Penguins on Petermann Island in Antarctica

Penguins on Petermann Island in Antarctica

I’ve traveled the world extensively, visiting over forty countries and all seven continents, and I get asked all the time which destination is my favorite. Answering that question used to be really hard because I love so many places. Now, I have an automatic and easy answer. Can you guess what that is?

If you can’t figure it out from the title… then perhaps you need to pay more attention to context clues, my friend. It’s Antarctica! From the excitement of seeing the first icebergs along the way to watching the last goofy penguin fall into the water, it was such a unique experience; I loved every chilly moment of it.

Buenos Aires is great

The trip started with a few days in Buenos Aires, which, in something like out of my WILDEST DREAMS, coincidentally was the same weekend that Taylor Swift brought her Eras Tour to BA, and I was able to snag floor tickets for a great deal. Your Antarctic experience may be filled with a lot less screaming girls and glitter.

Buenos Aires has great attractions of its own, including a beautiful free zoo, Buenos Aires EcoParques. Near the zoo is the Japanese Garden. La Boca is a very colorful neighborhood, and Palermo is my favorite neighborhood in Buenos Aires, offering both great restaurants and shopping. I also enjoy the nightlife in Palermo. A great way to see the whole city and determine which attractions you want to explore more is the Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus.

The package included a flight to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. It also included a tour of the Patagonia mountains surrounding Ushuaia, where you could find stunning views around every corner.

Antarctica awaits

The boat was great; it had two hot tubs and a heated pool, along with a sauna featuring a glass wall, which provided a beautiful view, as well as a science center. There was a large restaurant and a smaller upscale restaurant for an extra cost, which was included if you had a suite.

Having these amenities was nice because we spent a lot of time on the boat traveling to Antarctica. To get there, we went through the famed Drake Passage, known for having some of the roughest seas in the world….it’s not like us.

I was expecting rip-roaring, wild waves; however, our journey both there and back was marked by fairly calm seas. I’ve seen seas about as rough in the Caribbean. The staff commented on how calm it was and how great the weather was during our trip in general. A great perk of the trip down was seeing whales swimming alongside us.

Why do whales sing?

Because they can’t talk

I went early in the season, which is perfect for viewing large icebergs and pristine snow conditions. You start to feel excited noticing your first iceberg—first just one in the distance, then a couple, followed by a few at a time, and finally several in a row! You’re so close!

Why does Bernie Sanders hate icebergs?

Because only the top 1% can stay above water.

I was awoken by the sound of our ship crushing ice around 4 AM and ran out onto the deck. I will never forget the view of a snow-covered mountain bathed in the gorgeous light at that time, as the sun had never quite set.

Each day in Antarctica included a zodiac boat cruise and a shore excursion. There were other activities that you could add on through a lottery system. Camping on the continent was the most sought after and least likely option since only a few people could do it.

Unfortunately, we weren’t chosen, but I don’t think that was such a bad thing, as the people who did it said they didn’t get much sleep and were exhausted the next day. We got to go kayaking the following day as part of the lottery system.

Kayaking adventures

Kayaking in Antarctica
Kayaking in Antarctica

The kayaking was so cool because we were close enough to touch giant icebergs. We happily followed playful penguins jumping in and out of the water. I was a bit afraid of my kayaking skills, but I actually did okay. Thank God, because I would have never heard the end of it from my friend if I had been a bad kayaker.

The kayaking replaced our first zodiac tour. When we were going back to the boat, a large piece of ice blocked the loading area, and multiple other pieces came in, causing quite a commotion and making the whole outing even more thrilling. It took us an extra hour or so to get back in, and it felt almost like a rescue mission.

After the kayaking came the big moment. I was about to step foot onto my seventh continent, and I could hardly contain my excitement. Going to Antarctica was a dream come true. I felt like Buddy the Elf about to see Santa. I made sure to keep that first step as a core memory in my mind that I’ll never forget. After those first we had to kind of run through our first land excursion because the kayaking mishap made us a bit late for it. You win some, you lose some.

Clumsy penguins

The first thing I noticed on land was just how clumsy the penguins are. They were constantly tripping over themselves, which made them even cuter! I can’t really judge, though. I often trip over… air. The other day, I slipped in the shower and tried to grab the water. If only my clumsiness made me cuter like it does the penguins.

What type of animal is a penguin?

A brrrr-d!

On land, they gather by the dozens, just chillin’, real chilly. Since it was early in the season, there was plenty of snow, but I could see how later in the season it would be covered in penguin poop. Lots and lots of penguin poop! That stuff just shot out like a cannon!

What is a penguin’s favourite type of lettuce?Iceberg!

Off the land, the zodiac boats were also a cool way to see wildlife from the water. Penguins zipped by, and we got up close and personal with some seals. The seals we saw were all pretty lazy, another trait I can relate to.

What does a penguin waiter say to their customers?
“Waddle it be?”

We got to watch penguins fall into the water from the boat. Once again, they’re a little awkward. Thankfully, the snow is there to break their fall.

At one stop people from a research station, and a post office came to talk to us. It was a fascinating conversation and an opportunity to send post cards to family and friends from Antarctica.

Each day, the Antarctica “sunsets” that never really quite set were glorious, and we passed by new ice formations that never disappointed.

Go when you can still enjoy it

One thing…the average age on the ship was, well….let’s just sum it up with some jokes:

The average person on the ship was so old when they were in school there was no history class

The average person on the ship is so old that they knew The Burger King when he was still a prince 

The average person on the ship is so old that they have Adam and Eve’s autograph 

The average person on the ship is so old that their memory is in black and white 

The average person on the ship is so old that their birthday candles cost more than the cake

The reason I bring it up is I have advice for you: don’t wait! Do it now, a lot of people had trouble moving around and couldn’t explore as much on land. Also, at least two people that I know if didn’t even have the stamina to leave the boat. You won’t regret it!

If you want more information on my trip and how to book just email me at [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

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