The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Today (Saturday, Jan 26) concluded our second day of visits to the Malvinas Islands (Falklands). And both included multitudinous observations and photography of the humorous and artfully swimming penguins. Sorry I can’t share any pictures since the outgoing email on the ship is text only. Despite 3 applications of sunscreen, my reddened face reflects the fact that this region lies under an Ozone hole, and it also indicates that some sunny skies have befallen our happy group. The near-white sand beaches with shimmering aqua blue waters seemed reminiscent of Mexico, save that of hordes of penguins on the beach, and of course the temperature, which has
been in the 40’s and 50’s.

As staff on this ship, the days are plenty filled with tasks not leaving a lot of time to entertain you all with musing stories. A few benefits of the voyage include a complete loss of: calendar time–the 7 days of the week are meaningless; a delightful break from social networking antics; emails and office telephone calls; and the sound bites of radio news relating how many people recently died at the hands of the worlds most extreme and unstable characters.

Meanwhile, I’m absorbing the names of not only 100 passengers, but all the new birds and creatures of this marvelous austral sea/landscape. Tomorrow (Sunday) after a final visit to Steeple Jason Island, we sail southward for two days of open ocean travel to South Georgia, and the temperatures will reflect our southern direction. Memories of sea sickness from my former days of commercial fishing are slightly haunting, and I’ve employed trans-derm scopalamine once already.

The sun sets now with sea birds soaring off the ship’s stern. Sorry I can’t share the Black-browed Albatross shot I just took as it soared through the golden sunset skies.