Penguins and elephant seals, icebergs and albatrosses are the symbols of Antarctica. And from its tiny baby fur seals weighing no more than 10 pounds, to mounds of ice weighing 3 million tons and holding 3.3 billion gallons of frozen water, the highest, driest, windiest continent in the world lives up to all expectations.
In terms of spending the Christmas holiday, two well traveled teachers chose Antarctica to spend it in even if this is a land of voyages ending up in tragedy not to mention a land of frozen wastes. A number of vacationers would not think of going to Antarctica but these teachers simply want to add it to their places traveled to. Along the way while they were thinking about how this journey could be possible they read about the explorer through travel magazine.
Discovered by the women was the importance of preparation. One day spent in Antarctica would translate to three pairs of socks with one being wool, rubber boots weighing 15 pounds, insulated underwear under a regular set of clothes and a parka, and rubberized pants and slicker that are seamless and waterproof. Two pairs of gloves, one waterproof, complete the costume.
A recurring dilemma other than cold feet is the onset of frostbite. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is summer. Only able to move to 32 degrees was the water even if the ice was warming up above the freezing point and the breaking ice pack allowed for traveling to be done. When it comes to air temperature, one Antarctic research station had a thermometer measuring it to be at 47 degrees. After experiencing direct sunlight for the whole day the Explorer suddenly faced snowstorms and sleet storms as the evening came.
Other than having weather which could not be prevented, the women were also informed about how the itineraries changed depending on winds. However, never in their 24 days on the southern ice cap did the women encounter anything like the 84 below wind chill that hit the two ladies’ hometown on Christmas Eve.
Although dreaded, the Drake Passage proved to be no obstacle. Through the tip of South America in Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula is the route of this passage that led to a number of casualties. For the Explorer the passage took 48 hours and this is when the women strapped themselves in for sleep using the bunk seat belts. Because of much bouncing around, one of the ladies had bruises.
Probably millions was the penguin count. Feeling the penguins and their nests could be done on the trip. You could see how penguins do nothing but fuss. Something enjoyable is what it was. A lot of seals were there as well. While scooting around, their mouths were open. Seals actually bite if you get close to them not to mention their babies.
All throughout the trip was pure bliss. A gorgeous shade of blue was seen in the sky and the water as well. There were intensely huge icebergs that could probably measure up to three stories high as they floated along with some carrying penguins. During the 1960s, the old whaling stations they saw were all closed down for 20 years now. No matter how it took them to see the South Pole the old huts left by the early explorers were really something, and some of them still had the canned foods left by these travelers.
For this vacation they traveled to Punta Arenas on the south end of Chile, the Shetland Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, to South Georgia, and then to the Falklands before going back to where they began. This was indeed a different way of spending the holidays.