Reimposta ricerca
South America with Sandra
  • Christine Stephenson
  • Christine Stephenson

South America with Sandra

Un’avventura di 31 giorni di Christine Leggi altro
SeguiPanoramicaPanoramicaCalendarioCalendarioFotografieFotografieCondividiCondividiLista dei desideri
Prima i più nuovi
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore

    Last day in Iguazu.

    2 febbraio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Saw the falls from the Brazilian side today. We started off the day with an incredible helicopter flight over the falls. Took just 10 minutes and was just enough to do to loops off the falls. What an awesome experience. Ideally so blessed to have had the opportunity and so grateful to Paul for supporting me to do this trip without him.

    I thought yesterday was amazing when Igor my first look at the falls. The Brazilian side has to be my favourite side. My driver, Marcela, who is Brazilian, begs to differ. I have so much footage, picking which ones to share is very difficult.

    We are back in Buenos Aries tonight. Sandra has gone off for a Tango show. My body can’t keep up with her. I need my sleep. We are being picked up at 8am for our flight to Ushuaia. This is where we will board our ship for the ultimate adventure. Stay tuned. Two more sleeps to go    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore
    2

    Day before Antartica

    4 febbraio 2025, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Spent the day discovering Ushuaia. Spent the morning touring the old prison. Hadn’t realised the Ushuaia was a penal colony. So many similarities between Australia and this penal colony.

    Took a lovely touristy train ride in the afternoon through the National park. The best part of the trip was the walk through the park and our very knowledgeable guide’s explanation of all the flora and fauna.Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore

    Journey through the Drake Lake

    5 febbraio 2025, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We boarded the boat in Ushuaia and plodded through the Beagle channel into the Drake passage. This is the big water way between South America and Antarctica. We were 1000km away from Antarctica. Same distance from Brisbane to Sydney but it’s taken us three days of motoring to make it across from Ushuaia to Antarctica.

    We are very lucky to experience the Drake Lake and not the Drake Shake. Swells have been pretty Low. Less than 2m.

    The first day in the Drake lake was amazing. Surrounded by sea. We have lectures every day about the wildlife and what to expect. Learnt about the different types of birds, what to do, what not to do, the types of clouds, a discourse on avian bird flu….

    I’m suffering from information overload and too many people talking. So have been finding quiet spaces on the boat to chill and take in the majesty of this beautiful part of the world.

    I’ve been crocheting myself a beanie that I had hoped would be done before we make Antarctica tomorrow morning, but I don’t think I’m going to finish in time for my first shore trip.

    Tonight we had the Captain’s toast and got to meet the ship crew, as opposed to the expedition crew who we met the previous night. Champagne and wine to toast, went down really well. Haven’t had a drink since our Parilla night in Buenos Aires.

    The food on board is sick!! So much yummy food for breakfast lunch and dinner. I had to do three laps of the shop today to work off some of the weight I am sure I have put on this holiday.

    Saw my first whale blow this evening. Didn’t get a photo. Expect to get flooded with wildlife photos when we make land.    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore
    1

    Day 3 sailing to Antartica

    9 febbraio 2025, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 1 °C

    An incredibly cold morning that started with snow. Have loved iceberg watching today. What started out with one then two is now icebergs everywhere!!!

    We crossed the Antarctic circle and had a special ceremony to toast the occasion. Hot chocolate with baileys. Yum yum. And a photo with the flag. Wish I had thought to bring the Australian flag.

    We saw Ocra and other whales today, lots of birds, but no photos. Not quick enough. But I’ve loved just soaking in the atmosphere. It’s indescribable. Cold is not enough of a word and beautiful is also not enough of a word.

    Tomorrow is our first trip on land and also our day kayak paddle. How excited are we?    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore

    Expedition 3 on Antartica

    10 febbraio 2025, Antartide ⋅ 🌙 -2 °C

    Oh man!! We have stopped at Fish islands. The water here is very calm as it’s quite sheltered. We were last onto the water today. Rugged up with five layers. Sandra and I have both picked up sore throats from sick passengers. Thank goodness it’s not worse.

    Another incredible day with so many awesome experiences. We got to see plenty of crab eater seals which is also the name of our loading group.

    Stopped at our first penguins rookery. The wind was nonexistent so we didn’t smell any guano. Saw plenty of it though.    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore

    My first rookerie.

    12 febbraio 2025, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ -3 °C

    I didn’t get to visit the first penguin rookery as I had picked up the bug raging through the ship. It’s not great when the crew have the bug when they get on board. Anyhow, it could have been worse - Covid. Sandra is thankfully doing better than I am and I am depleting her stock of meds.

    Onto to more interesting things than my being sick.

    I walked through the Gentoo Penguin colony and was awestruck by how small they all are. A few brown Sukas were trying to pick chicks. Very cute to see so many chicks still around. Lots of moulting going on as there are feathers everywhere.

    The afternoon was Zodiac cursing and fur seal spotting.

    Am a bit underwhelmed with how many whales we’ve seen. I had pictured many more than we’ve seen. We’ve seen Orcas, Minkys and Humpbacks, few and far between.

    What I’ve loved most today is seeing the penguins swimming in the water.    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore
    1

    Countdown to the end

    13 febbraio 2025, Antartide ⋅ ☁️ -2 °C

    Only three expeditions left till we head back home. The weather has been spectacular.

    It sucks being sick but there are worse places to be in. Would love my hot water bottle and husband though. Missing Paul miserably.

    I love the ice. It’s incredible to see this years ice sheet already forming. In a couple of months time it’s going to be impossible to be where we are right now.    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
  • Christine StephensonSouth America with SandraViaggiatore
    111

    The last expedition

    15 febbraio 2025, Antartide ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C

    What a beautiful way to end the trip that started with a blizzard and ended with soft snow.

    So lucky to have seen Shags, Penguins, Seals, Terns, Gulls and Whales. All on the last trip.

    We had Russell as our guide and he gave us a wonderful ride. Zoomies around icebergs and then a final trip around our boat before dropping us off for a final change.

    Sometime tonight we hit the Drake passage again and expect a bumpy trip home.    Leggi altro

    Guarda la traduzione
    Fine del viaggio
    20 febbraio 2025