On board the MS Fram
We
boarded the ship yesterday morning for what promises to be my greatest
adventure yet. I have wanted to visit Antarctica for the past several
years; think it started in earnest when I saw “March of the
Penguins” and the need to see these fascinating birds was born.
There are a bit more than 200 guests on board the MS Fram, a
Norwegian expedition vessel, and, for each one of us, there is a
particular pull to head south to parts unknown. For me, it's simply a
“thirst” for more; for stepping on the Antarctic soil, for
feeling the quiet of this ice-covered continent, for seeing the
penguins where they live, and for being reminded that we are all just
a very small part of a large universe.
The
first day on board was one of orientation and an emergency drill when
we were instructed on how to put on our bright orange waterproof life
vest/suit should there be a problem and we need to leave the ship. A
relatively smooth crossing is expected, although we were warned that
crossing the Drake Passage will be rough; trying not to think about
that as I am already on Dramamine, ginger, and wearing Sea Bands on
my wrists!
Soon...
In Case of Emergency
Il
5, 6, 7 novembre
On
board the MS Fram
It's
been an informative three days with lectures and movies, breathing in
the cool south Atlantic air out on deck, and lots of bird-watching.
Seabirds are majestic creatures and, with their large wing spans,
they catch the wind draft and seemingly without effort glide through
the air. We've seen lots of petrels and albatross and, because the
seabird goes to land only to mate, his brain is in two sections, one
of which closes down while he sleeps while the other section remains
alert so that he can continue to fly.
This
morning was a lecture on the Falkland Islands, our initial stop on
land, with emphasis on the 1982 war between Argentina and England
over control of the territory. Tomorrow we will leave the ship and
get into special boats that will take us to Carcass Island, privately
owned by an English couple with whom we will be visiting. Then a hike
and our first visit with the local penguins....one could feel the
excitement amongst the ship's passengers as we received our safety
instructions just a little while ago.
Being Fitted for Waterproof Boots
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