I have run out superlatives, how many times can you say WOW, FANTASTIC, MARVELOUS, etc. etc. This has been the most amazing trip, it is really the trip of a lifetime. The Penguins make you laugh, some look so silly waddling down to the water and others will stand there and wave at you. When you board the ship they take your passport and when they give it back it has a stamp in it for Antarctica, so it will be official.
Yesterday (I think it was yesterday) we landed on an island to take a hike to see some penguins and seals and it was so warm that we had to take our parkas off . We were told it was 45 degrees out, warmer then New York. That was in the morning, by afternoon we had moved on to Deception Island which is an active volcano, the last time it blew was 1970, it is very different from the others because the beaches are made from the volcanic ash. It was beautiful and a little strange, it was once a station and there are deserted buildings and parts of large tanks and ships left to rot on the beach. It is so dry here that it will take a very long time for the wooden boats to disappear. Before we came back to the boat some of the passenger's went "swimming". Lis decided to go for a swim and she ran in, jumped around and ran back out, cold. She is a very brave daughter. We have two outings a day, where you have to do your layer dressing, so today I decided to skip the afternoon trip, needed some time off to rest and catch up with things. In the morning we had done a Zodiac tour for about an hour, in the snow. Now I believe that anyone who gets up early, puts on all those layers, climbs down a wet set of metal steps, gets on a rubber boat to ride around for a hour in the snow, is certifiable. That includes me, but it was worth it, the scenery magnificent. It is very strange to know we will be home in a week, the time has gone very fast and I will be sorry when it is over. Tomorrow is Palmer Station, one of the US research stations, that will be fascinating.
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