After a two days traverse of the stormy Drake Passage, the cruise ship reaches Antarctica. The first excursion is made at Paradise Bay along the Antarctica peninsula.

Antarctica: Paradise Bay
After a two days cruise of the stormy Drake Passage, the ship is anchored just off the Antarctic peninsula coast. The first zodiac cruise and landing is made at Paradise Bay, near the closed Argentinian station of Almirante Brown, where there is also a nice colony of molting Gentoo penguins.

(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version)

*ANTARCTICA PICTURES*
	Ushuaia Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is the gateway where the ship to Antarctica departs and returns. I take advance of a free morning, to visit "Tierra del Fuego" National Park. GO
	Presentation of the ship Prof. Molchanov Because of her small size and versatility in icing conditions, this ship, with a capacity of just 50 passengers, is ideal to navigate the southern ocean and the Antarctica peninsula. GO
	Antarctica: Paradise Bay <YOU ARE HERE> The first zodiac cruise and landing in Antarctica is made at Paradise Bay, near the closed Argentinian station of Almirante Brown, where there is also a nice colony of molting Gentoo penguins.
	Antarctica: Lemaire Channel This narrow passage separates Antarctica's mainland, with the nearby islands. The severe icing conditions, with a 10/10th pack ice, weren't an obstacle, and the ship passed through beautifully. GO
	Antarctica: Port Lockroy In Port Lockroy there is a British station with a working post office, and a nice colony of Gentoo penguins. GO
	Antarctica: Neko Harbour A place of amazing beauty, with huge glaciers and icebergs, full of Fur seals and Gentoo penguins everywhere. GO
	Antarctica: Orne Island Orne Island is surrounded by nice blue icebergs, and it is the place where I met the Chinstrap penguins for the first time. GO
	South Shetland: Deception Island We disembark at Whaler's Bay, where a Norwegian whaling station was active, until a disruptive volcanic eruption happened. Today is still possible to visit the station's ruins and take a nice hike all around. GO
	South Shetland: Half Moon Island Half Moon Island is so called because of its shape, and it is interesting for the presence of a vast colony of Chinstrap penguins. GO
	Elephant Island We are fortunate enough to set foot at Point Wild, where part of the Shackleton's expedition members camped, waiting for a rescue. GO
	South Orkney : Shingle Cove A nice and welcome short stop during the long way between Antarctica and South Georgia. Here there are many, very colorful icebergs and a lot of Fur and Elephant seals. GO
	South Georgia : Royal Bay Our first landing in South Georgia is close to an enormous colony of King penguins, an absolutely stunning view. GO
	South Georgia : St. Andrews Bay If the yesterday view was stunning, what to say about today's, where about 100.000 couples of King penguins live all togheter in this huge colony? GO
	South Georgia : Grytviken and the whaler's ghost towns During the first half of the past century, several Norwegian whaling stations were operative in South Georgia, and abandoned later. Today is still possible to vsit the ruins, as well as the tomb of the "Boss" Sir Ernest Shackleton, located in Grytviken. GO
	South Georgia : Fortuna Bay and Prion Island They are interesting for the beautiful views, for the presence of penguins, fur seals and, in Prion Island, for the giant albatross. GO
	Falkland Islands The capital Stanley and other points of naturalist interest are our last landings, before heading back to Ushuaia, saying goodbye to the southern ocean. GO
	Various pictures from the trip to Ushuaia Some picture from the long trip to Ushuaia, via Madrid and Buenos Aires. GO
	Equipment used on this Antarctica cruise A brief description of the equipment used to take the pictures, throughout this Antarctica voyage. GO

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After two days cruise of Drake Passage, the cruise ship is getting closer to Antarctica peninsula. Tomorrow will be an expedition day!



Our first zodiac cruise departs from Paradise Bay, discovering this world made of ice. In the pictures, a huge Antarctica glacier.


A calving glacier. Suddenly, with a tremendous thunder, a glacier calves an enormous iceberg.


	A leopard seal comes closer to the zodiac, perhaps just curious about us.




Molting penguins at Paradise Bay. They are all Gentoo penguins, changing their feathers before the winter comes.


	I climb a small hill, from where there is a beautiful view all around on the glaciers ending into the bay.


On the left, a lichen growing on a rock. On the right: three skua.



The abandoned Argentina base of Almirante Brown.


Gentoo penguin.