What an unforgettable day on the White Continent. We awoke to a breathtaking sunrise, with bright orange and soft pink colors reflecting off the tabular icebergs as National Geographic Endurance gently sailed through Antarctic Sound.
Our first activity of the day was a continental landing at Brown Bluff. At the landing site, we were greeted by a large group of Adelie penguins, hastily marching one after another. They resembled busy, committed businessmen hurrying to their offices during rush hour.
In the afternoon, another surprise awaited us. Captain Oliver skillfully brought National Geographic Endurance onto a large piece of fast ice in Fridtjof Sound, and we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience walking on the sea ice. A few penguins napping on the ice seemed momentarily confused by our arrival and a couple of curious individuals came over, perhaps trying to figure out who— or what— we were.
As the day drew to a close, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we were given one last gift, another walk on the sea ice, this time bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary day.
