1-17-18 - Farewell Antarctica!

We awake in the Ushuaia port at the End of the World.  We have ventured beyond the End of the World and successfully returned in-tact. If this were Game of Thrones, we went North of the Wall and survived the white walkers and wildlings.  We witness a beautiful blue predawn sky at 4 am.  Kyle tells Leanne not to check her email if she wants to go back to sleep and to remain in full escapism mode.  

Realities from the home front set on harshly as we haven’t dealt with emails, calls or texts for the last 11 days with no connectivity that truly left us off-the-grid. It was a blissful experience and a Godsend to not have any connectivity. We could truly immerse ourselves in the Antarctician experience and fully utilize the ancient art form of human conversation .  But the moment we get back online, we have a bit of apprehension at what has transpired or what we missed while off-the-grid. Today will be a catch-up day on our to-do list that we prefer to avoid but simply cannot. 

It’s only 8 am and Leanne throws out her back handling her bag which she earlier in the trip nicknamed “The Red Beast” or simply the “Beast.”  It always just barely makes the luggage weight limits and it seems to grow with each passing week as if it has been devouring more and more stuff.  Today the Beast got the better of Leanne’s lower back — she seizes up and can barely move to get on the bed.  So much for getting a strong core! Kyle notes that the Beast looks pregnant and may soon give birth to multiple new Beast bags.

At breakfast, John is freaking out because he couldn’t access his online college course syllabus until now.  He’s already overwhelmed with the course and it’s only the first week in the semester.  We dawdle at the breakfast saying our goodbyes to the fellow passengers we’ve gotten to know. “I don’t want to leave Antarctica!” Kyle and Leanne exclaim at the same time. 

We off-board as the last of the passengers to leave the ship. The expedition guides are lined up outside waiting to shake all our hands goodbye and wish us well. What a nice gesture!  So wonderful to see them all for a final goodbye.  Oceanwide Expeditions Discovery and Learning far exceeded our expectations in every possible way. Kyle is still insistent he is moving to Antarctica for the summers as we walk off the dock. 

Our flight doesn’t leave until this evening so we walk a couple of blocks with our luggage to the Albatross Hotel near the port. Kyle and Leanne ask to rent a room for the day so we have a home base.  Fortunately, we got the last one. We strategically left the five teens outside when we rented the room but of course all seven of us have to traipse through the lobby with our 15 bags and backpacks. 

“All of you? In the one room?” the hotel receptionist asks disbelievingly, “it is only double, it will not fit you all. It’s not possible.” Clearly she was only expecting the day room for the two of us. “It’s ok,” Kyle says “we’ll fit, we’re good at squeezing into small places.” She clearly is not happy but doesn’t know how to stop what was already set in motion as four of the kids disappear into the elevator as the door closes. The receptionist throws up her hands and turns away with the annoyed look that says “what did I just allow?  Oh geez!”

We spend the day catching up on stuff, to-do’s, schoolwork, etc.  We reflect wistfully on our amazing Antarctica experience as we gear up to head to Peru.