PolarQuest’s guides are blogging from Ocean Nova on the trip Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
Festive Christmas snows greeted us this morning in Orne harbour, as we looked out through the mysterious greys over a panorama of softly white powdered ridges and solitary ice floes, hardly a breath of wind to ripple the water between.
After a rewarding few days exploring islands of the peninsula, enjoying the ever present entourage of gliding seabirds as constant companions, delighting in spontaneous appearances of seals, whales and penguins, this day wore an entirely different significance. Today we would touch down on the Antarctic continent itself and if indeed it’s possible to step into a real dream, we were about to do exactly that.
Swedish national pride was unfurled with her turquoise and golden flag hoisted to a rowing oar, high up on a slope above the chosen landing. We lowered snow covered zodiacs to ferry all our excited expeditioners to this secluded, seldom visited shore, some of whom this morning would touch their 7th continent, true explorers in their own right!
Five hardy souls stole this rare opportunity to celebrate with a splash, and stripped down to ‘the winter woollies’ for a Polar Plunge in below zero icy water…good laughs and photographs enjoyed by those who preferred not to risk frostbitten digits.
The Gods of weather shined upon us once again and soon baby blue sky patches appeared, gradually brightening the scene, heightening its magical tranquillity, reminding us once again of our great fortune to be cradled in such a gorgeous place.
Sheltered and protected waters invited a last chance to investigate yet another of Antarctica’s hidden gems at Melchior Island. Weddell seals, rested in camouflage coats, impossibly beautiful bergs of fractured glass texture mirrored below in brilliant azures, buoyed and bathed in crystal clear water, chinstrap penguins in private snowy enclaves nested peacefully, magnificent ice caves and a sublime frozen waterfall left us speechless once again…
Time to steer north. Time to say goodbye to this special place. But what a time we’ve had!
