Day 2 Antarctica
On day 2 of my Antarctica expedition, we passed through what was probably the worst part of the famous Drake Passage, known for its violent and rough seas, and enjoyed a stunning sunrise in the morning.
Did you know that less than 1% of humanity has ever visited Antarctica? And despite its frozen landscape, Antarctica is actually the driest continent on Earth, with some areas receiving less annual precipitation than the Sahara Desert. I consider myself incredibly grateful and privileged to be on this cruise.
While many people were seasick—leaving the amazing food here untouched or rushing off to puke—I was eating double portions. After weeks of hitchhiking and barely having proper food, this feels like heaven just as my bed or a hot shower. Plus, after crossing the Atlantic on a 12m sailboat in sometimes even worse conditions, I feel like a seasoned pirate. No seasickness at all!
In the afternoon, we were finally allowed to be outside on deck, where we enjoyed some sunshine and spotted wildlife. Each day, the expedition team keeps track of all the animals we see, marking them on a list and giving us a recap in the evening about what we’ve spotted and what to expect the next day.
And the highlight? We spotted our first iceberg during sunset—absolutely amazing! Seeing it slowly drift in the golden light, I was reminded that around 90% of an iceberg’s mass is hidden beneath the surface.
As if that wasn’t magical enough, the nearly full moon rose later in the evening, casting a beautiful glow over the icy waters. A perfect way to end the day!