What a Wonderful World (An #AtoZChallenge Post): A is for Antarctica

 

A snowy view of Antarctica from a cruise ship balcony

My husband recently re-retired, and we are front-loading travel. My #AtoZChallenge posts this year will explore our adventures--some pre-retirement, some post. Today's location: Antarctica!

A traveler who had previously been to Antarctica described it as "Alaska on steroids," and I have to agree with that assessment. Glaciers and icebergs were everywhere. Though on board a large cruise ship, the feeling of isolation from society was almost palpable, and combined with the vastness of the waters and land, brought to mind the line from the hymn How Great Thou Art: "Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. . . . "

A flat-topped iceberg sports two cave-like formations near the water's edge

Other icebergs, like this one, had jagged points rising up to the sky

The large cruise ship gives a sense of scale to the iceberg that towers over it

The clear water gives a perfect reflection of the snowy mountain above it

Two penguins seem to be conversing while floating by on an iceberg

The view of dark clouds rolling in above the cruise ship

After a while, a rainbow appeared, stretching over the deep blue water

An unusual sight--buildings! We did pass a few research stations along the way. 

White water spouting up from the ocean's surface is a tell-tale sign of a whale

A whale's tail, or fluke, breaks the surface of the water as the whale dives down

Just one of many glaciers we saw

While you are probably glad I can't share the smells of Antarctica with you (penguins aren't the sweetest-smelling creatures), I do hope you enjoy the following videos for not only the sights, but also the sounds. The first features whales spouting, the second penguins vocalizing, and the final shows penguins porpoising through the water. 

If you get the chance to visit Antarctica, go! Whether or not you are able to see that continent for yourself, if you haven't read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing, the book gives a great introduction to the unforgiving landscape that is Antarctica, and the incredible story of survival of Shackleton's crew. 

Come back tomorrow to see where in the world we'll visit next!