Antarctica: The Good, the Bad, and the Old.

Antarctica was a tough trip. There where good things about it as well as a few bad things.

First, the good things:

For sure, kayaking was the best, especially amongst the seals, penguins and surfacing whales, no doubt about it. I loved it. It made my trip. Then again, walking and sitting amongst the seals and penguins was equally amazing.

The bad:

The bad mostly revolve around me loosing my mind, or becoming more forgetful.

Before boarding the ship, I left my power cord at the hotel. I was without a power cord the entire trip. I couldn't use my computer, which sucked. And it was 100% my fault I left it there. I spaced. On my prior trips, I never spaced. During my entire nine-month trip in 2005 I only lost a $2 plastic soap container. That is it.

Also on this trip my camera's flash card malfunctioned and I didn't have an extra one. Yes, I should have brought an extra, but I didn't. I never had a problem with my flashcard before. I wasn't prepared. It really annoyed me.

Upon returning to shore, I spent an extra day in Ushuaia, and withdrew money from the ATM, and then walked away without collecting my card. Again, I spaced. In my defense the machine was old school, where one slides the card into the machine and the machine digests it. I prefer the ATMs in the U.S; only a swipe of the card is needed. It never leaves one’s hand.

Then on my flight back to Buenos Aires from Ushuaia, my ears never cleared when landing. I'm not sure if this is a sign of old age or a faulty plane. Other people sitting around me also struggled to clear their ears when landing. Or maybe I imagined it. It wasn't until the next day, after we were airborne again, did my ears finally clear. Possibly sign of old age: faulty ears.

I stayed an extra day in Buenos Aires, due to snow in Atlanta. At first, I was pissed, and then everything worked out. I had forgotten that I purchased flight insurance, along with the air tickets. It was the first time ever. The insurance covered the hotel, transportation to the hotel and food/drink expenses associate with the delay.

Antarctica - Old vs. Young.

It was a strange trip; about 30% of the passengers were younger than I and 70% older; some a lot older. I'm not sure if it's a trip best suited for young people or old people.

Most of the time was spent on the boat, and boats are for old people, right? Or lazy people. There isn't a lot to do except eat and sleep.

But Antarctica, the geographic location, isn't for old people. The ocean is very rough. At least, 50% of the passengers got seasick. And two people fell. One broke his ankle. Another broke his hip.

Plus jumping in and out of zodiacs was fairly dangerous, as the weather patterns were shifting rapidly. A zodiac almost got stuck in the encroaching ice due to shifting water patterns. We also experience pelting sleet and extreme winds. Not an old person's environment. Granted there were safety precessions to keep people safe, but I was actually surprised more people didn't get hurt.

On the other hand, an trip to Antarctica is relatively expensive. Not a lot of young people can afford it.