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Chile to Antarctica

October - November 2024
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas
Chile to Argentina and Antarctica. The start of an adventure! Read more
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas

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  • Argentina Argentina
  • Antarctica Antarctica
  • Chile Chile
  • Spain Spain
  • Netherlands Netherlands
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  • 20.0kkilometers traveled
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  • Chile to Antarctica

    Pio XI Glacier

    October 22, 2024, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Paul had a meeting to attend so I went with a group of guests on a zodiac cruise towards and along the front of the glacier. We had to keep a good distance away from it for safety reasons.

    It was still beautiful to see, with caves at its base, dark blue compacted ice, and jagged ridges. There was quite a bit of calving off the face of the glacier. One would hear a bang and then see almost an avalanche of ice as a chunk gave way and fell into the sea. The force of nature is wonderful!

    Later on there was a recap of the day, a few short talks and then it was time for dinner.

    We had a lovely meal with the medical team: a South African doctor and his wife (they both had a fantastic sense of humour), a South African nurse and an American nurse. We enjoyed their company tremendously.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    El Brujo Glacier zodiac cruise

    October 23, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    We took a cruise towards a waterfall on the shoreline and then got a bit closer to the glacier face. We heard loud booming sounds when the glacier moved a couple of times but we didn't see it calving.

  • Chile to Antarctica

    El Brujo & sailing towards Punta Arenas

    October 23, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌫 7 °C

    Heading towards Punta Arenas.

    Before we left the glacier, there was a sail-away on the bow with caviar and champagne but unfortunately it was a bit of a washout because the rain came, so people moved indoors to the bow lounge. In the afternoon we were allowed to go visit the submarine garages and see a submarine. It seats 6 people, 3 on each side of the submarine in moveable chairs, and 1 pilot. The Perspex windows are about 9cm thick. They can go down to a maximum of 300 metres and if the pilot tries to go any deeper, the on-board computer system overrides the pilot to bring the submarine to the surface.

    It would be nice to go in the submarine in Antarctica if the crew are invited for a test dive. We shall see!

    Afterwards Paul and I did a bit of a tour of the ship to see the marshalling area, the laundry room, the tailor's room, and a few other places before the next recap and daily briefing.

    Our next stop is Punta Arenas tomorrow.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    Punta Arenas

    October 24, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 6 °C

    Paul had to attend a meeting so it was around 10am that we finally got off the ship for a wander around Punta Arenas. It was chilly and windy so we decided not to stay out for too long. We ended up being out for about 3.5 hours and by then the wind was up. It was fairly strong and chilly.

    We ended up having a hot chocolate in order to defrost!

    The rest of the day was spent relaxing a bit.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    Punta Arenas Day 2

    October 25, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 6 °C

    Excursion: Punta Arenas on Foot Experience

    We woke up to find a small expedition ship docked opposite us, the Magellan Explorer. We realised that our port window was at eye level with the pier, and for any delivery vehicles stopping next to the ship, so we had to pull the curtains closed when we got dressed.

    The wind was blowing and it was also quite miserable outside but I was booked on a tour and decided to go because there were probably areas that I didn't see when I was out walking with Paul yesterday.

    A group of 22 people whittled its way down to 8 guests by the time the walking tour was finished. The weather wasn't great so I don't blame them!

    We walked along the waterfront, saw a historic pier that exists but doesn't as there were lots of planks missing. At the end of it there were cormorants sitting on it, but you couldn't see them clearly - they were in the distance.

    Next we stopped at the Ancund Monument which is dedicated to a schooner that carried settlers to Punta Arenas in 1843. Unfortunately a lot what our guide was saying was lost because I couldn't hear her very well. It didn't matter - at least I got outdoors for a bit.

    We walked along the Colón Avenue where there were neoclassical mansions, the municipal theatre, the Union Club, The Sarah Braun Palace, and the Menéndez museum.

    We climbed a lot of steps up to the Cerro de la Cruz observation deck for views of the city, and then headed back into town, past the Cathedral and to Plaza de Armas to see a monument to Fernández Magellan.

    At the plaza, the rest of the guests disbursed and the guide, an expedition leader, an Australian guest and I were the only ones who walked back to the port.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    Punta Arenas Day 2 Continued

    October 25, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 5 °C

    I was quite chilled and therefore glad to get back to the ship and have a nice hot chocolate in the Seabourn Square with Paul, who I found hard at work on his laptop.

    Later in the afternoon a receptionist approached us and advised that a guest cabin was ready for us to move in. The Service Engineer who was using the room disembarked today, so as soon as the room was cleaned, we were able to move, and someone else was assigned the staff cabin we had been in. We now have a balcony cabin on deck 6 next to the Bow Lounge. The crew cabin was in a quiet area for any crew on shifts, an absolute blessing! We hope the guest cabin we are in will be fairly quiet. We are right at the end of the corridor. There is a crew door leading to the staircase right opposite us, and also a public entrance to the Bow Lounge. There is a guest cabin directly next to us. We shall see!

    Later on there was a recap talk and a briefing about tomorrow's activities; and a few short talks as well.

    Departure is a bit later than expected because the engineers working on the radars hadn't finished.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    Drake Passage, heading to Antarctica

    October 26, 2024, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    This morning everyone was called, group at a time, to go to the Landing Zone on deck 3 to visit the boot room and get sized for boots that we will be wearing in Antarctica. Paul couldn't attend because he was in a meeting so I got his for him (Paul told me the size to get but I forgot and used his usual shoe size, which was one size smaller than the size he wanted. Fortunately they did fit when he tried them on later.)

    Getting my boot size was a bit more difficult. I've got the smallest feet on board (EU34, UK2, US4) ! Initially I was given an EU38 but the expedition team vowed to look for a smaller pair for me as they thought there was at least a pair one size smaller. Later on I got a call from reception to say that a smaller pair of boots had been found and that they were in my boot cubicle. I could try them on for size. They are an EU37, UK4, at least 2 sizes too big for me but they are a better fit and I can put extra socks on to take up the space.

    Paul was still in meetings and attending a crew drill during the morning so I went to listen to the mandatory IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) briefing to highlight actions all visitors must take to make their visit safe and environmentally responsible in order to safeguard Antarctica for future generations. It was a very interesting talk, along with a video presentation.

    The rest of the day was spent relaxing and trying to catch up on some of my blogs.    Read more

  • Chile to Antarctica

    Drake Passage, Day 2

    October 27, 2024, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ -1 °C

    We attended a lecture in the morning about different types of seals, particularly those we might see in Antarctica. We learned about their survival skills, diving skills and more. It was interesting.

    In the afternoon we listened to a talk "Fifty Shades of Blue Ice". It was interesting enough but it was a bit 'all over the show' and not put together particularly well. It happens sometimes, depending on the speaker.

    At some stage we took our outdoor clothes for inspection by the Expedition team. Hats, gloves, anything with velcro on it, outer coats and outer trousers were inspected for mud and particles that might contaminate Antarctica. They used tweezers if necessary to remove particles from velcro, vacuumed and brushed/cleaned items. Everyone had to go through the process.

    In the early evening I attended a recap and briefing for tomorrow. We are arriving in the Southern Shetland Islands tomorrow (not to be confused with Scotland's Shetland Islands), and hope to do a landing at Yankee Harbour and then do a cruise near Edinburgh Hill.

    Paul had a bit of a nap after the lectures. He's starting his ice shift at 9pm tonight.    Read more

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