Argentina

Day-1. Saturday the 5th /11, I stored my truck in the yard of the hotel held by Freestyle Adventure Travel here Gabriel's parents. Then I went by Taxi to the Arakur Hotel on the heights of Ushuaia with a splendid view on the bay. At 16:00 the team of Sea-Spirit accommodated the participants on their arrival to give them the first two days program.

Day-2. Sunday the 6th /11, after a second briefing of participant's presentation present at the hotel, the day occurred to expect the bus at 15:30 to embark on Sea-Spirit arrived in the night before. It snowed on Ushuaia all the night and until 11:00.
Well, which time make in the Antarctic?

Day-3. Monday the 7th /11. This day at surging sea, much rolling, was occupied by conferences in particular on the Falkland Islands where we go tomorrow. I did not have the seasickness, finally not yet, certainly I took a medicine which was added to my usual cocktail. But enormous difficulties to move me due to I have little or no more balance. While arriving at Ushuaia I was blessed Gods. Indeed providence kept me under its protection by four interventions. When I went to the travel agency indicated by the oficina de tourismo to inform me of the possibilities of excursion to Isla de Los Estados I received a negative answer. But by doing the inventory of other excursions the person in charge of the agency Freestyle Adventure Travel proposed to me a last minutes 20 days in the Antarctic. In view of Pharaonic price, I asked for one reflection day. The following day I gave my consent. At the reception on the boat Sea-Spirit, I discovered that the cabin that I was to share with another person was assigned to me only. Then a member of the team of accompaniment came me and tells me hello in good French. Indeed Heidi, as her first name does not indicate it, is Savoyard. Finally Sea-Spirit which can accommodate 114 passengers has only 79 of them because a Chinese tour operator cancelled its reservation. Indeed it was the first voyage at this season which extends from November to March. The boat is occupied by 67 Chinese tourists. The 12 Westerners were 3xUS, 2xAU, 2xNZ, 2xNL and 2xD,  perfectly speaking English travellers. I was alone French, speaking broken English.

Day-4/5. Falkland West Point is the habitat of albatrosses and penguins, Rockhopper Penguins. Carcass Island is occupied by several dispersed groups of penguins cohabiting with other bird's species. I point out that the eight species of penguins are birds.

Before arriving at Port Stanley we visited Gypsy Cove deserted in this season by its inhabitants, the penguins. Port Stanley is a typically British village. The museum with its maritime artifacts is primarily dedicated to the intervention of the British troops to expel on June 14th, 1982 the invasion of the island by the Argentinians after a 74 days occupation.

Day-6/7. Thursday the 10th and Friday, November 11 spent at sea were occupied by many conferences.

Day-8/12. From Saturday the 12th to Wednesday, November 16 Sea-Spirit surfed from bay to bay on the north-eastern northern face of South Georgia visiting Prion Island, Fortuna Bay and Stromness, St Andrews and Gold Harbor, the Grytviken capital while spending the night in Cumberland Bay then traversing the 14 km until the end of Drygalski Fjord.

Day-13/14. On Thursday the 17th and on Friday, November 18 Sea-Spirit traversed Scotia Sea on straight line towards South the Shetland Islands. The days were well occupied by conferences as well on fauna as on the evolution of the glaciation of the Antarctic like by the conquest of the south pole and the visit of the bridge of command of the vessel. On the Friday the 18th in the end of the day the commander of Sea-Spirit offered a cocktail to the participants of forwarding. 

Day-15/18. On Saturday morning the 19/11 the groups embarked in the zodiacs for a one hour excursion along the southern face of Island Elephant Island because the weather conditions did not allow an unloading. Around 11:00 Sea-Spirit took again its progression towards South Shetland Islands.
On Sunday the 20th /11 two excursions were programmed. The first in the morning unloaded in Mikkelsen Harbor. The second lands in Cierva Cove on the Peninsula of the Antarctic. I walked for the first time on the Antarctic continent.
On Monday morning the 21/11 zodiacs deposited us on the ice-barrier of the Antarctic. I walked thus for the first time on an ice-barrier. In the afternoon the visit of the Esperanza base of Argentina was cancelled due to too violent wind.
On Tuesday the 22nd /11 we visited the China Great Wall station then in the afternoon Aitcho Islands.

Day-19/20, The two days at sea the 23 and 24/11 towards Ushuaia crossed Drake Passage with a very agitated sea, rolling and pitching.

Day-21,On Friday the 25th /11 I unloaded in Ushuaia after an excursion in the Antarctic which will leave me an imperishable memory.