Up at o dark thirty (405am) we prepared to check out of the hotel and board our 520am bus back to the airport.
Then back to the airport to board yet another plane to head to Ushuaia, the southernmost city. Here we are boarding our flight!
and mom enjoying some of the plane breakfast
After collecting out luggage it was time to board our bus to the ship. My sister chose wisely by choosing seats at the front – when we got to the ship, we were in the first group from our bus to board, get our room keys and go straight to the life jacket briefing.
outside the Ushuaia airport
Our briefing included a glass of bubbly…
Then we dropped out small personal carry ons at our rooms (which weren’t ready quite yet) and headed to the World Cafe for lunch. Then we did some exploring around the ship…
there is a lot of focus on science – so some geeky stuffing found
Then we headed to the Aula where we got introduced to the science team!
They each introduced themselves, and told us what they do. Exhibition team lead and his second were on the left, followed by the Chief Scientist. In total I counted 12 women and 10 men, from all over the world.
Some more geeky stuff – not exactly sure if this was a current, forecast or old weather map with the general path we will take.
After, we were invited to join the science team to the aft of the ship to see where we had left port as we began our journey along the Beagle Channel.
My mom, sister and I then decided to head to the bow. My mom said she would rather see where we were going, not where we had been!
While in the bow, Juan, one of the scientists who is from Ushuaia, held a wildlife watching session. Mom got to see her first penguins on the trip! It was too far away to get pictures of them.
mom getting to see her first penguins!
can’t see them since this is just pic from my phones camera. The penguins on this island burrow into the sand.
Juan explaining some things about the wildlife.
We then headed back to the World Cafe for dinner. Then back the Aula to watch the BBC documentary, Seven World, One Planet: Antarctica. Prior to the 50 minute movie starting, we all commented that jet lag hadn’t been an issue. We all were drifting once the lights went down!
And thats a wrap on day 1 on the ship! Tomorrow brings us briefings about activities when we are at Antarctica, and getting our boots (jackets and pants were in the room). There are a few science things in the afternoon we will likely attend.
