Tom and Marcie kicked up their heels on New Years at the Hyatt. Ralph, June and JIm and Mary Ellen have landed in BA.

We leave tonight. We purchased business class down and got upgraded to FIRST class nice start. Coming home we are coach not going to think about that until the time comes. We will be anxious to get home so I can probably handle coach. We will be moving the next week into our new offices. Very exciting.

Bring on the penguins!

Our heels were firmly asleep on NYE. I happened to wake up at 12:01 so watched some fireworks from the window. Today was the best New Years Day ever! We are at the Sheraton in Iguassu. We walked about with our guide and with Darla and Fred. After lunch we took the boat ride into the magnificent falls. Sitting in the lobby bar with a Caipariniah (sp) enjoying the view to end a fantastic day!
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Helen

Miss you guys and wish we were there, but I still have to slave at work.

So happy to hear from you Helen. I was thinking of the four of you and hoping things were going well. We are at DFW waiting for our flight to BA, see you soon.

Tom & I love Recoleta, the area we're staying in. It's beautiful, very walkable and near Recoleta Cemetery where we went today. It is amazing with all the beautiful large mausoleums. The Duarte Familia (Eva Peron) mausoleum is not particularly impressive compared to others that more grandiose. I enjoyed it as I've always had a thing for walking around cemeteries, looking at names and dates.
I love the cosmopolitan European flair here in Buenos Aires. We had a great time with Mary Ellen & Jim, Ralph & June here for dinner last night and the weather was just perfect for dining alfresco.

We're leaving for the airport at 5:30am tomorrow for our charter flight to Ushuaia. 2016 has been off to a perfect start, now bring on the penguins!

I wish you all smooth waters thru the Drake Passage.
Other than that, you won't need my wishes... you'll have an amazing time!
Enjoy!

Doug

We arrived back in BA from Iguassu about 7 pm so just enuf time to shower, repack the warm weather stuff and have a drink and a hamburger in the bar with Fred and Darla. I spotted Ngaire Ken and June on their way to the elevators but decided to spare them the embarrassment of hearing me scream "Hey!" From the bar. 😜. I think the 4 of us who pre cruised to Iguassu have a different transfer to airport tomorrow so see everyone at the airport.
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Helen

Group selfie - on our way to Ushuaia

Very cute picture! I see Marcie photobombing in the back!

Love the photo! Have a great time!

We all just crashed last night. Coming from BA to Ushuaia and the ship is a long day and starts so early. We were introduced to the expedition staff and looks like a great team. The lecture this morning was from a New Zealander who was very good. In fact there are three Kiwi expedition staff onboard. The leader is female and is very experienced in Antarctica.

Just a little light rolling motion but very comfortable. Lots of staff we have met before so it feels like home. For those on the northwest passage we have the "I want my Monet back" receptionist who of course is the best. She has been promoted now and wears an officer type uniform but still on the font desk.

Tomorrow the Falklands and the weather looks promising. Be back later.

I love the group selfie! Everyone looks great!The only thing wrong with it is that Kim and Alice are not in it! One day we will be...

Have a great time everyone!!

How do I look at the Pinterest pictures? I've gone to Ngaire's page there but there is nothing for this trip. Am I too early?

Peggy

Our first landing is tomorrow and we have two landings so it takes a little time to get them up so it is a little early but pictures will be coming.

Back to the ship from our first landing, New Island , Falklands. A really beautiful day, reported to be about 50 degrees. There exists here a large colony of nesting alboAtross and also rockhopper penguins. Many of the birds had chicks so just a very entertaining couple of hours walking among them. I would guess that there were 10 thousand birds all along the cliffs here? I am a pretty poor guesser so maybe someone else has a better more accurate estimate. I spotted Ken at the very end of the cliffs with his really big lens so expect some wonderful pictures soon. We have a KLT get together, then lunch and then another stop in the Falklands this afternoon! PENGUIN is off to a super start!
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Helen

Hi Helen!! Sounds amazing! Can't wait for pics!

Photos courtesy of Ralph Webster

I think I was in that farm house once! Did the owner chop some peat and sheer a sheep? That's quite a spread, so maybe not,

Lady of the house told me she has 30 different kinds of baked goods on the table and she starts her baking for the season in September !
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Helen

Different house no sheep shearing but they always have great spreads. Falklands today, Port Stanley. . I have a sore foot so giving it a rest so ken went ashore alone. Did a few errands and then we had lunch. Lamb roast. Yummy yummy

Off to play cards now and soon we set sail for South Georgia.

Photos From New Island, Falkland Islands:


Black Browed Albatross


Rockhopper Penguins can be very territorial.




Going out fishing.




Mating Ritual.

