The Seventh Continent!
Who would want to miss out when there is a sale? So quite unexpectedly, we found ourselves buying tickets for an expedition to Antarctica offered by Quark Expeditions. It was a 11 day trip, starting with a night in Buenos Aires followed by a chartered flight to Ushuaia the next day, and then sailing to Antarctica on the Expedition Ship Ocean Endeavor.
Our trip was from Dec 21st to Dec 31st of 2016. We would be spending New Year's Eve on the plane for our flight back home.
Well, my soul mate Madhu, got in touch with the Travel Agent and got us confirmed for the trip. Now that the dates for the expedition were fixed, we had to find flights to and from Buenos Aires - and these were the most priciest pair of economy tickets I had ever purchased. We were leaving US on Dec 20th and returning on arriving back on January 1st.
The next surprise was the need for mandatory travel insurance with Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation. This was mandated because if anything unfortunate happens, they would have to fly you out of Antarctica on a Helicopter - not something you would like to happen and be left holding the bill (I'm told it's around half a mill for the chopper plus medical flights back to home). Shopped around till we found one that was reasonable and affordable from World Nomads.
Well, my soul mate Madhu, got in touch with the Travel Agent and got us confirmed for the trip. Now that the dates for the expedition were fixed, we had to find flights to and from Buenos Aires - and these were the most priciest pair of economy tickets I had ever purchased. We were leaving US on Dec 20th and returning on arriving back on January 1st.
The next surprise was the need for mandatory travel insurance with Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation. This was mandated because if anything unfortunate happens, they would have to fly you out of Antarctica on a Helicopter - not something you would like to happen and be left holding the bill (I'm told it's around half a mill for the chopper plus medical flights back to home). Shopped around till we found one that was reasonable and affordable from World Nomads.
Pre-trip Prep
Now started the research - and there was a lot to be done for preparation - weather proof clothing, how to survive the dreaded 'Drake Passage' crossing, etc. etc. I also had to research and buy power adapters for the ship, memory cards for camera, etc..
For the power adapters on the ship, I settled on these "OREI American USA To European" from Amazon - they worked out perfect.
For thermals, we went with 32 degrees and UniGlo. Luck would have it that Costco had a sale on the 32 degrees thermals just a month before out trip!
The weather Jacket/Parka was being provided gratis by Quark (ours to keep) along with temporary rubber boots for landings. Suggestion - go for a size larger than you normally wear for the boots. I am a size nine so I went with a size ten for the boots - which were comfortable. I tried the nine's, and while I could fit my feet into them - getting my foot out was an exercise!
Well December 20th rolled around pretty soon, and with a ride to the airport from a family friend, off we went!
Day 0 – December 20th: Travel to Buenos Aires
A cold wintry day, but flight's on time and we take off to Buenos Aires via Houston.
Day 1 - December 21st: Buenos Aires
We arrive in Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport, known as Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) around 10:45am, finish immigration and customs and step out into a hot summer day of 80 degrees! We quickly book a prepaid taxi ($43) to our Hotel Emperador - it is an almost an hour's ride! Check in time is 3pm and we are a couple of hours early - but they offer to keep our luggage till we get our room keys and give us access to the internet. We also check in with Quark and get our luggage weighed before we hand it over to the hotel concierge. We are informed by Quark that our charter flight the next day has been rescheduled from 11:30am to 6:30am due to some mechanical issues with the plane. So now we have to be up by 3am for breakfast at 4am and departure from the hotel by 5am.
We spend about half an hour in the lobby checking our emails when we are informed out room is ready. Getting hungry - we inquire for a place to get a quick bite. We are told two blocks on the right there is an Empanada Café. We are delighted, and quickly walk there and gulp down half-a-dozen piping hot empanada's - both pollo and queso (chicken and cheese).
We spend about half an hour in the lobby checking our emails when we are informed out room is ready. Getting hungry - we inquire for a place to get a quick bite. We are told two blocks on the right there is an Empanada Café. We are delighted, and quickly walk there and gulp down half-a-dozen piping hot empanada's - both pollo and queso (chicken and cheese).
Back in the hotel - had a nice shower, pulled the shades and flopped on bed. Need to be ready by 4am, as we have to leave by 5am for a 6:30am departure from Ezeiza Airport next day to Ushuaia. Check-in luggage needs to be out of the door by 10:30pm
Day 2 - December 22nd: Ushuaia
Up early and ready by 4am for breakfast. We go to the special area set up for us. Whoa - there must be around 150 people already there having breakfast. This is the first look we have at the group that will be on the expedition together. Spirits are high and everyone is excited. We finish breakfast and board the b
us to Ezeiza Airport. Due to the early hour, traffic is light and we reach the airport in 30 minutes. We go through security and are at the gate by 6am. We are informed that due to the change in schedule (leaving BA early), on reaching Ushuaia, we would be touring the National Park - Tierra del Fuego - before boarding the ship at 4pm.
We are on a chartered flight, so it's not on the regular flight list displayed on the monitors. But the Quark guide is there and boarding starts around 6:30am. The flight takes off around 7am. Brought back memories of reading about retired pilots buying/leasing weary planes and running them as tourist charters. Condition of the plane is so-so. Pleasant surprise - midway through the flight we are given a snack and beverage! Snack is not just peanuts but a light meal! Nice, cause it's almost a 3-1/2 hour flight to Ushuaia.
We land in Ushuaia around 10:30pm, and are taken by bus to Tierra del Fuego National Park. About 45 minutes ride. Great park - fantastic views. We spend about an hour in the park.
We come back to the city of Ushuaia around 1pm, and are given lunch coupons that are valid in about half-a-dozen places around downtown.
us to Ezeiza Airport. Due to the early hour, traffic is light and we reach the airport in 30 minutes. We go through security and are at the gate by 6am. We are informed that due to the change in schedule (leaving BA early), on reaching Ushuaia, we would be touring the National Park - Tierra del Fuego - before boarding the ship at 4pm.
We are on a chartered flight, so it's not on the regular flight list displayed on the monitors. But the Quark guide is there and boarding starts around 6:30am. The flight takes off around 7am. Brought back memories of reading about retired pilots buying/leasing weary planes and running them as tourist charters. Condition of the plane is so-so. Pleasant surprise - midway through the flight we are given a snack and beverage! Snack is not just peanuts but a light meal! Nice, cause it's almost a 3-1/2 hour flight to Ushuaia.We land in Ushuaia around 10:30pm, and are taken by bus to Tierra del Fuego National Park. About 45 minutes ride. Great park - fantastic views. We spend about an hour in the park.
We come back to the city of Ushuaia around 1pm, and are given lunch coupons that are valid in about half-a-dozen places around downtown.
We pick Hotel Albatros - nearest and as it's drizzling (we are told it always rains in Ushuaia), plus Quark has reserved a lounge area for us to rest there with free Wi-Fi. Nice hotel with a good restaurant. We finish lunch and rest till 3:45pm.
We then go to board the buses again to be taken to the ship. We board and go to our cabin - very nice and spacious. Our luggage is already there!
We now go to the Welcome reception, and are greeted with a glass of champagne and treats. Mingling with others, we introduce ourselves to a few people and make a few friends and then step out onto the deck and say goodbye to Ushuaia as we depart on our expedition.
Once we are at sea, we go back to the cabin, freshen up and go for dinner. It is a buffet with a very nice spread - multi cuisine with something for every taste. Unlimited white and red wine as long as you are there in the dining room.
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