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By evening, we were aboard the Professor
Multanovskiy and sailing down the Beagle Channel. The
soaring albatrosses that followed the ship were to be constant
companions along our journey.
We were expecting large penguin rookeries and beautiful seabirds.
We knew we would see icebergs and glaciers. What we did not
realize is how these elements come together to create immensely
powerful scenes bursting with life. We loved the convoluted
geology of places like Brown Bluff and Bailey Head and how
the wildlife adapted to it. The uniqueness of the landscape
at each landing amazed us. The light also surprised us with
its beauty, constantly changing during the long austral days.
The sunsets, beams of light glowing off distant icebergs,
the occasional blue raft covered with penguins, the sunrises.
We were always the last lingerers on the outer decks, as well
as the first ashore and the last to board the ship during
shore excursions!
We were extremely fortunate with the weather. We know we had
more than our fair share of clear blue skies. Even the dreaded
Drake Passage turned into a glassy lake! We made every landing,
although our stay at Salisbury Plains was cut short by fierce
Katabatic winds. We met Tim and Pauline in Grytviken and members
of the British Antarctic Survey team at King Edward Point.
It was inspiring to share conversation, a joke, and a beer
with all of them.
The staff on the ship was great.
Everyone was enthusiastic, dedicated, and fun to hang out
with. We were by far the youngest passengers aboard the ship,
and we had a lot more in common with the staff. From knocking
on our door at 1am to let us know about the rising full moon
to sharing a wealth of information and a lot of laughs, the
staff contributed enormously to our experience. We are quite
certain that we'll be organizing a trip together with at least
one staff member in the near future.
One aspect of the expedition leadership that we greatly appreciated
was the sincere and personal commitment to education, conservation,
and environmental stewardship. We are certainly not the only
passengers who will continue to follow and support conservation
issues in Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands.
In closing, thank you very much for helping us to make this
trip happen. You provided us with helpful logistical information
and a great cabin (room 327 is the best!). We will certainly
recommend Expeditions to anyone who is interested in traveling
these locations. As for ourselves, we are already ready to
return to the Ice!
Luca and Jen Marinelli
Somerville, MA
Professor Multanovskiy – Explorers Cruise
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