Since we were unable to land the previous day due to that storm, everyone — staff included — was excited and anxious to get off when we finally got view of clear skies and land.
But first, what would the start to the day be without a stalled zodiac?! (Don’t worry, the videos just look upside down on the thumbnail)
Ok now that’s done. Next, zodiac cruising around Cierva Cove…
We go to Antarctica to fulfill dreams of setting foot on the elusive 7th continent, to see nature as unencumbered by the effects of man as possible, to witness scientific research and expedition at its best. Right?
YEAH AND FOR PENGUINS!!!
And I’ll get to the penguins in like two scrolls of the mouse but first, intermission. Back on the ship between excursions, we were blessed to see a family of Orcas hanging around.
Back to the task at hand: penguins. Here was my first real penguin encounter which took place at Mikkelsen Harbour. The penguins are more than cute. They’re organized, loud, stinky and can sometimes be pretty mean to one another. They steal rocks from one another’s nests all day for what actual purpose, who knows. They also tend to walk along established routes in the snow called penguin highways. I got in one’s way. My bad!
Pardon the wind. It was, well, windy.
Our day out in Cierva Cove and Mikkelsen Harbour more than made up for missing what should have been our first land day the day before. I left feeling like I didn’t need to take any more photos or videos or see anything else more amazing to be satisfied with my Antarctica trip. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Up next, real hiking to higher heights at Paradise Harbour and visiting the only operational post office on the 7th continent in Port Lockroy.
*photo credit, Sam T. from Sydney (you know who you are!)
Austin in Wonderland 