South Georgia’s amazing wildlife...

In the afternoon of the 28th of December, we started our 2 1/2 days journey to South Georgia. 

To be honest, I didn't even know that this place existed before preparing for this trip, but South Georgia has just been a big WOW in general. Every landing was spectacular, with its hundreds of fur seals and tons of king penguins. My heart was beating full speed the whole time I was on land with the kids, as the fur seals are pretty much as big as them. When they decide to check you out, and that you have to put your hands in the air and stand your ground, it’s hard not to run the other way!

When looking at the pictures, you have to imagine the smell of thousands of penguins living together, the whistle of the chicks who want to be fed, the sound of fur seals fighting each other, or the one of elephant seals, just being lazy after the mating season. Every inch of the beach is occupied by a living thing. It's hard to believe that fur seals were once close to extinction!!

 

Every place is very unique in SG. All landings are exposed to the winds, some were harder to access, or even impossible at times. Our first day was spent at Right Whale Bay in the morning, and we did a zodiac cruise (with daddy driving the zodiac!!) at Possession Bay in the afternoon. Right after we got back on the ship, the winds went up to 50 knts and the staff got everybody back onboard with waves of almost 2m at the gangway (the entry door on the side of the ship)!! Let's say I was glad to have the kids onboard!

Salisbury Plain was memorable, where we walked by one the biggest king penguins colony in SG. The view you have when you get off the zodiac is just insane!

We were also able to visit a place called Stromness, where the remains of an old whaling station have been invaded by wildlife. The scenery was just incredible! On our way back to the ship, a fur seal played in the waves of our zodiac. That was pretty cool.. In the afternoon, we were supposed to visit Grytviken, but unfortunately the winds went up with gusts up to 70 knts, so no landing possible. We still cruised around Cumberland Bay, and the scenery was once again beautiful!

The next morning, we moved to a place called St-Andrews Bay, which holds the largest king penguins colony of SG. Another amazing place… It was full of elephant seals, some males fighting in the water. They are just HUGE!! 

Our trip to South Georgia ended up abruptly, with the news that a passenger was in need of medical care, and that the ship was turning back to Stanley in the Falkland Islands. These things are meant to happen on trips like these! It turned out not too bad though, as the passenger got better, and we missed only one day in SG and one day in Antarctica.

I like to remind the kids that life is being good to us, that every moment is precious, and that we should always be amazed by every single thing we have the chance to see, by every penguins we have the opportunity to observe. I know it sounds cheesy, but I want them to realize that we shouldn’t be whining about little things. I'm pretty sure that not so many kids had the opportunity to travel to places like that. Most compagnies don’t even allow kids to come. Anyway, I feel blessed!