On the Way to Antarctica, Day 9

On this sea day, we attended a talk about Ernest Shackleton and his voyage to Antarctica. We watched a documentary film about a 1912 expedition in Antarctica that failed. We also attended the Captain's talk about our upcoming first two days in Antarctica. The Captain informed us that we would have to skip our first stop at Hope Bay because of too much sea ice. He assured us that he would make it up to us by taking us to alternative sights. He was an articulate speaker with a good sense of humor. 

Coming from the Falkland Islands, here is the original route for the Antarctic Peninsula. Notice that at the bottom of the map, the small print reads "Please note that routes are subject to change." 

Top Tip: Take advantage of the included activities and entertainment your cruise offers. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy something you've never tried before. 

One of several entertainers on the ship--the classical duo from Italy called "Vivace Strings." The piano can also be categorized as a stringed instrument. No photo, but we also enjoyed a pianist who sang popular hits of the 1960s. Lots of variety on this one evening. 

Alejandro and Fiorella, "The Sounds of South America," from Argentina. We liked these two very much. They were excellent musicians. Alejandro played an instrument similar to an accordion. Fiorella did a good job of introducing songs and sharing about themselves. 

We were in the southern hemisphere during their summer. This far south just a few days after the summer solstice, the sun sets, but it doesn't get very dark. It's more like dusk for a few hours between sunset and sunrise. 

Bonus Tip: Sea days are good days to do things you don't have time for on days with a port stop and excursion. For example, on this day I spent some extra time exercising. We usually walk on the promenade deck on sea days, but this day I added quite a bit of stretching. My muscles were tight from our 4x4 ride on the Falkland Islands the day before. I also washed my hair and did a bit of handwashing in our bathroom sink, using a small container of liquid laundry detergent I brought from home.