Today's Seamail from Antartica....


A fantastic trip. There is just no way to do justice to the sheer majesty of
this place. That being said we have had a few disappointments. Our first
landing was cancelled due to high winds. That afternoon we did set sail on the
Zodiacs for a water tour and saw our first penguin colonies (Adelies). The next
day the first group got out and went ashore but the landing for the second
goup (mine) was cancelled because the high winds had returned. We were finally
able to go ashore in Mickeleson Bay where we saw Gentoo penguins and several
Weddell seals. We even gave chase to a humpback whale out in the Bay. Later we
toured around in the Zodiacs and saw a leopord seal resting on an iceberg.
Yesterday we went ashore in Port Lockroy. My husbands 7th continent ( I have
yet to set foot on Africa) Port Lockroy has a Briitsh station that is manned in
the summer and they sell souveniers such as cards, pins, patches, books and T
shirts. The ship put on a BBQ for lunch with lobster tails, sausages, steak,
Bananas Foster. It was great. Nothing quite like the experience os sitting
outside on a ship's deck eating BBQ and watching the ice bergs go by! I dont
think anybody does this type of thing better than Regent. Later we went ashore
in Paradise Bay where we hiked up the hill behind the Argentine station there
and then slid back down. WooHoo! Great fun. My nephews did it twice but the
hike was kinda tough for those of us who are not 18 anymore so I contented
myself with just the once. Todays morning landing at Deception Bay where the
volcanic situation allows for a dip in the water had to be cancelled because of
the winds again. So we are now sailing to our afternoon destination with great
hope of being able to land as it will be our last before we head on back to
Ushuia. With 2 straight sea days coming up I will try to post again.

There is not much night life aboard the Explorer II. Music is provided by the
Explorer II quartet who can play anything and seem to stick mostly with soft
rock, like Stevie Wonder. Very nice but has a tendency to add to the sleepiness
brought on by the hour and the rolling of the ship. My husband who is a
professional singer, has sung a few nights with the band and gotten a pretty
warm reception for the rock and roll by the handfull of party people who are
still up at 10 pm. Tonight is the crew show which I have heard great things
about. The crew is all Phillipino and they are warm, friendly and cannot do
enough for you. You Icers are in for a great time.
-----------------------
Helen