Antarctica
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Antarctica Trip (...of a lifetime!)
December 28, 2014 to January 9, 2015
Akademik Ioffe - One Ocean Expeditions
This trip has been a long-time coming. The biggest question I get asked, is "why Antarctica"? It's actually hard to explain, but the closest I can come is a two-fold answer. 1) A 7 continental goal. (This is #5 in my quest). 2) Why not! I love going to places off the beaten path, to experience something completely new and so far removed from anything I know or have ever seen. I wasn't a huge wildlife lover to begin with, but it was really the ice that drew me in and made me want to get there so badly. The thought of being right next to those beautiful icebergs was so exciting. And seriously...how much more off the beaten path can you get than Antarctica!
I reconnected with a friend, Julie, who I went to high school with, and in the fall of 2013 we started thinking about the possibility of going. After a lot of research into boats, itineraries and excursion companies, in January 2014 our trip was booked! Then came the waiting game...and the buying clothes and gear all year...and more waiting! When December rolled around, I couldn't believe finally - finally - it was here! On December 23, 2014 I departed for Buenos Aires, Argentina. We spent a couple nights there, enjoying a very hot Christmas, and then flew down to Ushuaia, Argentina. We spent a couple relaxing days there - taking a tour of Tierra del Fuego and exploring the small town, and then on December 28, 2014 we stepped foot onto the Akademik Ioffe - our home for the next 12 nights. |
As you would expect, the question of the day (or hour) since returning home has been "so how was the trip?". I've found that it's really hard to put this trip into words, but I do have a few easy responses to use - "Amazing", "Unbelievable", "Still trying to process everything", "Trip of a lifetime". I mean, what more can you say?! And truly, I don't think there is much more to say. I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves. Although, to be 100% fair - the photos don't do it justice at all! Trust me when I say - you need to be standing on that land to fully appreciate everything that it is. The quietness, the fresh air, the squeaks and squeals of wildlife. And you have to be sitting in that zodiac boat, no motor running, cruising around icebergs and the only sound you hear is the crackle of ice. Nothing in my life will ever come close to the beauty of those sights and sounds as seen and heard in Antarctica. The ice is still my first love, but after spending time with those penguins, especially the babies, I have to say they yanked on some heartstrings as well. I'm not sure if I will ever make it back to Antarctica - but I have memories to last a lifetime!
I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I loved taking them! To view all of my photos from Antarctica in one album on Flickr, click here
I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I loved taking them! To view all of my photos from Antarctica in one album on Flickr, click here
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