The US base of Palmer Station. Here the ship holds it's position for approximately three hours while scientists from the station make an on board presentation, something they are probably very happy to get out of the station and see people other then the 44 people who stay there during the summer months. Their research focuses on monitoring the marine ecosystem, atmospheric studies and the effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on marine and terrestrial communities. The every-increasing ozone hole has prompted much of their interest. in fact, climate induced changes in sea-ice conditions and snowfall has resulted in the reduction of the population of Adele Penguin's to fewer then 3300 pairs, down by 60% from 1974, and it has been predicted that they will be all gone from the island altogether by 2014
Something I forgot to mention when we had rounded the Horn yesterday, we we're presented with lovely official looking certificates, which read:
EXPLORING CAPE HORN & ANTARCTICA
Let it be known that
OUR NAMES
was brave enough to set out on an exploring expedition and did display enough courage to ascend to the Crow's Nest of the ms Amsterdam to view the finest sights of this magnificent part of the world, as Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Worsley did on board the Endurance on January 1915. This expedition was made aboard the ms Amsterdam from December 23, 2008 till December 25, 2008 in the footsteps of such great explorers as Roald Amsundsen, Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton.
This is a proclamation that during this voyage the good ship Amsterdam rounded Cape Horn, following the same path discovered by the two sons of the brave Dutch explorer Isaac LeMaire and the Schouten brothers on January 1616.
The voyage was then continued to the Antarctic Peninsula
Signed by Captain Fred Everson Master, ms Amsterdam
Captain Patrick Toomey, Ice Pilot, Antarctica
So, we'll maybe have them framed with some pictures of our trip. One of our good intentions, but will likely sit in a drawer somewhere!
The morning we arrived at Palmer Station was VERY foggy, it was snowing and visibility was very difficult to see anything. Then all of a sudden these huge icebergs appeared.
HOW EXCITING!!!!
However, I now have a big problem!! I have so many fantastic pictures of Antarctica, that showing them on here is going to be absolutely boring for you people looking at this...one berg picture after another. Also extremely difficult for me to download them all into this program. So this afternoon, I will sit and attempt to do either a collage of the pictures (except the penguin's) or either a movie. I don't know how many pictures I can put on a movie, which is the course I took on board the trip. So, please hang in there with me, until I get it figured out.
I also have some house work and husband pampering to do!!!
This picture is of Carlos Bonell who entertained us twice on the cruise. He is extremely talented. Other then all his other credential's too numerous to mention, he helped and advised Sir Paul McCartney notating and recording the guitar part of a concerto for guitar and orchestra. Recently he recorded an album of new arrangements of music by the group Queen for solo guitar and symphony orchestra. This evening Carlos played a selection of his favorite classical guitar music. It was absolutely terrific!!
Michelle the entertainment director, did an interview the next day in the Exploration Lounge.
More as soon as I figure out how to show Antarctic the best way to you!
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