We have reached Antarctica!
After two days at sea on an all-things-considered very mild Drake Passage, we have reached the South Shetland Islands, which form a barrier to the Antarctic Peninsula. The morning was spent relaxing onboard the ship as we motored the final miles in.
Tom Ritchie, the legendary Lindblad naturalist, gave his presentation on penguins of the continent so we knew what to expect. After lunch, we made our first landing at Hannah Point, on Livingston Island. We were treated to intimate views of Gentoo and chinstrap penguins with their chicks as well as a jumble of elephant seals and an assortment of flying sea birds.
