Happy
Birthday to Me!
We had the
day free to do as we pleased until we had to meet at 3:30 to board the buses to
take us to the pier. Since we didn’t get to do the train, we got the
shuttle to Tierra del Fuego National park and did the narrow gauge train. It was originally built as a freight line to serve the prison of Ushuaia, specifically to transport timber. It now operates as a heritage railway into the Tierra del Fuego National Park and is considered the southernmost functioning railway in the world.
Kelp Gull - non breeding colors
Kelp Gull - breeding colors
sights from the shuttle bus
inside the train station
boarding the train
inside the train
sights from the train window
It was very scenic with what appeared to be wild horses along the way. We got out at one
stop for a short walk and viewed the waterfall.
me in the train
Upland geese with goslings (aka Magellan geese)
Then, at the end of the route
we had to get off and board another train back to the station.
If we would have
had more time we could have stayed to do the Beaver trail and then take a later
train back, but with the timing we would have missed the ship. In hindsight we
should have grabbed a cab instead of using the shuttles that has set times and then the timing would have worked. After we did
the round trip train, we waited a long time at the train station after we
returned with little to do, except to watch 2 energetic puppies playing.
back at the train station
Chimango Caracara
Chimango Caracara
House Sparrow
We got back
to the hotel and dropped a few things in our carryon and went in search of an
empanada place that the guy on the shuttle recommended. We never found it, so
we went back to where we had dinner the
night before and has a wonderful assortment of them for lunch. Then we went to
use the coupons for free hot chocolate at a chocolate shop that were included
with our train tickets.. The chocolates we bought the night before at a
different place weren’t very good, so we bought some here and brought them
aboard with us. They were very tasty so we may go back on our return and get a
few more. We then found a couch at the hotel and chilled until it was time to
walk the couple blocks to the parking lot where we were to get on the Quark
buses. We could have walked to the pier as it was just around the corner, but
they said doing the buses is quicker. Quark already checked our passports and
if we walked in on our own then the port authorities would need to check
everyone individually.
the blue & white one was our ship
We boarded
the Adventurer of the Sea around 4:00.
We were
greeted with welcome aboard drinks and snacks. We were then shown to our room
for the next 3 weeks. Small, but functional. We have a porthole and we can
actually look out at the water line which in the swells the ocean comes up past
the window. We’ve never experienced that before.
cozy
We had the mandatory lifeboat drill
Sail away was pretty scenic and lots of birds were following the different ships.
mostly Kelp Gulls
back of the ship
Blue-eyed Shag
above photo by Sam the ship's photographer
Blue-eyed Shag
Kelp Gull
Giant Petrel
Kelp Gull
Giant Petrel
We had a
welcome aboard talk before dinner and all of the staff was introduced and we
were assigned our zodiac groups for the trip. They were named after
Shackleton’s crew and we were in Worsley. They rotate the groups so you have
equal opportunity to be first or last off the ship at each landing. So much
more civilized than people jockeying for position each time. Plus, it’s hot
once you gear up and this way you don’t have to wait inside in a long line to
board your zodiac.
main lounge photo taken by Sam
Dinner is
open seating and is served around 7:30. It stays light so late, after dinner
you can go back out on deck to look for sea birds, dolphins or whales.
sunset started around 10:00 at night
Here is the first day's schedule:
EPIC ANTARCTICA EXPEDITION - On board the M/V Sea Adventurer!
16:00 Welcome Aboard the M/V Sea Adventurer - please make yourself at home, and if you’re missing any luggage please come see one of the staff at Reception.
17:00 Please join the Expedition Staff in the Main Lounge (Deck 3). Our Expedition Leader,Shane, will give a Welcome Briefing to be followed by a Mandatory Lifeboat Briefing.
You do not need to bring anything to the Lifeboat Briefing
TBA Mandatory Lifeboat Drill. When you hear the general emergency alarm, please proceed to your muster stations. Ensure you are dressed warmly, bring your SOLAS lifejacket and any essential medications.
TBA Please join us on the outer decks as we enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Beagle Channel as we set sail from Ushuaia and begin our journey to the Antarctic Peninsula.
19:30 Our Hotel Manager, Oliver Sevilla, and our Executive Chef, Indra Wicaksono, invite you to Dinner, served in the Dining Room (Deck 3)
21:00 There will be a Parka collection in the Reception area. Please stand by for Announcements.
Ushuaia, Argentina - On behalf of the Captain, his Officers, Crew and Staff - Welcome aboard!!!!
Captain & Officers:
Captain: Mykola Tililyuk
Chief Mate: Valery Mamedov
Chief Engineer: Niksa Pavlicevic
IT Officer: Anthony Parungao
Expedition Staff:
Expedition Leader: Shane Evoy
Expedition Coordinator: Christian Geissler
Marine Biologist: Liz Teague
Ornithologist: Mark Maftei
Historian: Hadleigh Measham
Geologist: Will Abbott
Marine Biologist: Mikolaj Golchowski
Zoologist: Nikita Ovsyanikov
Guide: Sam Crimmin
Kayak Guide: Sean Rielly
Kayak Guide: Abby Bronson
Polar Boutique Manager: Claire Wallace
Expedition Doctor: Faye Lee
Catering Staff:
Hotel Manager: Oliver Sevilla
Executive Chef: Indra Wicaksono
Maitre D’Hotel: Narendra Sareem
Loved the photos, commentary, and interesting that the doors didn't lock. It is nice people abided by the honor system.
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