While we have yet to begin our journey to the bottom of the earth, Techers on the Associates Antarctica program are very excited about the journey ahead! \240We begin the \240journey from Miami, Florida.

Today, everyone on the Antárctica program arrived at the Hilton. We all rendezvous-ed in the main ballroom with quickly filled with much laughter and positive energy. It was clear that everyone was making new friends during the mandatory pre-departure meeting.

Thus far the National Geographic COVID management “bubble” strategy is working. All passengers were tested today, our second test this week, and all were negative and able to take the next segment of the trip from Miami to Ushuaia, Argentina. \240Once we are in Ushuaia, we will transfer to the National Geographic Explorer cruise ship.

Now tested, we headed to MIA to board a 767-200 to Ushuaia. \240 As you can see, check-in was a tad bit busy! \240 :)

Bon voyage!

Good morning Ushuaia, Argentina! \240What seems like an eternity for air travel time, is about to end when we land in Ushuaia. \240The flight from Miami, Florida was just over 10hrs 30mins. I remember thinking as we took off in Miami, tha is was going to be a along night of tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position in airplane seats made for safety and not, necessarily the combined soft-boney structure of a 180lbs man. \240

The good news is we are less that 53mins from landing! \240Any moment now, we should begin hearing the somewhat panicked directions to prepare the cabin for our “final approach” (I must admit, I am always taken aback by missing the initial approach, but that’s for another blog, another day)!. That we are landing soon, also means that I will not get to see the end of the Green Lantern superhero movie i started and stopped four-to-five times during the flight, all in \240attempt to catch a few moments of sleep—didn’t quite happen, I must admit!

I must admit that I am quite excited to see a glimpse of this mystical place named Ushuaia. Likely, we will only get to see the industrial route from the airport to the port, where the Explorer is docked awaiting our arrival. \240

Next, the dreaded and often feared Drake Passage!

This morning, we awakened to the ship’s tossing-and-turning as a result of across Drake’s Passage.

One of the trip’s unique and special features is it’s educational components: geography, photography, geology, journalism, aviary science, and more.

SESSION ONE:

For the first hour, post breakfast, we met with the instruction staff of National Geographic—an impressive team of scientists, photographers, archeologists, videographers, marine biologists, and many, many more.

Later this morning we will work with the ship’s staff to make arrangements for Andy Thompson, the Caltech faculty member traveling with us this week.

SESSION TWO:

Today, prior to lunch, we learned about the “art of photography.” \240The presenter impressed upon us to stay on the side of the art of it, and the value of capturing the no context of the situation and the subject. \240Our goal is to zoom out and to capture the many dimensions and layers. \240We want to capture the layers and details—to capture the essence of the scene.

SESSION THREE:

Zodiac and Excursion Training: \240Today, this learning is foundational to entering Antarctica today. With growing concerns associated with global warming andn the introduction of dangerous agents into the ecosystems, it is of the utmost importance that everyone onboard is aware and actively engaged in the protection of the vast and revered frontier.

Today was simply amazing! 

After a couple of adventurous days on the central-west side of the peninsula, we traversed to the northern extreme of the continent of Antarctica exploring the greatness of the Weddell Sea, and it’s many islands. The naturalist and scientist on the ship shared that this region of the Antarctic Peninsula would hold great potential for encounters with wildlife. In addition, the region is rich with exploration history. Fingers crossed, over the next few days, we are going to explore several of the islands in this region under different weather conditions than what we have experience so far (hopefully!). 

OUTING ONE:

We headed off ship to visit The Danger Islands. These are a group of islands lying 24 km (13 miles) east-south-east of Joinville Island near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. They were discovered on 28th December 1842 by a British expedition under James Clark Ross, who so named them because, appearing among heavy fragments of ice, they were almost completely concealed until the ship was nearly upon them.

The Danger Island archipelago is comprised of 9 islands stretching over approximately 16 km at the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the north-western Weddell Sea. Recent (2014-18) detailed surveys counted 751,000 pairs of Adelie penguins on the islands, although the colony was known about there had never been a detailed count conducted on the islands.

In addition to seeing hundreds of seals on the beach, we were able to view the Weddel Bay replete with icebergs, small to gigantic!

OUTING TWO:

Expedition Afternoon at Heroin Island!

This afternoon we will experience another round of \240Zodiac cruises in the northernmost island of the Danger Island group called Heroina Island. This location has one of the largest colonies of Adelie Penguins in the entire peninsula. There will not be any landings but the Zodiac Cruises should be more than enough to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife.