Our first full day in Antarctica was packed with exploration. National Geographic Orion was fortunate to visit two landmark Antarctic bases. One of the earliest British bases and the only official post office on the continent, Port Lockroy, went beyond the postcard-mailing with fast-ice walks and gentoo penguin watching. United States’ Palmer Station was a tour of some of the most technologically-advanced, contemporary research stations on the continent, with a bonus Zodiac tour of the nearby glacier, the Adelie penguin colony, and elephant seal haul-out. Though the sun never set until we were all fast asleep, the twilight sunshine lasted forever and provided exceptional photographic light for hours.