy cold winds coming off the shelf stirred my imagination about the explorers that had to tackle this massive piece of ice before beginning their journey to the south pole. November 28th, 2011 Sadly, we continued to head north out [...]

 

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Antarctica at sunset

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 26: At Last, Cape Evans and the Stunning Mount Erebus

November 26th, 2011 Much to our surprise, the winds increased to 44 knots which again prevented the helicopters from flying to Ross Island for sightseeing. The expedition leader gave up on the weather and decided we should head north, approximately 140 miles northeast to the Ross ice Shelf. Then, as soon as ship started backing up, the wind speed decreased to 30 knots, just enough for us to take a [...]

 

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The Kapitan Klebnikov in Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov. 25: Whiteouts and the Solar Eclipse

November 25, 2011 Our plans for visiting McMurdo and Ross Stations, Scott’s Discovery hut at Cape Evans and hiking Observation Hill were delayed by the weather. Here in Antarctica, “weather is our master”, our expedition leader, Shane Envoy, has reminded us many times. Whiteout conditions and 40 knot winds lasted throughout the day with temperature of 30 degrees below zero when considering the wind chill factor. During the afternoon, the [...]

 

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Antarctica

Happy Thanksgiving from Antarctica!

November 24, 2011 Our visit to the Adelie Penguin Colony was cut short by white conditions with 40 knots per hour winds. All passengers were on the island which was a ten minute helicopter ride from the icebreaker. After one hour on shore, the wind and snow flurries increased until the icebreaker was no longer visible from shore. By that time, we were spread out over a one mile stretch [...]

 

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Panoramic Antarctica

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 23: Visiting the Hut of the Doomed 1912 Expedition of Robert Falcon Scott

NOVEMBER 23, 2011 During the early morning the captain moved the ship south toward Cape Evans on Ross Island. The ship was at its furthest point south on this expedition. Temperature was minus 4 degree C, with wind making it a bit chilly, but the sky was mostly blue. It was a perfect day for our flight to Cape Evans to visit Robert Falcon Scott’s hut until whiteout conditions appeared [...]

 

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Emperor Penguin

Antarctica Travel Blog Nov 22: Penguins and Preparing for McMurdo Dry Valleys

November 22, 2011 Last evening, we headed toward an area further close to Taylor Valley in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in hope to make a helicopter operation. About 2am the Kapitan Khlebnikov’s engines were shut down as the captain could not get the ship closer to the valley due to the thick ice. The goal was to park as close to Taylor Valley as possible to make the helicopter ride [...]