Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Hello Folks! Now that the Grand Voyages are over I'm finding I have some free time once again in which to edit photos! The list has piled up - so I think I'll just do random posts at this point. 

Gibraltar is truly an amazing place to visit. I've had the pleasure of being able to explore the rock twice now. The landscape of Gibraltar is incredible, it literally just juts out of the sea at the end of a little peninsula. The rest of the spanish landscape is relatively flat in comparison. The rock itself is about 430m above sea level and there are a number of ways to venture to the top. Cable car, taxi, or my favourite... hiking! 

There is a pathway to the top called the Mediterranean Steps - not sure how many steps there are, but it's definitely steep and quite the challenge. Brett (location guide) and I have hiked the steps twice now. As if it wasn't challenging enough the first time, when we hiked it the second time we put about 20-30 lbs of rocks in our backpacks for an extra challenge. 

Here are a few photos from my two days in Gibraltar. The summit is home to Barbary Apes and a number of seagulls who make their nests in the cliffs of the rock. 

East side of the rock and the Spanish landscape to the North

Tunnel to the Mediterranean Steps

Mr. Ape - giving me the eye 

Ape looking for insects - Snack time anyone? 

Seagull - ;) 

The Apes sleep in the weirdest positions. Hope he doesn't fall backwards!

View to the South - Coast of Africa is in the centre of the photo

View to the North - the runway is basically the border between Spain and Gibraltar

I spotted a cave above the road on the way down and of course we had to find out if it was just a cave or a tunnel left over from WWII - problem was our legs were so shaky from the hike up that it made scaling the rock quite a challenge. I took one step on the rock and my legs couldn't hold me so then Brett tried - made it most of the way up but didn't want to fall so he came back down. I had rested for a few mins and decided to make a second attempt - this time I got all the way up! It was only a cave :( 

Getting down was quite the challenge. But I made it, and didn't fall lol 

Brett 

Myself 

MADE IT!! - barely made it down lol 

Dr. Seuss built this fence... 

Some of the flora on the Rock 

Mr. Ron Perlman - Hell Boy 

Barbary Ape 

Barbary Ape

Barbary Ape

Hijacking the Taxi

Beware of Apes! 

Antarctica Day 2 :: The Danco Coast

We woke up today to the most gorgeous of scenes. The water was like pure glass reflecting the mountains above and blue skies. Despite being nice and sunny today was considerably more cold than day 1, but that didn't stop us all from spending the day out on the decks taking in the scenery around us. 

Good Morning, Antarctica

Sunrise on The Danco Coast, Antarctica

Mirror Waters, Antarctica

Gentoo Penguins & Seals on an Iceberg, Antarctica

A Day in the Life of Seals, Antarctica

Seal Porpoising and Mountains, The Danco Coast, Antarctica

Reflections, Antarctica

Pillar Iceberg, Antarctica

Antarctica

Antarctica

Blue Iceberg, Antarctica

Turquoise Blue Icebergs (not an exaggeration), Antarctica 

Iceberg, Antarctica

Icebergs Abound, Antarctica

Chilean Research Centre and Penguin Colony, Antarctica 

Chilean Research Centre and Penguin Colony, Antarctica 

Gentoo Penguins on an Iceberg, Antarctica

Gentoo Penguins, Antarctica

Antarctica

Humpback Whales, Antarctica

Probably the most beautiful of days in my entire life. Simply speechless... :) Hope you enjoyed my photos! I'll post Day 3 - but the weather was cloudy, foggy and we didn't see very much. 

Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica :: Day 1

Antarctica Day 1 :: We got to the Palmer Station around 9am and we picked up some of the American researchers who are studying in Antarctica. They stayed on board with us all day until we dropped them off in the evening. They gave a few presentations in the Showroom at Sea about their work at the Station and a few of their findings.

There are no words to describe the next three days that follow in Antarctica. I took close to two thousand photos and none of them come close to the beauty and majesty of The Frozen Continent. 

One thing I was very surprised to discover is the overwhelming amount of wildlife down there. It was impossible to look out at the sea and not see some kind of wildlife. Penguins, Seals, Birds, Whales... everywhere we looked we'd see something swimming in the waters or flying in the air. 

My classes, for the most part, were suspended and we spent the next three days dressed in boots, jackets, hats and gloves standing out in the cold with our cameras desperately trying not to miss anything. At times I would put my camera down and simply stare out at the scene before me. The solitude, quietness, serenity and beauty of Antarctica is was a challenge to capture in true form on camera. I will cease my words for now and let my photos do the rest of the talking:

Palmer Station Researchers, Antarctica

Palmer Station Researchers Embarking MS Prinsendam, Antarctica

View from Deck 7 Aft, Antarctica

Gentoo Penguin on an Iceberg, Antarctica

Penguin and Seals, Antarctica

Seals on an Iceberg, Antarctica

Seals, Antarctica

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

MS Prinsendam Traversing Ice, Antarctica

Seal on an Iceberg, Antarctica

Our ship actually bumped into this seal's iceberg, waking him up from a nap. He was dazed and confused and finally slipped into the water as we sailed past him.

Gentoo Penguin, Antarctica

Gentoo Penguin Porpoising, Antarctica

Gentoo Penguin Underwater, Antarctica

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

You can see there was quite a lot of ice in the channel and we were lucky to be able to push through it and actually traverse the entire channel. Most ships have to turn around and go back out the same way they come in.

Whale Tail, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica

On our way back to the Palmer Station to disembark the researchers, I was out on deck and happened to see some whales and got this last photo of a Whale Tail reflecting the sunlight. This was the first time I have seen a whale's tail and couldn't have been happier. Perfect ending to a very special day.