Antarctica Day 2

Yesterday, our first day in Antarctica, we entered Dallman Bay early in the morning, then made our way to Paradise Harbour, and into its bay, where we spent several hours.  The pictures from yesterday's post are from Paradise Bay and a bit of Neumeyer Channel, which we traversed later in the day.

Today, we made our way over to Palmer Station, and picked up a zodiac with 8 members of the summer team from this U.S. station.   They spent a few hours on board with us, giving a presentation, answering questions from the audience and then left us, along with gifts of cases of soda, fruits and vegetables, wine and other items.  It was really great to have them on board.

Also, in the afternoon, we had the "Polar Plunge", where crazy-assed passengers don their bathing suits and jump into the cold pool water.  Temp outside?  A balmy 30 degrees F. 

About 20 people braved the cold to do the polar plunge.  They each got a certificate.  Wow.

The team from Palmer - L to R:  Science/Lab Manager, Station Administrator, Station Manager, Physician, Student scientist studying mosses, IT guy, Engineer/Maintenance guy.

Later in the afternoon, we visited Wilhelmina Bay.  We had tried to get into the Lemaire Channel, but there was too much ice, blocking our way.  Wilhelmina did not disappoint.

Yes, that is snow.  It snowed in the morning.

It pays to heed the warnings.

In the evening, we had a special dinner in the Pinnacle Restaurant - Cellar Master Dinner.  It is a scrumptious menu, 6 courses, including an amuse buche and a palate cleanser of lemon sorbet; each course paired with a wine.  Patty, Andrea and I shared our table with a new friend, Remo.  The four of us had a great evening.  We scored a window table, so we could watch for whales and icebergs and penguins while we dined.

Starter champagne to go with fois gras

Mushroom soup

Lobster salad

Filet of beef, beef marrow on the side

Pot a creme

After dinner, we went up to the Crows Nest to play music trivia at 9:00 PM.  But the scenery was too special, the expedition team was still talking over the loudspeaker up there, so the trivia was cancelled.  Good call --- we saw a small pod of whales bubble feeding right next to the ship.  The captain shut down the main engines and we just hovered there for awhile, watching this spectacular display of teamwork.

When it was all over, it was growing dark, and I returned to my cabin.  But not before grabbing this shot of the dimming sky.

Travel quote:  "People don't take trips, trips take people"  - John Steinbeck

Stay tuned for more Pig Tales!!