Today was filled with wildlife and cultural history as we landed on the continent of Antarctica. The morning found us in Aardvord Bay where Neko Harbour lies. The Neko was one of many sealing and whaling ships that roamed these waters in the 19th century. The small harbour is home to an active tidewater glacier that routinely sends displacement waves to wash over the granitic beach after the glacier has calved. Our morning was spent with either a hike or a Zodiac ride. We hiked to an overlook which gained us a view of the glacier from above, a rarity in Antarctica. The gentoo penguins were in full form as the chicks were curious as to our presence. The Zodiac cruisers had a wonderful encounter with Minke whales, a smaller rorqual whale, as the boats made their way around the bay.
During lunch the ship made her way west to Port Lockroy, a British base constructed during the end of World War II as part of operation Tabarin. This refurbished hut is both a museum and operating post office. Over ten thousand people visit Port Lockroy during the summer season from November to March. Most shop for souvenirs and many send postcards to family and friends and sometimes to themselves. The gentoo penguins that reside at Port Lockroy are very used to humans, but it is the snowy sheathbill that steals the show. They are the only non seabird in Antarctica. They have grayish chicks that are quite curious and dart underfoot in search of spilled krill from the penguins.
