© Robert Siegel
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Antarctica

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Ice

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Icicles

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Ice sculpture

antarctica

Ice
Dorian Bay
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013

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Sea ice

antarctica

Ice
Dorian Bay
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Mushroom berg

antarctica

Ice
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Circling the ice

antarctica

Ice
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Frozen horse

antarcticaice

Ice
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Berg and reflection

antarctica

Ice
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Berg with icicles

antarctica

Ice
Antarctic Peninsula
Canon 5D Mark II
December 25, 2013
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Ice Cave

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Icicles

antarctica

Useful island
Antarctic Peninsula
December 24, 2013
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Inclined berg

antarctica

Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
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Penguins

Strap but no chin

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Wings don't fail me now.

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Chinstrapped feet

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
cf pictures of bird feet
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Two chinstrap twins

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
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And a big rock for my lady

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Weeeeeeeee

penguin

Sliding down the hill
Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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You talkin' to me

penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Chinstrap profiled

chinstrap penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Family: Spheniscidae (penguins)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2
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Sky pointing

chinstrap penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2
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Strapped

chinstrap penguin

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2
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Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)

Gen-one

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 27, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Gentoo profiled

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Gentoo takes Darwin under wing

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Eating snow

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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King of the Hill

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Gentoo with eggs

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December 27, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Mating - with spectators

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Egg turning

gentoo with egg

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
Canon 5D Mark II
December 25, 2013
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Bed - rock

gentoo nest

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Is anybody listening?

gentoo calling

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
Canon 5D Mark II
December 25, 2013
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Wacky walk

penguin

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Overpopulation

penguins

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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I think someone is following me.

penguin

Adélie penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Check out this chick

penguin

Adélie penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
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When Adelies sing

penguin

Adélie penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
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Lone macaroni among chinstraps

penguin

Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Half Moon Island
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5D mark2
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And they called her macaroni

penguin

Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Half Moon Island
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5D mark2
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Sea birds

Of skua reference

skua

Skua
genus: Stercorarius
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Skua stare down

skua

Skua
genus: Stercorarius
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Pigeon wannabe

snowy sheathbill

Snowy sheathbill
Chionis albus
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Tern cold

tern

Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata)
Antarctica
December 28, 2013
Canon 5D mark2

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A shag among gentoos

Antarctic shag

Blue-eyed shag
Phalacrocorax atriceps
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
cf Cormorants
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Nested shags

snowy sheathbill

Blue-eyed shag
Phalacrocorax atriceps
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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A shag on the rocks

Antarctic shag

Blue-eyed shag
Phalacrocorax atriceps
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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The flight of the shag

Antarctic shag

Blue-eyed shag
Phalacrocorax atriceps
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Shag with brood

antarctic shag

Blue-eyed shag
Phalacrocorax atriceps
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Albatrocity

Albatross

Wandering albatrossøbr> Diomedea exulans
En route
December, 2013
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Winging it

Albatross

Black-browed albatross
Thalassarche melanophrys
En route
December, 2013
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Cape petrel without cape

cape petrel

Cape petrel
(Daption capense)
En route
December, 2013
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Petrel

bird

En route
December 29, 2013
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Running start

cape petrel

Cape petrel
(Daption capense)
En route
December, 2013
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Fulmar

fulmar

Southern fulmar
Fulmarus glacialoides
En route
December, 2013
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Halfmar

fulmar

Southern fulmar
Fulmarus glacialoides
En route
December, 2013
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Quartermar

bird

Southern fulmar
Fulmarus glacialoides
En route
December 29, 2013
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bird

Southern fulmar
Fulmarus glacialoides
En route
December 29, 2013
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Kuru cousins

prions

Prions
Drake Passage, en route
December 29, 2013
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A place with some gull

gull

Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus)
Family: Laridae (gulls, terns, skimmers)
Port Lockroy
Antarctica
December 28, 2013
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Whales

