In Fields of Ice

Maps

This is where we went. The Vernadsky vodka bar was the southernmost point of the trip.

Random Musings

By the way it seems Roberto Cavalli was looking for inspiration for his next collection. My guess is lots of white with leopard seal flourishes.

You may be wondering about the makeup of the passengers. We were definitely the only gays out in the village. There were a couple of boys who could have been and a marine who was so far immersed in "don't ask don't tell" that she was monosyllabic and scowling every time we were near. She had a few laughs with her rugby playing girlfriends though so at least she has a life.

Half the people were under 50 which is supposedly a but unusual. There were over 50 from the US, three Swedes including Roberto's partner (and she wasn't blonde, she had long dark hair and under the excessive makeup was very pretty) on Kiwi - Helen (it went by passport) about 15 Canadians, 10 Aussies, some Germans, some Dutch and two South Africans. The expedition crew was mostly form the UK with one Kiwi and a couple of South Africans. The ship's crew were Polish and Fillipino.

Here are links for Polar Star expeditions and for expedition leader Hannah Lawson's art work web site in case you are interested.

VIPs

What I neglected to mention is that we had VIPs on board the Polar Star. Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and his beautiful Swedish "assistant" were on board. He seems best known for leopard skin and dressing the Spice Girls for thieir 2007 "comeback" tour. The story goes that he flew to Tierra Del Fuego in his private jet to join a cruise but didn't like the people so chose our ship instead. Apart from being agog at why someone with a private plane would come on what is definitely not a five star cruise, although it was a five star expedition, the whole ship was alive with gossip for a while, egged on by the fact that no- one had Internet access except via emailing family and getting them to look him up and then send back a report. Roberto and friend also had reserved seats at meals so it became a game as to who would sit with them until it became apparent that they actually welcomed the company and were very friendly and hospitable. He had numerous bottles of his own wine which he dispensed liberally. They also smoked electronic "cigarettes" as it was a no smoking boat. His special concession was that he had his own zodiac at his disposal whenever we went ashore. It must have stretched resources occasionally but we were never discommoded. The other cause of much speculation was where they slept. As we and another couple we befriended had the best two cabins, the only real suites aboard, we were all fascinated. We never did find out although there was speculation about crew being turfed out to accommodate them.

Deception island

As you can see it is a circular island with a very narrow channel at the bottom right. Whaler's Bay was the site of my heroic icy swim and Sculpture By the Antarctic Sea.

Trivia

They even stamped our passports at the bases in Antarctica! These are Polish Arctowski andUkrainian Vernadsky

and this obviously is British Port Lockroy

Orcas

They're not black and white like the northern ones. They look grubby but they're not!