A client called Richard who is on ICE just sent me this. It is fun to be able to read this for those going and for those behind when we are on the ship.

Hello Ngaire-

The A&K website has a daily log of "happenings" on Explorer II, including the current Regent charter. It might be a good way for your
clients' family and friends to keep up with things. Here is the website-

http://www.abercrombiekent.com/index.cfm?navid=3.2.4.1

I have been following this all season, and it is great. Wonderful pictures.

I was very excited to see that they were keeping up with the ship's log this morning even though it's a Regent charter. I had checked last year during the same time period and they didn't post.

I am delighted to see them all having lunch on the pool deck and the band looked so cute in their parkas!

That is so cool! We will have to try and elbow our way into some of the photos when we are onboard :)

Dena

I'm just going to hang out with Grant...he'll make sure he gets into the photos!!

Andrea, I'll keep you company too!

Cheers, Pam

PS When is everyone flying in for ICE? Our flight is via Atlanta this Sunday.

they may not see you becuase you are sooooo thin now and I may take up too much of the picture?

ROFL!!! Good one Grant!!

Pam, I don't leave until next Wednesday.

We fly from Dallas to Santiago Monday night. Staying at the Hyatt.

We leave Wednesday. I wont forget to pack Turdley the Pooping Penguin. Have not started to pack yet. Just scoop up my stuff from last year and polar bears, wont be hard. Anyone seen me in black before??

Dont forget your swim suit for a dip in the Antarctic Ocean.

Then after a dip in the HOT water can you go roll in the cold snow? Did this years ago in Vail in the winter with the hot tub and snow, nothing like fire and ice?

DIPOLE lives....

It's the reverse of the Finnish sauna, Grant. Sit in the hot box then go jump in a cold lake or shower. They swear by its benefits. I'd be swearing for sure. :app:

Cheers, anne

LOL the only "Fire & Ice" I love are Diamonds. You mean there is another type?

Cold water then...I get it. We thought there was a thermal hot spring somewhere to take a dip in. Reading Ngaire's post I see she says "Antarctic Ocean." Duh! Leave it to Grant, maybe he will jump in the cold water THEN roll in the snow :)

Editing to add - what excursions have folks signed up for in Port Stanley? I was banking on seeing so many penguins in South Georgia that I skipped over the excursions with the Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. Is that a mistake? I signed up for Long Island Farm but Grant is lukewarm...

Dena

Sorry to be confusing. It's a thermal hot spring, all right, for all of us to enjoy.

Of course, Grant is welcome to plunge into the Antarctic Ocean if he is so inclined. Tell him Lynne Cox owns the record with a one mile swim:

Lynne Cox Antarctic Ocean Swim

Oh .. and it is NOT a token event.

We are on the 'do it yourself hide and seek out penguin playing cards' pub crawl excursion in Port Stanley. Gary wanted to do the Long's Farm. Perhaps he'll join you while Grant and I practice our penguin walk at the pub?

Cheers, Anne

Anne,

The Pooch penguin playing cards are under control due to a special UK web site. I even got an extra deck for my kennel companion ;)
Cheers, Yorkie

Two years ago yesterday (Jan. 24, 2006), some of us took the plunge in the hot waters of Pendulum Cove in the caldera of Deception Island.

Close to shore the water was very hot, we had to go out a bit to get more comfortable water temperatures.

It was exhilarating!

Armed with towels, my dresser helped me get dry clothes on quickly with a minimum of shivering. Still, it was a cold Zodiac ride back to Explorer II.

We'd love to return to Antarctica.

I am definitely planning on taking a plunge - I saved an old swimsuit for the occasion.

I had asked Ngaire about excursions and she recommended just walking around town. Anne, maybe I'll join you - I hear the Globe serves up some mighty fine fish n' chips.

Personally I think just walking around the town, down the waterfront, look in the old museum. It is a quaint place. Pubs, english gardens, small town life.

Actually on our two trips on the Hanseatic they did not offer any tours. So I have not actually taken any of the tours out of Port Stanley so really cannot give any advice. Our Hanseatic trips were longer and we made two to three stops in the Falklands before going to Port Stanley. This is probably why they did not offer excursions.

So looking forward to going back to South Georgia and Antarctica. Ken and I were discussing the sounds of a penguin colony at dinner tonight. Our best imitations were really not very impressive.

Dena, I'm doing the farm excursion as well!

Pat and Ray - LOL! That IS the best kind of fire and ice. I'm leaving them at home this trip and will miss them!

Andrea - we'd love to join you on our walkabout in town! The Globe is definitely on our to-do list.

Pam - You scored the penguin playing cards? Woo hoo! You rock, Yorkie! I've got my lucky pen all ready for introductory classes and scorekeeping.

Cheers, Anne (a/k/a Rottweiler)

Great - I will plan on being a farmer for the morning with Olivia and hopefully Gary. We are scheduled to be in port for a nice long day there so I'm also looking forward to an afternoon pint at the Globe as well as walking through the town and shopping for penguin souvenirs.

Dena

Last year on the Hanseatic we asked our Expedition Leader, David Fletcher, if he would recommend that we try to see the penguin colonies out of Stanley. His recommendation: in light of what you will be seeing in the next fifteen days, don't bother. Those colonies are poor cousins. So we spent our day exploring Stanley and enjoyed it very much. Three days later we discovered how right he was! Pat

Thanks, Pat! This time last year I was simply trying to figure out a way to catch up with you Penguin Poopers on the Falkland Islands! I will happily explore Stanley & propose a toast to you LCTers in whose footprints I am FINALLY able to walk.

Zipped up & ready to roll tomorrow.

If there are other ships visiting Port Stanley you might want to head to the Globe sooner than later - we had planned to meet up with Peggy & Jerry there and it was a mob scene.

The walk down to the museum along the waterfront is a nice way to stretch your legs and the museum is worth a visit. There are quite a few gift shops in town - if you want to buy anything penguin oriented, this is the place.

I'm so in awe of your trip!! ....say hi to my penguin friends for me and tell them We'll be back to see them again one of these days!

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/Penguins.jpg?t=1201368769[/img]

A walk about in Stanley is always fun. We're going to avoid the mob at the Globe and go a block further up the street to the Victory Pub and hang out with the locals. Hope we have a warm sunny day.
Jim

Thanks for the tip, Jim. Hanging out with locals is always fun. I'm sure they have some interesting stories about living in such a remote place.

Dena

The log was updated today with activities from 1/23 - 1/27!!

Thanks, Andrea - going to read it now. I was afraid they remembered it was a Regent sailing and stopped posting updates. Good news!

Dena

Love the waiters in the "full penguin gear"!!

I hope you ICE'ers are packing yours!

We just got direct mail from Regent today post ICE (Aka DIPOLE) and it included a very nice chinstrap penguin patch denoting the trip on the Explorer II. Sure hope Pam gets her patch soon in the UK!