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. 
*A Continuation of a fabulous Antarctic Expedition with Lindblad Natgeo! Exploring Antarctica is a true privilege.
Annie, my travel buddy, in front of the Explorer, on the fast ice.
On our 3rd day, our 2nd on land, we actually had the thrill of seeing an Emperor Penguin! It is a very unusual sighting, because Emperors mate during the dead of winter (I think it may be safe to say that Emperor Penguins have the worst existence of any bird on earth) and this was Antarctic summer. There he or she was, hanging out with Adelie penguins on ice!
[Read more…] about Emperor Penguins! Exploring Antarctica on the Lindblad NatGeo Explorer!
I never expected to fall in love with Antarctica. A cold, barren wasteland, freezing and forever gray, or so I thought. No, no, no. It is a beautiful place, filled with incredible creatures, stunning icebergs, and awe inspiring landscapes. Unbelievable vistas. I never imagined the scope of it…or the absolute cuteness of penguins. My travel buddy, Annie, says you can overdose on cuteness, and that is the truth when it comes to penguins! Traveling on Lindblad NatGeo Expeditions was an exciting experience, and I relished the knowledge the experts shared with us. Come along and take a look as we crossed the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Convergence.
And of course, there are penguins! Our first visit was to a colony of Gentoo Penguins. They are so cute!
Our daily report from Lindblad:
This morning we hope to visit Danco Island, a small island in the southern end of the scenic Errera Channel. It was charted during the Gerlache 1897-1899 expedition. It is named after a geophysicist who perished during that expedition. There is a chance to go ashore to see a small Gentoo penguin colony and a chance for a great hike overlooking the bay. In addition, depending upon the weather, we may also be able to offer Zodiac cruises and/or Kayaking.
As for the afternoon, our plans are to visit Neko Harbour. This location was named after the whale factory ship Neko which operated along the Antarctic Peninsula in 1911-12 and again in 1923-24. The landing spot is surrounded by Gentoo Penguins, Skuas, Snowy Sheathbills and Kelp Gulls. There is a great walk to a viewpoint above the landing beach, and a glacier near the landing site which you can walk toward, but please take caution in case it calves. The landing at Neko will be on the mainland of the Antarctic Peninsula.
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.
Yes! It snows in Naples Florida every Christmas Season!
A few years ago I paid a visit to Naples, FL to see a friend of mine from Junior High! Juetta West has a fashion business http://www.juettawest.com/blog/tag/turnitonfitness/ and blog and at the time was in Naples, FL. Having spent so much time in Florida since I was a little girl, I realized I had never visited Naples. I decided to check it out and have a little reunion, and I’m so glad I did. Naples was beautiful, and I especially enjoyed the snow! It snows in Naples Florida every Thursday night in December and you can enjoy snow at 730p on 3rd St South! It is epic fun! If you are anywhere near Naples, you must make arrangements to spend a Thursday evening there in December! [Read more…] about Amazing, but It Snows in Naples Florida every Christmas Season!
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!
