The Voyage to Antarctica
Voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula normally depart from
Ushwai, Argentina.  Ushwai is the most southern city on
earth.  We got here flying all day out of Santiago, Chile.
Our trusty ship is the Akademik Shuleykin, which used to
be part of the Russian science fleet.  It's named after a
Russian arctic and antarctic explorer.  After the Soviet
Union collapsed, there were no more funds for science.  The
ship and many like it switched over to tourism.  The crew is
still Russian, with English speakers as guides and tourists.
Reaching Antarctica requires two days on the infamous
Drake Passage, known for its extremely rough water.  
The Drake cons us with gentle conditions.  No such
luck on the return voyage.  Never trust the Drake.
Introducing the zodiacs, from which all landings will
be made.  They can really move, so I learned to hang
on tight, as the cold wind blew across my face.
Getting in and out of the zodiacs required a helping
hand.  The idea is to end up in the zodiac (for landings),
or back on the long ship stairway (returning).  Now we
are finally ready to hit the beach for the first time.    
If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip, "There's
Something About Penguins", by clicking on AdventurePics .