Day Seven - Danco Island

 

We began our final day in Antarctica with a fantastic view of icebergs drifting nearby.  Each is of a unique size, shape and color.  Several of them dwarfed the Special Operations Boat (SOB) in the foreground. The SOBs are 40' in length.

As a bergy (small iceberg) floated by, the clear water provided a great view below the waterline.  Only about 1/10th of an iceberg is visible above the water.  Any questions?  Ask the Titanic.

In the hanger, passengers que up for a zodiac tour.  Staff check to see that life jackets and other safety equipment are properly in place.  
 

Once aboard, the zodiac ride to shore will take 5 to 10 minutes.

Going to shore, two humpbacked whales surfaced about 40 yards on our left.  We slowed down to watch,  one can never see too many whales!

Danco Island is a favorite location for penguin rookeries.  One has to be careful walking to avoid tripping over these adorable birds.

These penguins have just come ashore after an early morning breakfast swim. Fish are their primary food source.  Clean feathers is another indication of a swim.  Once ashore they waddle through guano and become quite dirty.

To reboard the zodiac, we wade through ankle deep water.  Our rubber arctic boots come up to our knees.  The boots are insulated and very warm!

Back onboard, the kitchen has outdone themselves with an "everything chocolate" dessert table.

The kitchen must have used a quarter ton of chocolate in the spread!

 Before leaving the World Cafe, the chef provided Jan with a two pound slab of dark chocolate.  What more could a vegan ask for?

As we departed Danco Island for Argentina, we passed another exploration ship, the only one we have seen since leaving port 7 days ago.  The Monrova Expedition is about half the size of the Viking Octantus and much older.  They will have an exciting trip back across the Drake Passage soon.  I hope they have lots of sea sick pills aboard!