Cruising To The Big Ice In The South

 

Drake’s Passage lies in all its frightening glory between the continent of Antarctica and the southern tip of South America. Currents collide in this 400 mile stretch of water.  The weather is impossible, and there is no land in sight to calm the water. I only expected to see penguins and icebergs out there. I really didn’t know what else to expect.  I hadn’t researched the history or geography of Antarctica and didn’t know what immense power the continent held. Read this site if you want cruises to antartica information.

 

We were well warned about the horrors that Drake’s Passage could hold, but the vengeful old sea gods were merciful to us on our way down. However, it was not so on our way back up. That first morning in Antarctica was calm and gray all over.

 

We could make out hazy, gray-brown mountains blanketed in snow on the horizon and it was not long before we came across our first ice. Chunks of ice bobbed up and down like little marshmallows in a cup of hot cocoa. Everyone is issued a bold, red expedition parka when they arrive. I threw mine on and secured my camera inside it before I dashed out into the brisk, heavy air.

 

The sky and sea met each other with a similar shade of gunmetal gray, and we spent most of that day listening to lectures by our shipboard naturalists or rushing outside whenever a whale, dolphin, or penguin sighting was reported. Being so near the giant ice chunks was a rush; we were so thrilled to get into the little rafts on our way to shore. The rocky coast line came into view, and with it, many, many penguins at the water’s edge.  They looked like they were thinking about taking a swim. This site teaches you about antarctic cruise ship.

 

The penguins filled the landscape and stood admirably as we took it all in. This little outpost of land in Paradise Harbor is home to both gentoo penguins and a small group of researchers. We watched as they waddled all over, appearing very determined in their behavior. Some of them stood on rocks and observed us smiling and pointing at the, occasionally snapping a photo or two. By this time, the majority of the penguin parents had abandoned their chicks to make it on their own. It appeared as if some of the little penguins were in denial regarding their condition. These baby penguins carry a coating of krill, which is a food. The penguin parents catch this in the water, chew on it, swallow and vomit it back into the baby penguin’s beak.

 

The penguins had also started molting. During the molting, most of the baby coat had been replaced by sleek feathers.  But in some spots, the grey down remained and the birds looked like they had on earmuffs and hats.  Some just looked like they’d gone to a very bad barber. Of necessity, our trip back to the ship took us through the chunks of floating ice on the bay. Upon one such jagged, little mountain of ice that our driver took us past rested a lone majestic seal. Seeing him and his huge, pink tongued yawn [perhaps an editorial comment on how much he cared about us was the perfect ending to a really wonderful day. |He gave us a giant tongue-filled yawn; maybe he was telling us how boring we were to see. |Maybe he was commenting on how boring we were when he gave us a giant yawn. |Evidently we bored him because he gave returned our stares with a huge yawn. |He yawned, exposing his enormous pink tongue. His lack of concern for our presence belied the unspoiled characteristic of this beautiful land where we'd spend a perfect day. |He presented us with a large, pink-tongued yawn, by which he could have been indicating just how impressed he was that we were there, but which certainly was an ideal manner of concluding our day. ]

 

We couldn’t resist the penguins as they started doing their cutest skill. Who could withstand the very appealing penguin waddle? The wild combination of formal attire and floppy, orange webbed feet. There was far less soil than rock on the island, so the penguins were cleaner. They looked a bit like jaunty chipmunks because of the thin black line under their chins.