Day 5

Today was a day at sea, with lectures galore. Over breakfast we spotted our first wandering albatros and then had a lecture on the bird life (which was boring) and one on whales and dolphins (which was great). The one on whales was given by Jean, who had not cracked a smile since we boarded. However, once she started talking about whales, she brightened considerably. After lunch, I slept and we watched a video on Antarctic conservation. The final lecture was on the southern seas.

After the lectures was "wine and chesse" with our groups -- in my case, Mountain Travel. After handing out t-shirts and patches, Peggy showed us a video of an African safari (way to cross-sell!)

Then more bad news -- because of the lost day, we will not be going to the Falklands. The bad news was tempered, however, by the fact that the good weather (and it has been incredible) may allow us to go very far south, even to the Antarctic Circle. The initial reaction was one of shock and great disappointment (many, like me, had chosen this trip because of the Falklands) because we all thought that hte time would be lost in Antarctica or Buenos Aires, or that we would reduce time in the Falklands from 2 days to 1 day. However, I guess the thought was that it was 4 days at sea for only a brief visit to Port Stanley. Col. Dale believes it is a plot -- that the company didn't have enough money to buy the gas or pay for the trip to the Falklands, especially since the boat is just 1/2 full. I'm not sure I agree -- nor do most people, who believe that Travel Dynamics is doing the best they can. Again, the Falklands is a disappointment but we're really here for Antarctica and I'm sure the Falklands will always be there (and really, until the war and this trip, I had never even thought of going there).

Dinner was with Cory, Alumni Director for Miami U, Carole, Mary, the Chens and the bizarre mother/son team from Ohio.

Cross the Antarctic Convergence around 10:10 p.m.

written by  shoshtrvls on March 4, 1992 from Ushuaia, Argentina
from the travel blog: Antarctica and South America (1992)
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