This morning we anchored in the cove at Port Lockroy, a former whaling station and British research station. Gentoo penguins have taken over the "lawn" around the building and are fearless of visitors. Two men staff the building during the summer season and offer mail service as well as a variety of souvenirs including beautiful stamps featuring Antarctic wildlife.
Nearby Jougla Point also offered a large colony of nesting gentoos and blue-eyed shags. Hauled out on the ice nearby was a leopard seal, no doubt the terror of the harbor as far as the penguins are concerned (especially when it is NOT hauled out on the ice).
The day progressed into a beautiful sunny day full of stunning scenery as we cruised the Lemaire channel, hiked on Pleneau island and eventually anchored in Paradise Bay where we rang in the new year in grand style.
