Another unusual day

If I have to use only one word to describe my take on the trip so far, I would choose the word “unusual”. I don’t usually climb up (read, scramble up) a mountain for 4 hours to see a glacier, I don’t get knocked around on a boat with complete strangers for twelve days, and I definitely do not go to freezing cold places and actually look forward to it. But here I am - enjoying every minute of my trip to Antarctica! Every minute I am awake that is… Most of us are on seasickness pills and patches, which knocked us out completely on the first day, or in the better cases - turned us into walking zombies. I was physically awake only for meals and lectures (which in fact occupied most of the day). Mentally I have no idea where I was, but I made an enormous effort to pay attention, especially to the lectures on what to do if you fall out of the boat (surprisingly, there’s more than the usual “float and pray” technique), how to avoid being bitten by a seal (stay as far away as possible, duh) and what not to do to a penguin even if you have a chance (to my disappointment the list of Don’t-s includes running around and chasing their babies).

So far I managed to ask almost every one on the ship about their names, occupations and countries of origin. I also managed to forget it all right away. I blame it to the pills (against seasickness, that is). I am not sure what and whom to blame for my 6 hour detour in El Calafate (I got off the plane at the wrong stop - yeah, no comment…). But I will have enough time to contemplate and make up a story that doesn’t make me look as silly and loopy as I really am.

So, yesterday most of us spent our free time sleeping on and off, and making sure to jump out of bed on time so as not to breach a Bronco 5 (that’s the rule that requires you get to the designated place 5 minutes before the start of an event; otherwise Jumper gives you a harsh, reproachful look, and believe me, you don’t want that - you will need an anti-freeze to get your blood flowing again). Although we were considerably out of it, we managed to take advantage of a few great lectures on the history and wildlife of Antarctica as well as a presentation on climate change. We also managed to stay lucid for long enough to have a few improvised but resourceful conversations on environmental awareness.

Today was more eventful than yesterday, partly because most of us are actually awake. We saw our first whales (mostly the steam coming out of the water and the occasional back or tail), our first iceberg (it’s amazing how many pictures one can take of a block of ice and still be excited), our first land on the horizon (which included a stunning glacier), and our first penguin! Throughout the day we had more lectures and discussions on the effect of climate change on the environment and our role in protecting the fragile eco-system. The peak of emotions, however, was reached when Robert Swan and his companion (the one who looks like a good-natured Castro (yeah, an oxymoron…)) arrived on our ship and surprised us all at dinner. Robert walked around smiling and greeted everyone as if we all were old buddies of his. Now we are all psyched about getting on the shore tomorrow and visiting the e-base! This will finally break the cycle of eating, sleeping, listening to lectures, and crowding on the sides of the boat to take pictures of the slightest change on the horizon.

Now it’s time for bed. We would all need a good rest before the start of yet another unusual day.