[sarbar]

Kirk took me to Antartica for my 50th birthday (we saw land the morning of my birthday coming out of the Drake Passage). It is the longest I have traveled for an adventure (About 19,000 miles roundtrip which includes air and water). I mostly absorbed the trip, visually. It's hard to quantify this trip. It's been a very long time since I posted a TR here. But why not I thought.... I saw many penguins, whales, seals and so many birds. I saw the end of the world, and the Andes Mountains running into the water. I swam in the Antarctica Ocean water and it snowed on my head as I did. It's so quiet out there. You can hear the ice squeezing itself, cracking. Every penguin jumping thru the water is a crack. Seeing a full moon in the land of ice. Unless it is windy, then that is all you can hear. The wind howls like a sea wolf. It's very eery to listen to, but puts you right to sleep at night. Then I "enjoyed" the Drake Shake on the way back. I can honestly say it will take a lot to ever make me whine on a ferry crossing again 4 days of the trip are used for crossing the Drake Passage. I read a lot on the coming back, while flat on my back to not fall out of bed. It's a bucket list trip, but also a very large carbon footprint of a trip. I am still mulling over that. I am conflicted over it. The beauty is worth seeing. But at what cost? Yet, I knew this was the best time to go - see it while it is there, and while I am capable of going. Argentina and Chile are beautiful countries I truly hope I can return to them, to hike in.

[fourteen410]

Surely you must have more photos!

[Malachai Constant]

Kewl, know someone who hitched there on a Chilean naval ship. Interesting.

[Bushwacker]

Outstanding!!! Good for you and thanks for sharing. BW

[sarbar]

About hundreds more I couldn't quit snapping away for sure.

[HitTheTrail]

Looks like a nice way to spend your 50th! I wouldn't stress out too much about the carbon footprint. Most of the gear used by folks on this forum gets shipped in from the far east. It's just a fact of life in a global village.

[sarbar]

I think what got me down was the ship we were on. It is from Portuguese (the first line from there!). The food was great for sure, but they import almost everything from Europe, and ship to Ushaia, Argentina - they only buy what they are required to (fresh produce) locally. That didn't sit well. As I forced myself to eat 48 month cured ham from Spain. Lol....

[fourteen410]

[Kim Brown]

WOOOWWWW! What a great birthday present! More pics please!

[williswall]

Truly an incredible place. I flew to McMurdo twice in 2000 and got to walk amongst some Emperor Penguins. Would love to go back by sea.

[Schroder]

Great trip! I'd love to go there but I don't think I could handle that much time on planes any more.

[sarbar]

The plane time was the worst. 5.5 hours to Atlanta, 10.5 hours to BA, Argentina and then 3.5 hours to Ushuaia, Argentina. All in told, with layovers and waiting time it wax 36 hours each way.

[Dick B]

sarbar. I really enjoyed your pictures and narrative. My wife and I have talked about taking this trip, but have taken it off our bucket list. Too far to fly and my wife doesn't do sea voyages well. By the way, do you happen to know any of the girls that owned and operated the Freeland Cafe? They sold it a few years back.

[sarbar]

I miss the old owners of Freeland Cafe! The daughters They had such a better menu back then.