Pursuing pingu the penguin

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I know it's very early to start this TR but heck, why not?

I was looking for a possible trip over the next few months as I was getting a little stir crazy at home.This adventure came about quite suddenly, by which I mean a day or so from suggestion to booking.

Several options were canvassed with MrLtL and each was rejected in no uncertain terms. If he was going away, he wanted something that was ‘good’. Antarctica was in the mix though of course most people book their trip of a lifetime at least a year in advance, so some of the ones we looked at only had very limited availability, as in very very very expensive last minute fares or waitlist only. :(

Not being the most patient of people I was quite taken by a Ponant cruise leaving on 3 November this year. After a bit of a discussion and the decision to postpone the kitchen renovation, the money earmarked for that was free for me to spend! What was I to do with that money sitting there in the bank? So the following cruise was booked and paid for before the good MrLtL had a chance to change his mind. Actually that’s a bit unfair as he did say that he thought it was the right decision to go to Antarctica now rather than later when perhaps we are too old to manage it. :eek:

The trip will mean that we will have officially visited all of the 7 continents so that’s a bucket list tick off. :)

So the details. We will fly into Montevideo for a few days then board for 16 days visiting g South Georgia and the Antarctic mainland, disembarking in Ushuaia before a chartered flight back to Buenos Aires.

Map.png

The ship is Le Lyrial, a rather spiffy looking French number. I am looking forward to the champagne already. :p

LeLyrial.jpg
Now all I have to do is check out our cold weather gear. And before people start saying it will freezing, my research says it won’t be too bad. Remember, we Canberrans are tough! :)
 
Last edited:
I know it's very early to start this TR but heck, why not?

I was looking for a possible trip over the next few months as I was getting a little stir crazy at home.This adventure came about quite suddenly, by which I mean a day or so from suggestion to booking.

Several options were canvassed with MrLtL and each was rejected in no uncertain terms. If he was going away, he wanted something that was ‘good’. Antarctica was in the mix though of course most people book their trip of a lifetime at least a year in advance, so some of the ones we looked at only had very limited availability, as in very very very expensive last minute fares or waitlist only. :(

Not being the most patient of people I was quite taken by a Ponant cruise leaving on 3 November this year. After a bit of a discussion and the decision to postpone the kitchen renovation, the money earmarked for that was free for me to spend! What was I to do with that money sitting there in the bank? So the following cruise was booked and paid for before the good MrLtL had a chance to change his mind. Actually that’s a bit unfair as he did say that he thought it was the right decision to go to Antarctica now rather than later when perhaps we are too old to manage it. :eek:

The trip will mean that we will have officially visited all of the 7 continents so that’s a bucket list tick off. :)

So the details. We will fly into Montevideo for a few days then board for 16 days visitng South Georgia and the Antarctic mainland, disembarking in Ushuaia before a chartered flight back to Buenos Aires.

View attachment 135536

The ship is Le Lyrial, a rather spiffy looking French number. I am looking forward to the champagne already. :p

View attachment 135537
Now all I have to do is check out our cold weather gear. And before people start saying it will freezing, my research says it won’t be too bad. Remember, we Canberrans are tough! :)

This sound like an awesome trip, always wanted to go to Antarctica, can't wait to see the trip report!!!
 
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Three things I recommend you get to take with you - Finger flap gloves - so you can take photos without taking your gloves off ;)

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Neck gaiter, and a Vicks inhaler - the smell of 5000 penguins is overpowering ! :p:p
 
They are going early .. all nice and clean ...no smell… no need for the vicks
Downside is that the ice may make like difficult but you can't have everything
 
They are going early .. all nice and clean ...no smell… no need for the vicks
Downside is that the ice may make like difficult but you can't have everything
Yes, depending on the ice conditions we may miss some landings but I can live with that!
We were in the Arctic (Nordaustlandet) a few years ago and the sea ice was pretty thick then in August.
Luckily we have most of the gear we need. :)
 
Yes you really should enjoy South Georgia.Just fantastic.
Mrsdrron shares your love of polar bears.On Svalbard we saw 7 dining on a whale carcass.
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So although you wont see those white fellows there are a few of these on South Georgia.And you can get a lot closer to them!
33698085725_930723a0bd_n.jpg
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33698074795_85ea089bb5_n.jpg
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Yes you really should enjoy South Georgia.Just fantastic.
Mrsdrron shares your love of polar bears.On Svalbard we saw 7 dining on a whale carcass.
Ann%20August%202010%20074-1.JPG
.
Ann%20August%202010%20089-1.JPG
.
Ann%20August%202010%20116-1.JPG
.
Ann%20August%202010%20121-1.JPG
.
Ann%20August%202010%20119-1.JPG
.

So although you wont see those white fellows there are a few of these on South Georgia.And you can get a lot closer to them!
33698085725_930723a0bd_n.jpg
.
33698074795_85ea089bb5_n.jpg
.
That's the same whale carcass that we had. It had been there for quite some time was just about done.There was a mother and cub quite close and then the cub began suckling which was amazing. Unfortunately I had to make do with the photos as this was the day I had come down with noro!
 
Sounds fabulous! Waiting for the next instalment.
 
That's the same whale carcass that we had. It had been there for quite some time was just about done.There was a mother and cub quite close and then the cub began suckling which was amazing. Unfortunately I had to make do with the photos as this was the day I had come down with noro!
That was definitely not the time to come down with the noro virus.
 
That's the same whale carcass that we had. It had been there for quite some time was just about done.There was a mother and cub quite close and then the cub began suckling which was amazing. Unfortunately I had to make do with the photos as this was the day I had come down with noro!
That’ll teach you for snacking on old whale bones.
 
That's a great looking ship for this cruise
 
I have mixed emotions about this, I think it’s an amazing trip, but it has a ship involved, I don’t do boats (ships) :)
 
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