Due to the location here we do not always have Internet access, but we do always have our camera ready to capture our experiences. As you all most likely know there is no way to really convey the amazing scenes that are behind each photo. However, here are a few pics from our first couple days here in Antarctica to hopefully give you a glimpse of the beauty and staggering show that nature is putting on for us all to see:
Penguins are possibly even cuter in person…
The sunrise make you just want to get up early to see it…
Getting up close and personal with seals is an experience to behold…
Finding icebergs has not been a problem…
Sometimes we just stopped and enjoyed the scenery…
As you can imagine, we never stop smiling…
More updates and pictures soon as we continue to explore this amazing continent. Plus, we hope to be able to report on our camping on Antarctica experience!
About Warren
Holy ice burgs you two! These are SPECTACULAR! Pet the penguins, kiss the seals and savor every moment!
Penguins petted…..check.
Seals kissed….check.
Savoring each moment…double check.
We miss you.
Amazing!!!!
I love, love, love the penguin shot. More please!
~
Angie, we have more photos than you may possibly want from just 2 days with the penguins. Tomorrow, more penguins will equal another 200 photos. I just love to photograph them. Maybe we can share some of a mother feeding her baby that we took today. It was amazing and they did it less than 3 feet from us.
Do you have a crazy zoom lens? Or are you really able to get that close to the penguins?!?
I am actually having “lens envy” right now since selling my DSLR before leaving. It is the first time on our trip I am a bit sad given some of the opportunities here, but very glad for the lack of weight.
Luckily, we literally walk amongst the penguins here. The rule is we cannot approach them, but inevitably they come walking by you or may even walk right up beside you and start nibbling your leg. Either way, standing less than 3 feet from a dozen penguins at a time is not a problem at all where we are.
The trickier bit was getting that close to the leopard seal. The actually are the second biggest predators here…next to Orcas. Plus, at over 1,000 pounds they are scary as hell.
Warren,
My name is Mary Willis and my daughter Sara is on your trip. Haven’t been in contact with her since Ushuaia. If you have met her, please tell her her mom sends her love and that I am so thrilled that she is getting to see the cutest penguins in the world. She is a total penguin freak. Were the ones in the photo baby Gentoos? I live in your neck of the woods on Whidbey Island, another beautiful spot which is (surprise, surprise), cold, rainy and about the same temp as where you are now. Have a great rest of your trip and look forward to seeing more photos! Best, Mary
Hi Mary,
I hunted down your daughter this morning after our trip out to mail some postcards and enjoy a couple hours with penguins. More of what we have seen, including the photo above, are Gentoos. This time of year they are going through the molting and the chicks are extremely inquisitive. If you kneel down on the snow they come right up and say hello.
Too funny you are so close to where we left. We hope that it starts to warm up a bit now that March has come. Have fun and say hello to Seattle for us.
Warren,
Sara’s dad here, writing from a rainy and cool Kentfield (Marin County), California. Please also give Sara my love. (Congratulations on becoming the family’s designated messenger!). Your photos are magnificent, and I salute you and your wife in your realized goal of making your lives so interesting. What an adventure! If you do see Sara, tell her I think it’s wonderful that Sir Biddlesworth is able to spend time for once among his own kind, and that I will see her and Sir B in Santa Barbara in a couple of weeks. Have a nice cruise home.
Harry
Very cool. I head down to Antarctica in December, this makes me want to go now.
Dawn, you are going to absolutely love it. Embrace the anticipation and I assure you that you will not be let down. It is more magical than any picture can capture.
What incredible photos! That penguin! Those seals! I’m officially jealous of your Antartica trip!
The penguins are so darn cute. It looks so cold so I hope you are not having a problem staying warm. What an amazing adventure you are on. Thanks for sharing with the folks in the desert and giving us so much detail along with the beautiful photos. Love you both very much!
Love, love, love! How adorable are those penguins? Makes you realize just how much saving the environment and bein a steward of this amazing planet really means, doesn’t it? So glad you guys are soaking it all in, and I hope that having to keep us updated and share your experiences is actually helping you savor them even more! We miss you, but I AM so excited that you get to be on this amazing journey and share your trip with all of us back home.
Your pics are amazing as well. Makes me want to go out and work for WWF!
xoxo
Oh wow now I am really jealous.
DID YOU HUG A PEGUIN???
One of my dreams is to hug either a PEGUIN or a PANDA!!!
Amazing pics by the way.
Wow, it looks like you guys are having an amazing time! I’m so enjoying the updates!
Sooo cool! And how gorgeous are penguins??
What’s the temperature down there? Coz you two don’t look very cold, really.
I LOVE that I got to see you two in Ushuaia, LOVE that, and I love that you enjoyed your trip, and I especially enjoyed that on Day 4 (I think it was Day 4) I saw your ship and I stood out on the bow and waved and waved and waved and thought Hey! Betsy and Warren are on that ship! Yay!
I hope we’ll cross paths again and can compare notes.