Antarctica

Different people enjoy leisure time in different ways. Some want nothing more from a vacation than white sand, hot sun, and icy drinks. Others want to explore the local culture, taking in museums by day and salsa clubs by night. Still others enjoy more remote exploration. Beebee is in the last group.

A few years ago we planned a trip to Mexico. Beebee opted out a few weeks ahead, because she found a better opportunity. One of her sailing buddies had booked a cabin on a cruise ship and invited her along. This was no ordinary cruise. It was a thirty day cruise, in a reconditioned Ice-cutter, that began in the Caribbean, voyaging all the way around South America‘s Cape of Good Hope, docking in exotic ports all along. Here is Beebee’s account of Antarctica:


The continent of Antarctica can be visited during their summer months. Paradise Harbor off the coast of Chile, can be reached by zodiacs or small boats.

In January 2004, our cruise ship anchored near Paradise Harbor. Only 100 people were allowed to land at a time; and only allowed to stay one hour. The harbor, as well as other areas of Antarctica, is protected from too much tourism. Only the penguins have full rein.

The Paradise Harbor penguins, called gentoos, are completely unafraid of humans. We laughed, watching them run back and forth, squealing at their neighbors, and stealing rocks from each other's nests. Penguins mate for life and share the duties of raising offspring. Penguins eat krill, a small shrimplike organism, seals eat penguins, and so it goes.

Paradise Harbor is manned by a group of Chileans who stay for the summer months, living and working in two small buildings. The scenery is spectacular, and the temperature during my visit was 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Other islands, such as Deception and Cuverviller are nearby.