34. Ushuaia, El Fin del Mundo...Again
We bid farewell to the crew and passengers of the MV Ultramarine.
The end of my journey has arrived. I close out this story in awe and in gratitude. So many people helped to make this happen. Thanks to my wonderful traveling companions, Marianne and Tyson, two-thirds of Las Trés Pingüinas. Their companionship and encouragement kept me going those long months before the trip was a reality as well as during the expedition. To my wife, Denice, for holding down the fort at home and supporting my crazy dream to go to Antarctica.
To Quark Expeditions, a pretty terrific company, who makes polar travel real and exciting. Despite recent accidents at sea, I would still travel with them in a heartbeat. To Natalie Bowie, our travel agent at Tzell, who helped us navigate the contract and paperwork with Quark Exp. The Ultramarine expedition crew, hospitality (Norman!) and kitchen staff and all those who worked behind the scenes to give us the best possible experience at sea. Salamat! The staff of the Arc Recoleta Boutique Hotel and Spa in Buenos Aires for their conveniently located and comfortable boutique hotel. Mariciano, our driver and tour guide in B.A. American Airlines: thank you, no thank you—some pluses and a few negatives from this company but we got there in one piece so that’s saying something. The little post office at the end of the world. My postcards made it! Before Christmas!
To our fellow passengers who came from all over the world: England, Scotland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Philippines, Taiwan, Germany, United States, Argentina, Chile, France. Several became friends: Gail and David; Kaye and Allen; Barbara and Manos—luxury travel bloggers; Juan and Jennifer; Canadians Curtiss and Judy; Adam and Connor—London owners of a global travel company; Neha and Ahmit from Silicon Valley; Angelo, the falconer from Lake Como, Italy, and his son David; Max and Jake, the brothers Zimm(er). Thank you for your kindness and for sharing your story. And we cannot forget our honorary Pengüina, Iris. Her upbeat personality and gift of multiple languages made her a friend to all. And she did the Polar Plunge! Salamat! ¡Gracias! Merci! Thank you!
And if YOU are reading this, thank you, you’re at the end of the story. You’ve hung in there. Congratulations! I am honored. To consistently write a newsletter or blog is not my forté. I would rather draw pictures and diagrams, retouch photos and add labels than write a blog. For that, I must thank my cousin, Judeth, author of “Where’s Judeth?” and my dear friend, Tommy, for their inspiration as I read and reread their blogs. I have gleaned much from their honest and personal writing. Thanks to Substack for the most user-friendly and WYSIWYG online blog editor I have ever used. I also felt it important to document this trip for my own fading memory. And perhaps, to help others wade through the many polar expedition companies selling their services. Or to help you decide if this type of trip is for you. It’s a lot. It demands a big commitment. Thank you. Thank you for reading Minus90.
El Final de la Historia de la Antártida
What an amazing adventure…THANK YOU for sharing it! 🤗
Bravo! Bravo! Adding my gratitude for faithfully recording your recollections of this shared adventure.