This morning began as National Geographic Orion maneuvered into some fast ice on the peninsula of Antarctica. There had been rumors circulating about a possible encounter with a very rare bird indeed. No sooner had the ship maneuvered into position than the bird was sighted. An emperor penguin! The largest and rarest penguin for this part of the continent. Nearly the entire ship loaded into Zodiacs to get a good long look at the animal. It was so obliging as to even come closer and walk towards the fleet of rubber boats. Memory cards were filled, batteries drained, and the Antarctic experience was completed. During lunch we repositioned the ship up near Anver’s Island, providing a fantastic assortment of ice sculptures and scenery as we headed north into a lumpy Drake Passage, wishing the White Continent goodbye.