Pod of fins

whales

Fin whales
Balaenoptera physalus
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Humpback

whales

Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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This sighting was a fluke

humpback

Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Humpback and Plancius

antarctica

Useful island
Antarctic Peninsula
December 24, 2013
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Killer

killer whale

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Killers at sunset

killer whale

Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Whale bones on ice

whale bones

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Seals

Leopard on ice

seal

Leopard seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Surveillance

seal

Leopard seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Attack

seal

Leopard seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Evicerate

seal

Leopard seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Elephant and gentoos

seal

Southern elephant seal
Mirounga leonina
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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When seals tell fish stories

seal

Weddell Seal
Leptonychotes weddellii
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Bob, the seal

seal

Weddell Seal
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Lichens

Lichenous antarctica

lichens

Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Banana belt symbionts

lichens

Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Rockin the Lichens

lichens

Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Lichen on the rocks

lichen

Lichen
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2
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Lichen in profusion

lichen

Lichen
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2
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Inverts

Invert gold

lichens

Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Landscapes

A Portrait of Dorian Bay

antarctica


Dorian Bay
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013

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The breast of Antarctica

antarctica

Una's Tits
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Frozen Rorschach

antarctica

Lemaire Channel
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Reflecting on Antarctica

antarctica

Lemaire Channel
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Port Lockroy

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Distant hills

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Long light

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Twilight in Antarctica

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Port Lockroy

Signs of Port Lockroy

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Port Lockroy

antarctica

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Not Lockroy. Lockroy!

port lockroy

OK, I admit it, it is a really bad reference to "Get Smart".
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Signs of penguins

port lockroy

Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Pemmican (and marmite)

pemmican

Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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When penguin is on the menu

port lockroy

Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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The well-equipped kitchen

kitchen

Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Charlies finds a friend at the post office

post office

Southernmost post office
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December 27, 2013
Canon REBEL T5i
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An event of chains

antarctica

Chains
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Bob

Snow shoe exuberanbce

antarctica

Dorian Bay
Antarctic Peninsula
December 26, 2013
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Bob and Chinstraps

bob and chinstraps

Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Bob and Kyler

bob and kyler

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Bob and Kyler - departing Ushuaia in style

bob and kyler

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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In search of the antarctic lotus

bob

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Jumpin' gentoos

bob jumping with gentoos

Gentoo penguins
Port Lockroy
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Unsuccessful attempt to hitch a ride from a group of penguins

bob and penguins

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
photo by Kyler Siegel
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Polar plunge

polar plunge

Deception Island
Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
Photo taken by Amanda Barry
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Fellow travelers

The other Dr. Bobster pays homage to Antarctica

bob hollander

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Louis

louis jimenez

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Marcel and Janine

marcel and janine

Half Moon Island
Antarctic Peninsula
December 28, 2013
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Betsy on ice

betsy

Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
Canon 5D Mark II
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Plancius

The mothership

plancius

Port Charcot
Antarctic Peninsula
December 25, 2013
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Zodiacal outing

zodiac

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
photo by Kyler Siegel
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Our wild ride

water

Drake Passage
December, 2013
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from the Plancius bridge

crossing

Antarctic Peninsula
December 21, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2

cf bridges

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Rough Seas

drake passage

Antarctic Peninsula
December 21, 2013
Canon 5Dmark2

cf water

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Loading the gang plank

gangplank

Antarctic Peninsula
December, 2013
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Antarctica references

Salon Antarctica

antarctica

Patagonia
2006
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List - some things I found surprising/impressive about Antarctica

+ That penguins are even more entertaining than I thought they would be.
+ The amount of snow and ice. Despite what you expect, it is still surprising.
+ The amount of time that penguin spend "flying" throughthe air whe they swim
+ Having the opportunity to see leopard seals hunt penguins.
+ The number and variety of whales we saw
+ How evocative the various ice formations were in terms of reminding me of other things. Much better than clouds.
+ How well the ship handled - both in the high seas of the Drake but also in terms of thetight turning radius and maneuverability
+ The level of bonding with many of the other passengers.
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Notes

I had long wanted to go to Antarctica.

