I found the sunsets of Antarctic summer wondrous. Seeing the sun set behind the icebergs was surreal. These photos were taken at 1130 pm, and even when the sun sank, the light remained. The sun actually rises just a couple of hours after it sets. My roommate and I slept with the drapes open because we wanted to be able to see the incredible scenery if we woke during the “night”. The entire trip seemed like a fantasy. 
Sooo excited to arrive in Antarctica!
Today is Day 3 of my Lindblad/National Geographic Expedition on the Explorer to Antarctica! After a few days in Buenos Aires, which I will post about, a day traveling to Ushiaya, Argentina (aka The end of the world), and a day at sea watching whales and seabirds, I woke this morning to snow and Fin and Humpback Whales off the bow. As we watched the whales, I saw my very first iceberg. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of this extreme landscape, and humbled by its scope. Just some first impressions!
These are my first five day one incredible reasons I already love Antarctica!
I am always a little nervous about touring “animal sanctuaries”. Are they conservation or con? Are they profit or non-profit? Are the animals truly unable to return to the wild, or are they moneymakers so they stay in their cages? I really don’t know the answer to the question. If, as a sanctuary claims, illegal pets, like lions, alligators and tigers, are surrendered to the sanctuary, is it okay to make a profit off of them? And the other issue for me is a “show”. It makes me uncomfortable watching an animal do “tricks” for the amusement of humans. Learning is different, I enjoy looking at and learning about an animal. I am going to share photos of a trip I took to an animal sanctuary in the Everglades. They don’t paint a nice picture of the animals in their care, but they are building new enclosures and working with vets and animal experts to improve their environment. However, it is still difficult to see them in cages.
Ft Myers is not a new destination for me. I have an aunt and uncle who live there, and we’ve been visiting for over 20 years. I’ve taken my children, met up with my cousins, and spent many days hanging out with family. I had never stayed on the beach, though, and this time I decided I wanted to get the feel of Ft Myers as a vacation destination. Pink Shell Beach Resort was my choice, and I will definitely be going back! Staying on the beach makes all the difference!
Our room was in the main building, and it was more suite or apartment than room. It came with a fully equipped kitchen, incredible views, and comfortable surroundings. Settling in took a few moments, then we headed to the beach! The sand is soft, almost like flour, with a huge vista and plenty of walking space. My relatives in Ft Myers are elderly now, and rarely get out, but we made sure they enjoyed time at the Pink Shell Resort. The ocean and fresh air do wonders for us all. I did not have enough time to fully enjoy the amenities…I wanted to eat at Jacks, a farm to fork restaurant, and I missed a nice visit to the spa. Next time!
The Pink Shell has resident Ospreys and Falcons. They even have an Osprey Cam! Check it out and enjoy watching these Ospreys!
Please enjoy a trip to Ft Myers via these photographs, and Pink Shell Beach Resort, I will be staying with you again! Count on it!
Don’t forget to check out my reviews, and fabulous hotels, on TripAdvisor!
Recently I spent some time in Florida, and Hyatt kindly hosted me on an Everglades National Park tour with Everglades Excursions! I hadn’t seen the Everglades since I was a little girl, and I’d never been on an airboat, so it was quite the adventure! (I am so excited that I will be staying at the Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires in less than 10 days!!!)
I was greeted by our tour guide, Dave, in Naples. We drove to the Everglades from Naples and the roomy van was quite comfortable. Dave was a fount of knowledge…I would bet he knows as much about the Everglades as anyone. He has spent a great deal of his life and his time there. My understanding is that he came from up north and is a transplant, he is not a Florida Cracker. I had never heard that term used before, but it means pioneer settlers and their descendants in what is now the U.S. state of Florida. It is not a derogatory word, indeed it is the opposite, Florida Crackers are very proud of their heritage.
On our way, we stopped at a couple of locations to see baby gators and manatees. The baby gators were all over the creek bank, and mama was lying quietly in the water. We also saw manatees under the water.
When we arrived at the marina, we were greeted by a woman with a two foot long alligator in her arms. Normally, I would not do this, but I had never touched an alligator, crocodile, or cayman before, and I could not resist the chance to look into its eyes and feel its leathery, thick skin. Alligators carry a terrible, sometimes fatal, bacteria in their mouths, so when someone holds one they put a band around their mouth. I suppose I had always imagined they would feel slimy and rough, but I could not have been more wrong. She was a beautiful animal, and her skin felt like soft leather. She had bony plates on her back. It was absolutely fascinating to see an alligator close up. Of course, the most arresting feature was her eyes. I’m sure you’ve seen the reality shows about hunting alligators, and they have gone from endangered to being overrun. There is a hunting season every year to cull their numbers.
Next was a boat ride! The airboats are pretty cool…it looks like someone just stuck a big fan on a flat boat, and I suppose when you get right down to it, that is exactly what it is! Our Captain was experienced, and soon had us on the airboat and off into the Everglades.
The next time you are in southern Florida, I urge you to take a tour of the Everglades. It was absolutely fascinating! Our National Parks are absolute treasures, and we must protect them against exploitation of any kind. These habitats are invaluable.
When traveling in Monterey Bay, California there are three things that you MUST do. Whale Watching, of course, is number one! Two is kayaking in the bay! Third is a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. On my October trip I went kayaking in the bay for the first time, and I cannot wait to do it again. I saw sea lions and otters, but sadly, no whales on kayak. Next time! Thank you to Monterey Bay Whale Watch for a wonderful trip!
