NorbertsNiece

Dinner tonight in Canaletto. Sunset not due for another couple of hours! Having asked twice in person and once via the app to speak to an officer in person I have popped a written request into the Hotel GM box.

This simply isn't on. We're just ½ way through the cruise and we get disembarking info. 😊😉

I love my port cabin. Nothing wrong with it that a kettle and some coffee wouldn't fix 🤭

Error alert. We're in Hope Bay. Esperanza Base is an Argentine research base in Hope Bay at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Part of it is designated as Fortín Sargento Cabral, a year-round civilian settlement. Babies have been born here, there is a school. Pic from today's talk.

Esperanza Bay Video here

Port or starboard? I'm really not bothered. Starboard on 6 meant we're just down from the bow open deck. I think deck 7 may have similar. I booked Starboard as it was the cabin nearest the lift!

Patrick is now retired. One of his drivers has taken over the business

Geoff just sent me this..... penguins on an iceberg!

Slides from this morning's Captain's talk. Palmer Station is USA managed. They usually send a speaker on board but are still under covid restrictions so are unable to.

Same excursion 😃

Again, very many pics from yesterday's Antarctic expert. This on the multinational cooperation required in order to efficiently carry out research, building etc. When one camp was left without access to fresh water for 2 weeks due to a storm interrupting the flow to their desalination plant they were assisted by others. Why import two of huge machinery when you can share one with a neighbour. One country's flight in can carry another's equipment on a quid pro quo basis. Was a fascinating talk. And yes. They built a plunge pool!! 🥶

Currently sat in theatre awaiting Captain's update. Amazing GF breakfast with view in the Main Dining Room .

Day 11 Tuesday Day 2 Antarctic Experience Good morning and thanks for following. Am trying to get used to almost permanent daylight and failing. Sunrise today at Esperanza Base 0232 sunset 2303 The Antarctic Continent ahead. The commentary is lovely and clear!! Didn't realise it came through the TV !!! We are still way off the Antarctic Circle and won't be going there. This is a tiny fraction of the peninsular. The closest part of the cotinent to South America. Hope Bay / Esperanza Bay managed by Argentina with a base occupied permanently all year round.

On deck 10 there's a lego model of Oosterdam; they've set up an Antarctic Experience hub up there too where people can ask questions in written form and be answered in like fashion.

We have 4 😃

A23A...... did not venture out though many did! Sat on the floor at the front of deck 10 Crow’s Nest / Explorations to get these pics. It blew quite a blizzard by the time we left for a late dinner. Visibility was quite poor. Link to video here

We're still approaching A23A. 20 mins or so says the captain. To get the full arctic experience he recommends heading to the bow..... spray, wind, freezing snow, ice etc. We dined in the Pinnacle Grill yesterday evening. Dressy night and happy to oblige. Not so everyone who also dined with us; double denim and trainers on one gent.

While I was at the talk this morning Geoff was up top. He captured a whale's spout. A very few flakes of snow had fallen. The last three from during lunch when we headed SE to A23A 1535 heavy snow now! Poor visibility

Loving the questions!! @Astrid61 it's very possible to use USD only in the 2 ports we have visited. Geoff changed some to pesos to use for postcards. He left some as a tip in our hotel room for the staff. Sterling is much preferred in the Falklands; the new polymer notes please. USB points in the cabin abound. Both sides of the bed have one each and there's more on the counter under the mirror along with traditional sockets. @Sea42 there were many cars at VP when we got there. They may have had a head start but they were gone on their return before us so swings and roundabouts. I wish I could access my cloud for pics from my previous visit. Feb 2017. Was a glorious day, barely a breeze. I would so go again. If the Falkland Islands were more accessible I'd spend longer there!

Our anticipated route through Antarctica Satellite image

The door at the end of our corridor is open! There is commentary. The captain announced that a UFO had been sighted..... then subsequently confirmed it to be santa!! I really hadn't realised there were so many 0 - 17 year olds on board!

Deck 4 bow is open My phone now thinks it's 2307 not 0707

Day 10 Christmas Day Monday at sea approaching Elephant Island. Wishing you all season's greetings and happy holidays! Thanks for following xxx Almost 0600 and the sun is high in the sky. We are down to 9 knots being wary of whales. . .

Elephant Island, Antarctica, is named after the elephant seals that make their home there (as well as for its elephant-like shape). The island is located 150 miles off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands. It became a refuge for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s crew in 1916 after the destruction of their ship, the HMS Endurance, in the ice-covered Weddell Sea.The loss of that ship and the ultimate rescue of Shackleton and his men are among the reasons Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917 occupies its special place in polar history.

I attended a talk this morning detailing in depth how the scientists live at the various stations around Antarctica. 56 nations signed the treaty keeping the land neutral and 55 have a presence there in 70 permanent bases with populations of up to 1200 in peak season. Each station has its own unique design, with a variety of colors and styles of architecture represented, including eco-friendly designs to minimize environmental impact. I found the talk fascinating and took many, many pictures of their build, design, purpose and how they actually get there and installed. I just have to figure out a way to share them easily Please be aware that wifi is going to be unpredictable over the next few days: I will post whenever I can