South America - part 8

Monday 19^th January Antarctica day 2

Such beauty - it was mesmerising!

 

Crab eater seals, humpback whales, gentoo penguins, more wildlife than I had ever imagined. After a very quick breakfast we spent most of the morning on Deck 6.

 

We saw several expedition ships including Corinthian, Sea Explorer 1, Ushuaia and Hanseatic, most of which were taking passengers ashore in zodiacs to penguin beaches or research stations. Only vessels carrying under 100 passengers are allowed to do this any more, but we didn't feel we had really missed out - we were still seeing the same fabulous scenery and wildlife.

 

 

It was an amazing afternoon where the ship was guided right up to the glaciers in Paradise Bay.

 

Finally we had to come in as we were swept by a thick snowstorm that lasted all afternoon and evening. In the Crow's Nest bar where we retreated to, it was dark as the windows were all covered by a thick coating of snow.

 

Antarctica is truly a magical place of towering mountains, heavy snow, stony beaches with penguin rookeries, icebergs, bergy bits, growlers and brash. Told to watch the brash ice especially as penguins and whales like to feed there. Went up to the Crow’s Nest to discover the windows totally obliterated by snow.