Antarctica
We awoke to dense fog and cooler temperatures than we had been experiencing during the previous few days. We anchored off Cuverville Island and began our shore excursions and kayak operation right after breakfast. Cuverville is a remarkable island, with Gentoo penguin colonies and whale bones scattered along the beach. Some unknown person had stacked several whale vertebras like a cairn or monument to all the whales taken in the past.
Several of the rock ledges were home to moss and the rare Antarctica Hair Grass. Many chose to explore the island and all its intriguing elements before or after kayaking. All those that participated in the kayaking excursion had a marvelous time gliding silently by looming icebergs and porpoising penguins.
We departed for Paradise Harbor next and the Argentine research station Almirante Brown. Our arrival was delayed by the presence of a remarkable deep blue iceberg in the channel, our good Captain slowed down so we could all get a good photo. Visiting Almirante Brown was a great opportunity to go ashore and explore the research station and the Gentoo penguin nests that surrounded the area.
Most went on a delightful Zodiac outing that motored along the step cliffs near the station in which pintato petrels and blue-eyed shags nested, past a strange green deposit of malachite embedded in the cliff wall, followed by a ride among the artfully eroded icebergs. Just before dinner we were treated to a pod of humpback whales exhibiting feeding behavior, followed by a large pod of Orca whales on both sides of the ship, in which they did several tail slaps. After dinner we passed through the stunningly beautiful Lemaire Channel with its tall craggy mountains surrounded by glaciers. Another day of grand adventure!
We awoke to dense fog and cooler temperatures than we had been experiencing during the previous few days. We anchored off Cuverville Island and began our shore excursions and kayak operation right after breakfast. Cuverville is a remarkable island, with Gentoo penguin colonies and whale bones scattered along the beach. Some unknown person had stacked several whale vertebras like a cairn or monument to all the whales taken in the past.
Several of the rock ledges were home to moss and the rare Antarctica Hair Grass. Many chose to explore the island and all its intriguing elements before or after kayaking. All those that participated in the kayaking excursion had a marvelous time gliding silently by looming icebergs and porpoising penguins.
We departed for Paradise Harbor next and the Argentine research station Almirante Brown. Our arrival was delayed by the presence of a remarkable deep blue iceberg in the channel, our good Captain slowed down so we could all get a good photo. Visiting Almirante Brown was a great opportunity to go ashore and explore the research station and the Gentoo penguin nests that surrounded the area.
Most went on a delightful Zodiac outing that motored along the step cliffs near the station in which pintato petrels and blue-eyed shags nested, past a strange green deposit of malachite embedded in the cliff wall, followed by a ride among the artfully eroded icebergs. Just before dinner we were treated to a pod of humpback whales exhibiting feeding behavior, followed by a large pod of Orca whales on both sides of the ship, in which they did several tail slaps. After dinner we passed through the stunningly beautiful Lemaire Channel with its tall craggy mountains surrounded by glaciers. Another day of grand adventure!