Photos From Westpoint, Falkland Islands:

Loving the photos! I think Silversea should use the one of the ship on the cover of their brochure! Have fun! I sure wish we were with you!

Photos From Ushuaia - KLT Cocktail Party - Stanley:


We had a barbecue lunch at this restaurant.


The grounds of the reataurant were beautiful.


Our Cocktail Party in the Observation Lounge of the Silver Explorer.


Helen, Linda, John, & Katherine.


Our visit to Stanley, Falkland Islands.


The Maritime Museum.




Leaving Stanley Enroute to South Georgia.

I agree with Kathy. These pix are amazing! Loving seeing them and all of you enjoying this wonderful trip!

All this brings back so many memories of ZODIAC in 2012. And the cathedral picture. There was a couple from the UK on their very first cruise - ever. They chose this itinerary in order to see the church where the gentleman's father was the organist during WWII.

Get ready PENGUINS - the best is yet to come!

Another sea day. Seas have been quite calm so nothing much to do but attend the lectures in between meals! We had bio hazard inspection of our personal gear today in preparation for arriving in South Georgia tomorrow. We went to Antarctica in 2008 but did not go to South Georgia and have been told many times since then that we missed the best part so my husband and I are pretty excited for our arrivals there!
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Helen

Hope the crossing to South Geogia is a smooth one!

Loving seeing all the pics and posts. Lots of familiar faces. Wish we were there!

Ngaire, who has replaced Peter as Shackleton lecturer?

A young New Zealander named Alex. He is good, a different style to Peter. The entire expedition staff are very good.

Waiting for our turn to land at Salisbury Plains. Changeable weather. Snow, sun ,snow. Hope our turn hits a sunny sky.

Day one in South Georgia

First landing in South Georgia was at Salisbury Plains. There was too much swell to land right at the colony so we had to anchor around the corner form the colony. It was quite a walk through streams past lots of seals and molting penguins.

Quite slippery in places and we ended up at the colony eventually. It would have been better to land at the colony but the good news is that everyone got to see the amazing site of penguins as far as you can see.

In the afternoon we went to Pinion island to view the amazing wandering albatross. This is landing on a beach, passing the seals and walking up a wooden stairway to view the nesting albatross. This is the largest albatross with a wing span of about eleven feet.

I am being a weanie. I have a sore foot with swelling around the heel. So I am selecting to either go or stay behind based on the landing. The kings are something I am determined not to miss. The walk to Salisbury plains I bypassed pinion island to rest up for the next day.

Day two in South Georgia

This morning was Fortuna Bay. This was a great landing. A fairly short walk to the main Colony along a beach with lots of things to see along the way. There are more baby seals and younger than I have seen before. They are absolutely adorable this young. Following us as we walked by and coming right up to us.

Excitement of witnessing a birth. Ken will post pictures.

On the way to the colony Bruno our ship photographer let us know a seal was giving birth. We saw the whole birth process. The baby coming out, the birth sack and the mother trying to separate from the baby. Other seals were coming to investigate and the mother was not allowing them t come close. This was a very special priviledge. We all finally left to carry on to the colony

This landing offers an opportunity to go up a small hill and look down on the Penguins. A really nice vantage point. On the way to the hill I stopped and a King came to visit me. He got really close they are so beautiful.

It was a stunning morning. Snowing a little when we started but it cleared up nicely. I did not want to leave.

This afternoon is Grytviken where Shackelton is buried. Ken and I have been here six times so I am resting my foot and Ken is going ashore.

Photos From Fortuna Bay:


We were greeted by King Penguins on our arrival. Very light snow.




Elephant Seals on the way to the penguin colony.


A newly born Fur Seal, this was very exciting.








South Georgia pintail.


South Georgia pipit.

An hour later on our way back to the zodiacs, we see the newborn seal pup. Its hard to believe the pup is only an hour old.

Absolutely beautiful pictures, Ken! Keep 'em coming!

very nice shots, Ken!

Doug

Great pics. I got to witness a baby seal birth in the Galapagos. As an ob/gyn, I was thrilled.

No robotics needed!

Salisbury Plain, South Georgia with snow falling:






Paul & Maddy.


June & Ngaire.




Southern Giant Petrel.




This fur seal pup followed me with his eyes as I walked by.

Yesterday, we happened upon a newborn birth as well (maybe the same one as Ngaire & Ken ?) Shortly after the delivery, scavenger birds aggressively surrounded the mother and newborn. The mother was not succeeding fending them off. The large Daddy Seal came to the rescue. I feared the birds were pecking at the newborn but they were actually fighting over the afterbirth. A couple of the scavengers succeeded and it had a happy ending. One of our exposition leaders explained that the larger fear is the large Daddy accidentally stepping on the newborn. I hurriedly clicked these, one when the Daddy took charge and the other with the scavengers.