Wine, Penguins & More

January 10, 2024      Wine, Penguins & More Friday, January 5th was our last zodiac excursion day in Antartica.  We had two excursions that day, the first was an ice field bay cruise, including champagne.  The Capitan and crew were waiting for us in the bay with morning champagne - it was a special treat that made the cruise more fun as we searched the water for humpback whales - as usual, we were not disappointed and saw multiple whale pods.  We also picked-up some sea ice for margarita's once back on-board.  Enjoying any drink with 1,000 year old, crystal clear iceberg "ice" was a special experience.   The afternoon zodiac excursion was to a nearby island for a hike/walk in the snow - the snow was not a "slick" as Danco Island, so the stroll was truly fun.  At the top of the hike, we were treated to a special experience because a juvenile Emperor Penguin was not a nearby island and we could see it clearly through the guides binoculars....

 Wine Penguins & More January 5, 2024 Danco Island, Antartica Our afternoon excursion was a hike amongst the gen-too penguins on Danco Island.  We rode the zodiac's ashore and enjoyed a snow & slush ice hike from the shoreline to the summit - approximately 1 mile & 500 foot + elevation game.  Along the way, we crossed multiple penguin "highways" where people definitely "DO NOT" have the right away.  If you strayed slightly off the "marked" snow trail, you would sink up to your knees in powder snow.  The views along the trail were remarkable as you experience the various penguin rookeries on any exposed rock - lots of nesting gen-too penguins.  The penguin communication sounds and the penguin stench were memory points we will not soon forget.   At the summit of Danco Island, who was there waiting for hikers, but the ship Capitan himself - a very personable and involved leader that interacts freely with guests and the ship crew - very refresh...

Wine Penguins & More January 4, 2024 - morning excursion Fournier Bay, Antartica - whales, icebergs & more      Another morning of spectacular scenery in Fournier Bay - the zodiac excursion started in the nearby ice fields with some beautiful floating icebergs.  We found several Wendell seals lounging on the surfaces, but the best was yet to come as we ventured closer to the entrance of the bay in search of humpback whales.  We found a pod of at least 5 and perhaps 6 humpback whales feeding on krill.  We actually were close enough to the pod that we could clearly see the "bubble" rings they created to capture the krill - unbelievable sight and sound from these beautiful creatures - enjoy the attached video.  Humpback Whales Feeding on Krill   Blue Diamond Iceberg Scenic Eclipse 1 Flock of Sea Birds Resting Lone Cormorant Icebergs Reflection

  Wine Penguins & More January 3, 2024 Today, we woke-up in Flanders Bay, Antartica and the "summer" weather was cold 32.2 degree Fahrenheit (0.1 Celsius) and snowing.  We were the first zodiac group this morning and we had a "great" guide that took us into the bay "ice field" with the intent to explore various islands in the area.  The "scale" of this ice field in the bay was beyond my comprehension.  We enjoyed great views of resting, but active Weddell Seals as well as Adélie penguins.  Two real surprises were encounters with a Minke Whale and a Snow Petrel - Tami Martin took the awesome picture of this "beauty" with the birds reflection on the glaze ice water surface.  It was a cold and snowy wet morning excursion, but 100% worth it because of the silent beauty of this ice field - it is difficult to describe the silence that one experiences in Antartica.  For example, when you are in an ice field, you "hear" the whales...

 January 2, 2024 Wine Penguins & More: Today was the highlight of the trip so far - we started the day in Holtedhal Bay on the Antartica Peninsula.  We enjoyed a helicopter tour of the bay with our pilot Scott, from South Africa.  Today was the first day in the season that conditions allowed for helicopter flights in this area, so he was very enthusiastic to explore and show us the sights in the area.  The flight was our first lift-off in a helicopter off a ship vessel.  The sights in Antartica are incredible from the ship and the zodiac's, but the view at 2,000 feet is unbelievable.   The afternoon was a repositioning of the ship to Prospect Point where we again had the opportunity to land on the continent.  We were able to take pictures with the Antartica flag while walking on the shoreline.  Following this part of the adventure, we continued the zodiac excursion and witnessed our fourth variety of penguins - the Adélie penguin - note that t...