The Final Day In Antarctica: Astrolabe Island

 November 11

Antarctica 2022

This morning we arrived at Astrolabe Island just off the coast of the Antarctica Peninsula/mainland.  We were set up for our final day of excursions - all water-based, no landings - before beginning the long journey back home.....but then the weather turned and everything was called off.  So with few photos to share, I thought today would be a good day to have a "Highlight Day."  So I went back through the hundreds of photos I took and looked for 2-to-4 pictures from each day we were in Antarctica that DID NOT make the cut to be posted in our journals.  Hope you enjoy these "bonus pics!"

Fournier Bay

Damoy Point

Dallmann Bay

Cuverville Island

Porter Point

Cuerville Island

SOOOO many photos today, couldn't limit the number to just 3 or 4 :)

The Final Day In Antarctica

And so

Travel To Buenos Aires

 November 1 - 2:  Let The Journey Begin!

We left the house about 4pm for our 8:10 flight direct from Miami International to Buenos Aires.  But on the Interstate the Uber had a flat tire.  NOT the way we wanted to start.  But the driver was amazing, fixing it in less than ten minutes.  Made our flight without any problem and frankly, especially for me, it was smooth and easy as I slept for several hours.  Arrived in Buenos Aires early in the morning and were transported to our hotel where we spent the day.  Early morning tomorrow as we are up and on the bus to the airport at 5:40 am.

NOT the way we wanted to start!

For ME a pretty quick & smooth flight as I watched two episodes of "The Time Traveler's Wife" (an excellent story by the way) and slept for multiple hours

Full hot meal with linen napkin and real silver ware!

Good morning Argentina :)

Add another continent and city to our list!

Greetings from Buenos Aires!

The sunrise as we walked through the terminal to get our luggage

Our guide introduces us to the city

Arrived at our hotel, the Hilton - view from the outside

Stretched our legs with a walk along the riverfront

View from the inside

Close the day down with pizza on the waterfront

We went to bed early as we are so excited to make the final leg of the journey tomorrow to Ushuaia and boarding the Viking Polaris.  Antarctica here we come!

Porter Point, Antarctica - A Continental Landing!

 November 9.......WOW

Welcome To Porto Point - on the mainland of Antarctica!

We woke up this morning and when I raised the shade, this is what I saw immediately out the window.  WOW, GOOD MORNING Antarctica indeed!  The weather is gorgeous this morning and even though the weather is 25 degrees this morning, it feels amazingly comfortable (I went outside to take the banner pic above).  And I'm sure that's because there's literally no wind....and the water being ultra calm, the plan was to have a full day of landings ON THE MAIN CONTINENT of Antarctica.

Good morning Antarctica

The very first thing we saw when we opened the window shade today!

Zodiacs exploring the ice - note the size compared to the nearly 20 ft long zodiac

Zoomed in look - again, note size comparison of zodiac (lower right) to ice

Welcome to the party Mr. Sun!  EXCELLENT weather conditions today (for a change!!)

The Continental Landing

Our Expedition Leader, Marc, began calling groups down around 9:30 am and we were in Group 6.  They called Group 5 at about 11:30 and we started the major-league prepping of all the under garments, etc.  But by 12:25 we still had not been called.  Is something wrong?  Nope....12:40 the announcement came and we made our way down for the zodiac launch.  We boarded and we were off.......

And we're off to the mainland - the Lost Continent awaits!

The water so calm, so smooth....no need to hold on, just enjoy the ride

HUGE ice bergs all the way out on our 25 minute journey to the continent

Arriving at the landing spot

All ashore to the main continent of Antarctica.....WE MADE IT

Not many people can say they've walked where we are walking today!

Once we landed the main land leader explained that after disembarking the zodiac we were to follow the trail up and to the ridge on the right for some good photo ops; then back around and clip up even higher to the summit for even more panoramic viewings.  Then we would make our way back down the ridge to the rocks where we'd landed for the journey home.  We were asked to be back within 40 minutes.  And away we went.

Stay on the path - it's can be slippery on the path - dangerous off the path :O

Reached the first summit for an amazing photo op - posing ON the main continent of Antarctica; holding a picture drawn OF Antarctica by our 6yo grandson Oliver

The original drawing our grandson drew......

NOTE: we are on the ice berg/glacier - the penguins are there - and we are on the right

When he showed it to us he was sure to point out that we had on warm clothes, "because it's cold there...." :)

Continuing the hike upward.....how high are we?  Well (a) note how small people look who are beginning the journey, and (b) note you cannot even see the landing point which is below the snow line!  We were up there....it was a climb!  SOOOOOO cool

At the summit....note the ship over my left shoulder - WAAAAAAAY over there!

Pretty much captures how we felt exploring the continent today on top of the ridge

Climbed back down, slowly and carefully I might add, and then rode the zodiac back to the Viking Polaris.  We remarked on the trip that you just really cannot imagine what it's like to be here.  Probably the first time that the description of "EXHILIRATING" could be used to describe how I felt.  Just a big, BIG WOW.

The zodiac return - still high on the experience, wow

We were ON the main continent of Antarctica today!

And on a "that's cool" kind of note......I follow and exchange messages with a couple of the CBS-4 anchors.  Shortly before we left I had reached out to evening anchor Lauren Pastrana that we would be in Antarctica and that I hoped to be able to watch some of the broadcast.  She replied back and asked if I was able to, would I please send a photo.  Getting video has been a struggle but this morning I was able to watch a highlight reel of their broadcast last night - so that counts :)  Our time zone is two hours earlier so I sent her the photo with a message at 8:23 am - which is 6:23 in So Fla.  Twenty minutes later Lauren wrote back :)  So yes, "that IS cool" :)

Then later in the evening CBS-4 Weekend Anchor Karli Barnett (my other social-media gal-pal) commented on the pics after I sent her the link :)