Iceberg in Antarctica
Antarctica cruise and kayak

Antarctic travelogue

Boarding at Ushuaia

Day 1
  • Position: Ushuaia
  • Hour: 6:30pm
  • Latitude: 54°48’S
  • Longitude: 68°18’W
  • Distance: 0Nm
  • Air temperature: 9°C
  • Water temperature: n/a

I arrived in (Argentina) 2 days ago around 9pm. Yesterday I spent the day at Tierra del fuego natural park where many paths enable to explore this superb natural area of Patagonia.
And today is THE day I've been waiting for the last months, the day I will embark Professor Multanovskiy, the russian icebreaker, bound for Antarctica. I am to meet the expedition team early afternoon in a hotel downtown Ushuaia.

After breakfast I leave hosteria bella vista (without my luggage) and walk via Ushuaia heights to rally downtown. I walk in Alem street which leads me to Ushuaia heights. On my left handside is the forest and on the right the city of Ushuaia. The more I go up the more the view is amazing on the city and Beagle channel farther. Then I go down to the port as from up there I think I reckoned professor Multanovskiy. And yes, there it is next to an argentine military vessel. I keep on hanging around but not too far as it is almost time for the meeting.

It is 4pm. Everybody's here, no one wanted to miss the departure. We are asked to hop in a bus which will carry us to the pier where the ship in anchored. I finally stepped on the ship and put my stuff in my cabin where my luggage was already waiting. We are 48 passagers. More than 10 nationalities are represented.

The ship is equiped with a PA which enables anyone to hear the announcements. After a short while we are invited to the bar for a quick briefing and a welcoming drink.
As soon as the ship leaves Ushuaïa I get out on the top bridge to enjoy the great view on the city, the surrounding mountains and Martial glacier overhanging Ushuaia.

But not for long as the alarm is buzzing. Although it's a drill we have to do things seriously. We must go back to our cabins, wear the safety gear and head to lifeboats.

Back on top bridge, professor Multanovskiy sails in peaceful waters of Beagle channel between Chile on one side and Argentina on the other side, bound for Antarctica. An old dream is about to come true!

But prior to achieving this goal we must spend two days in an area notorious for having one of the worst maritime weather conditions in the world. To be followed then ...

[Continuation] Crossing of Drake passage towards Antarctica