Blogs from Brown Station, Antarctica, Antarctica

Turned toward the north the night of 3 February stopping in the early afternoon the next day at an intersection of waterways for peculiar folks to jump into frigid water. There are a total of 175 aboard, and 65 folks took a polar plunge into water that was 31 degrees. Recall this is salt water, so it freezes at 28, not 32. Surprised us we carried so many crazy folks. Almost all of the pictures are landscape, which is the major reason we took the trip. Should you not be so enthralled by snow and ice, you can skip many. Trip is nearing an end; we likely dock at Ushuaia late tomorrow afternoon and depart the ship the following morning. Anticipate only one more post, which will be of Deception Island.... read more

"Wad up, Lobster Man?" asks my son to one of the crew as they fist bump in the expedition launch area. He has all of the confidence of a big city gangster roaming his hood. "How’s it going, Spaghetti Boy?" comes the reply from the expedition leader that I struggle to recall is named Bruno. Nathan and his Canadian companions have made an impression on the staff and it would seem they get the VIP treatment wherever they go. Their privileges extend from extra meal options, not listed on the menus we are shown, to tours to unseen parts of the ship including the engine room and sitting at the driver's seat as they are given a tour of the lifeboats. They receive personal attention from the expedition staff and waiters alike. Super waiters Theo, Mark ... read more