Antartica was not on my list of Firsts to experience. But when the opportunity presented itself, in my mindset of experiencing Firsts, I said yes. It was on someone else’s bucket list – not mine. As I sit here typing this blog in the Beagle Channel, on my way back from the last week in Antarctica – I’m glad I did.
We flew for 10 hours from JFK Airport into Buenos Aires. After a day in Buenos Aires, we boarded another plane for the 3 hours hop to Ushuaia – known as “the end of the earth.” Ushuaia is the southernmost city in South America and the gateway to Antarctica. After a brief tour taking in the beauty of Patagonia, we boarded the 140 person Atlas World Traveler yacht. Once on board we sailed for the next two days through the Drake Passage on our way to Antartica. The Drake Passage is known to be the roughest seas in the world. It is where the Atlantic and Pacific meet. It is a rite of passage to view the spectacular 7th continent.
We survived the Drake to experience this majestic improbable First! It is hard to describe the pristine breathtaking beauty of Antartica. We took Zodiak rides through ice fields and intimidating icebergs. We walked with penguins. Hiked glaciers. And saw numerous whales playing in the crystal-clear water. Amazing! The highlight was the aptly named Paradise Bay. As I stood on the forward deck alone in the rising morning sun, surrounded by white mountains, with the water like glass and not a sound to be heard, except for the humpback whale asleep next to our ship. Every few minutes the silence was interrupted by his breathing through his bow hole. Unforgettable! Overcoming the fear of the Drake Channel led me to a magical first. So, when given a chance to experience a first – take it. These are special moments in one’s life.