The sleek new ship Le Boreal awaits her new group of passengers at the Dock in Ushuaia.

Passengers arrive from the airport on a rainy, windy day in Patagonia!

Cruise Director Jannie Cloete greets guests as they embark on the Le Boreal for their Antarctic adventure!

A passenger arrives to the main lounge after braving the cold winds outside!

New friendships are made as guests gather for a welcome buffet.

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

12/9/2010

We converged on the small city of Ushuaia, all of us arriving from distant reaches of the planet for the same reason: to embark on an expedition to experience the magnificent Antarctic continent firsthand.  As our flight approached Ushuaia, the majestic clouds parted at times to provide us with striking views of the southern Andes.  The glaciers, glacial lakes and towering peaks had to be seen to be believed.  When we arrived at "El Fin del Mundo" (as Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is locally known), we found a growing outpost with plenty of restaurants and shops catering to adventurous travelers.  We could hardly imagine a more picturesque setting from which to embark on our journey to the White Continent.

The clear weather shifted to a sideways rain as we arrived at the dock.  We hurried up the gangway and onto Le Boreal, where we were welcomed by the ship's staff and crew.  After settling into our staterooms and getting familiar with the ship a bit, we headed to La Bouselle to partake in some welcome champagne and snacks.  Following a lifeboat drill given by Captain Jean-Phillipe Lemaire, we joined our Cruise Director Jannie Cloete and our Expedition Leader Larry Hobbs in The Theater for an introduction to the ship and her staff.  As each member of the Expedition Staff gave us a welcome and some background on themselves, it became clear that their passion for Antarctica and their desire to share it with us would make this a grand adventure indeed!

Our day drew to a close over dinner and some live piano music in The Grand Salon.  Despite the cold, many of us ventured outside onto the outer decks to take in the sun setting over magnificent mountains.  We breathed in our last breath of South America, all the while contemplating the experiences that lie ahead of us.  We drifted off to sleep in our new home away from home, eagerly anticipating awakening to the vast Southern Ocean.