The allure had to do with remoteness, seventh continent, tales from my parents and others about the beauty and photogenic nature of the environment, penguins and other wildlife, and the general caché of going to a place that is visited by relatively few people.

I can date my interest back at least 10 years as I had been planning to see 7 by 50.

In anticipation of going to Antarctica, I first set up my Antarctica web page in 2006, after visiting Patagonia. There was a single picture of a sign.

As part of my long term plan, I began to read a great deal on Antarctica. This only increased my desire to go.

I even taught a turorial on Chilean Antarctica when I was in Stanford-in-Santiago in 2010.

Despite all that, my recent plans to go to Antarctic where made very much at the last minute, on impulse.
There was a lot of scrambling involved to reserve the ship, the flights, the hotels, and make various payments including the Argentine "reciprocity fee."

Aerolineas almost thwarted the whole endeavor by cancelling our flight from BA to Ushuaia. We lost a full day but made it there with hours to spare. At the risk of continuing a long stretch of sleeplessness, we even took the opportunity to visit the national park.

We boarded the Plancius in Ushuaia on the afternoon of December 20 and disembarked on December 31, 2014. In each direction, it took two days to cross the dreaded Drake passage. On the way to the Antarctic peninsula, the waves where breaking over the bridge which was on the seventh deck of the ship.

From an aesthetic standpoint, Antarctica certainly delivered. Some of the highlights are noted in my list, above.

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Antarctica itinerary - December 20 - 31, 2013 (under construction)

+ December 20, 2013 Friday
Arrive Ushuaia in early morning
Board Plancius around 4 pm
Muster drill
Dinner
+ December 21, 2013 Saturday
Drake passage - very rough seas - waves breaking over the bridge on deck 7
Lots of sea birds, cape petrels predominate
+ December 22, 2013 Sunday
Drake passage
Procedure meetings
Distribution of boots
+ December 23, 2013 Monday
Danco Island - first landing
Lunch
Zodiac cruise - Paradise Bay
+ December 24, 2013 Tuesday
Landing at Useful Island
Lunch
Zodiac cruise Foyn Harbour
+ December 25, 2013 Wednesday
Pleneau Island
Lunch
Port Charcot / Booth Island - Adélie penguins
Christmas dinner
+ December 26, 2013 Thursday
Landing at Cuverville Island
Lunch
Landing at Dorian Bay
"Antarctic Dinner" - barbeque
Photograph skua that landed on deck
+ December 27, 2013 Friday
Port Lockroy - museum and store
Jouglas Point - blue eyed shags
Lunch
Landing at Neko Harbour
Start heading North again
+ December 28, 2013 Saturday
Landing Whalers Bay, Deception Island - chinstraps, gentoos, Weddell seals, skuas, ruins
Polar plunge
Lunch
Last landing at Halfmoon Island
+ December 29, 2013 Sunday
Drake Passage - heading north
+ December 30, 2013 Monday
Drake Passage - heading north
+ December 31, 2013 Tuesday
Arrive Ushuaia in early morning
Disembark around 8:15 am
Courtesy van to airport - checked in and dropped off bags
antarctica

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Related pages - species

penguins
chinstrap
gentoo penguin
whales
seals
cormorants
albatross
krill

Related pages - places

Buenos Aires, 2006
Buenos Aires, 2013
Ushuaia, 2013
Patagonia
Florida 2013 (en route to Antarctica)

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Related pages - thematic

Facebook group
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-->With thanks to Kyler for being my traveling companion! And for putting up with my disorganization, clutter, and panic.

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Last modified: July 20, 2023
Contact: siegelr@stanford.edu
All pictures are protected by copyright. Do not use without permission.