WOW! Glorious sunshine for the first time since we left Ushuaia. What a wonderful and most welcome change. we had begun to wonder if the sun had desserted us for the duration. Watched penguins and a minke whale from the smoking area (which has come to be known as my office).
The morning excurison was a cruise because we were unable to land on the island due to ice jammed against the shore. We observed many Adelie penguins and, although they were difficult to find at first, a number of leopard seals both on ice and in the water. The penguins weren't doing much other than standing around on the cliffs in their thousands, some high above the water. A couple of the seals came to investigate the boat and were within touching distance (if one dared). Leopard seals apparently never venture on to land and are one of the penguins' most dangerous predators. Unfortunately I didn't see one getting out of the water onto the ice but did see one going the opposite direction. With their somewhat reptilian necks and heads some people find them repulsive but I thought they were rather funny, especially in close up.
The afternoon excursion, which I skipped again, was to another island around which they saw three elephant seals (sound asleep and unmoving) and some crabeater seals (which apparently don't eat crabs).
Breakfast was the usual plus pancakes with maple syrup. Lunch was a Mexican buffet - not bad, the soup was excellent once again.
The weather was so fantastic that the crew decided we would have a dinner barbecue on the aft deck. There was almost everything imaginable - shrimp, scallops, burgers, spareribs, beef ribs, steak, shishkabob, vegetables and copious quantities of mulled wine (perhaps a little too copious). I wa sup later than usual enjoying the warmth and scenery from my "office".
One lady passenger must be in her mid seventies if not eighties (I think there are quite a few in this age bracket) and this is her sixth trip on this ship and this destination. The crew seems almost like her family and perhaps they are to her. She has a tough time walking but it doesn't stop her from doing everything. Generally all of the passengers are well travelled and many of them are on repeat visits and have also done the Arctic tour. A goodly number have now crossed both circles.