The Krill of a Lifetime

I’m writing this in the few minutes I have before being called to board our kayak for a paddle in the Weddell Sea this morning.  This expedition is a constant flurry of activities and lectures and cocktail hours and feedings!  I will do my best to keep you posted in real time, so you can share this adventure with me – this might mean that some posts are longer on pictures and videos than words – I’ll write more when we have more downtime.

Yesterday was a spectacular full first day in Antarctica.  I posted a couple of times already about our passage through the Drake and then our first landing and penguin sightings. We’ve been really lucky with the weather so far – so we were treated to the “Drake Lake” vs the “Drake Shake”!  Let’s hope our luck holds out on the way back!!  Although it was a little bit windy on the first landing, the temperatures weren’t all that cold and we felt toasty warm all wrapped up in our layers.  There is also a very well stocked shop on board where you can buy whatever additional items you need – and even those that you don’t.  In a surprise to precisely no-one, I’ve visited the gift shop 4 times already now.  My last purchase just this morning was a natty green Patagonia puffy vest with the National Geographic Endurance and Lindblad logos embroidered onto it – just in case you were in doubt where I’d been (I’VE BEEN TO  ANTARCTICA!).  I also bought some socks with cute sea otters.  Couldn’t resist.

The day finished in equally impressive fashion as we started to see giant icebergs, half-listened to a lecture on krill, had our first outdoor hot tub, were treated to a sumptuous multi-course dinner that emulated Shackleton’s expedition (kinda – but with less dogs and penguins on the menu), another landing to set foot on the actual Antarctic continent itself and finally an incredible sunset!  After midnight, we started to crunch our way through sea ice as we made our way into the Weddell Sea.   The weather does not always cooperate so again we are very lucky that we could explore this iconic area.  More to come later today but here are some pics and videos for you to enjoy in the meantime!