12/19/2008

Ushuaia, Argentina

After months of eager anticipation the day had arrived for our Antarctic adventures to begin! Our flight went smoothly along the Andes Mountains and as we approached Tierra del Fuego, many people glimpsed glaciers and countless volcanic peaks. We landed in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia is a harbor town situated along the Beagle channel and is the stepping off point for many Antarctic expeditions. After clearing customs, we walked out to hazy sunshine and lovely warm temperatures.

We were warmly welcomed aboard by the Minerva staff and crew. Following check-in formalities, Captain John Moulds, told us that a mandatory lifeboat drill would happen shortly. We grabbed our life jackets and parkas for the lifeboat muster stations. Afterwards our cruise director, Jannie Cloete, introduced us to the ship and her staff.

After a delicious “welcome aboard” dinner, we had the chance to settle in and look forward to our journey.