Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Ushuaia, Argentina Day 3 & Embarkation - Quark's Sea Adventurer!

December 19

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

 
It was nice to get on board and unpack everything and get settled in; excited to experience everything that is Antarctica!

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  
 
So, we now have our waterproof parkas with the zip out lining to keep us warm. They weigh a ton!
There were 2 convenient hooks by the door to hang them on. The cabin actually had more storage than most cruise ships we have been on. Interesting that we were given room keys, but doors have no locks. So, unless you were inside, the cabin door was unlocked. With only 114 people on board, if something turned up missing, it would be easily found.
 
We were eager to get to bed and get some rest before our morning wakeup call.
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Loved the photos, commentary, and interesting that the doors didn't lock. It is nice people abided by the honor system.

    ReplyDelete