Antarctica Always Been A Part Of These Travelers’ Itinerary
Saturday, September 4th, 2010Icebergs are not the only association that can be done for Antarctica but penguins, albatrosses, and elephant seals as well.There is much grandeur from 10 pound tiny baby fur seals to 3 million tons of ice that hold more than 3 billion gallons of water from the driest, windiest, and highest continent on earth.
Choosing to go to Antarctica for the Christmas holidays were two well traveled teachers despite its reputation as a land of frozen wastes and uneventful expeditions. Although Antarctica is an extraordinary choice, the reason for the teachers’ decision lies in the fact that they haven’t been there. Not only have they devoted much time for such a trip but they also read about the explorer early on in a travel magazine. Get in touch with this resource if you have a desire to find out about antarctic cruises.
What the women found out was the necessity of preparation. From three pairs of socks, one being wool, worn under 15 pound boots to insulated underwear worn with a regular set of clothes and a parka to a covering via rubberized pants and slicker that are seamless and waterproof, these are needed for just one day in Antarctica. Finally, they should have two pairs of gloves, one of which being waterproof.
Even so, frostbite was still possible not to mention cold feet. This is the Southern Hemisphere’s summer. Having ice warm up to a point above the freezing point led to some possible travel on the breaking ice pack but the water remained at 32 degrees nonetheless. It was in one Antarctic research station where air temperature was measured by a thermometer to be at 47 degrees. After experiencing direct sunlight for the whole day the Explorer suddenly faced snowstorms and sleet storms as the evening came.
It’s the most unpredictable weather in the world, the women were told, and the itinerary varied from day to day according to the winds. In their 24 days in the southern ice cap they did not encounter the 84 below wind chill that they experienced in their hometown last Christmas. To get a closer look on antarctica holiday visit this site.
When it comes to passage, the dreaded Drake Passage was conquered. There have been a lot of casualties in ships lost to the passage from the tip of South America in Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula. The Explorer’s passage took 48 hours and the women used the seat belts on their bunks to strap themselves in for sleep. Much bouncing caused bruises for one of the ladies.
Numerous penguins surfaced. For one lady, the penguins and their nests could be touched. For the penguins, fussing is such a big deal. There was much bliss in looking at them. Plenty of seals were also there. For them, it is good to scoot around with mouths open. Should you get too close to them and their babies they would probably bite.
It was a trip that was well worth taking. Shades of blue were in the sky and on the water which was so clean. Floating along were the beautiful icebergs which were as big as city blocks and some with penguins on all three stories of the ice. During the 1960s, the old whaling stations they saw were all closed down for 20 years now. While the trip didn’t include a plane ride to the South Pole, they saw some of the huts left by the early explorers, some still hold canned food stored there years ago.
As their journey is mapped out, they have gone to Punta Arenas on the south end of Chile, the Shetland Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, South Georgia, and the Falklands before heading back. Both see this as an unorthodox way of spending Christmas.