National Geographic Resolution made her way to the west side of the Antarctic peninsula today through icefloes and icebergs generated by the epic glaciers calving into the mighty Southern Ocean. The west side of the northern most reaches of the White Continent is often referred to as the “banana belt”. While no such things grow there, the weather is by far the most favorable and hospitable, and it certainly didn’t disappoint today. We began the day leisurely with a delicious breakfast and some informative talks by the onboard naturalists about some of the most well-known animals of the area. Chris presented about penguins to deepen our knowledge of the beloved animals, and Sophie discussed whales’ evolution.
Lunch featured a sunny barbeque on the outer decks, a treat we hadn’t yet experienced this voyage and the view was spectacular. In the afternoon we arrived to Cierva Cove and took to the Zodiacs and kayaks for some explorations among the ice. Whales escorted us to and fro again, while the undersea team took to the waters to explore on our behalf. A spectacular day was capped off by a chance to experience the water temperature ourselves during a polar plunge!
