South Georgia in sunshine ☀️

Today was, once again, a magical day—with a slightly challenging evening (#cliffhanger)!

We started the morning with a landing at Saint Andrews Bay, a stunning location showcasing all the best of South Georgia, including the largest King Penguin colony in the world. There were countless examples of these magnificent birds. Although we couldn’t reach the part of the colony where the small brown and super cute chicks are located, we knew we would see them later in the day.

We did, however, see many King Penguins going through the “molting phase”—a time of year when they shed and replace their feathers. This means no swimming and, therefore, no food. For about two weeks, they are hungry and cold, enduring a challenging period (almost like everyone else in January ;)).

There were also plenty of Elephant Seals, Fur Seals, Giant Petrels, and Brown Skuas, but the King Penguins definitely stole the show.

In the afternoon, we anchored in the neighboring bay, Royal Bay. The sun was still shining, and we had arranged a two-hour zodiac cruise to see Macaroni Penguins (the ones with colorful feathers on their heads that look like a Disney creation), icebergs, and a King Penguin colony with small, fluffy brown chicks.
It was a fantastic afternoon, and once again, the landscape was indescribably beautiful. I’m continually amazed by this place.

Before dinner, we had our daily recap session, during which I decided to take the stage and address the situation regarding the ship damage, the changes to the trip, and all the practical implications (at least, what we know so far). As expected, it was a challenging discussion, but it went fairly well.

Afterward, we enjoyed dinner, and now it’s time for bed after another incredible day!Read more