February 14,

We both awoke having slept well. The rocking of the boat was gentle. So we are experiencing the Beagle Channel and the Drake Passage in the best form – “The Drake Lake” – as they call it. Pretty calm and gentle waves. The storm that was moving in is behind us and given us a nice push. The crew have said it is adding some knots to our speed. 

So today was Valentines’ Day. Jeff went and got our Javas at Paula’s Pantry. He loves me!! The coffee was a wee bit bitter for me though. I tried the pods in our room and preferred those. This is good because it will save Jeff from carrying two cups back to our room on the rocking boat! We readied and went to our first breakfast. It was set up as a buffet with menu options if you requested. We both just did the buffet. I had couple pieces of bacon; a roasted tomato wedge; couple of slices of homemade marinated salmon; some peppers, carrots, and cucumber with hummus; and a fresh pair. Jeff had about the same. We both are trying to limit our intake, because one can go…well “overboard”🤣, on the food consumption.

After breakfast we had a Mandatory IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) meeting in the Amerigo Vespucci Auditorium. The ship’s crew are serious about the mandatory mettings! We arrived and had to sign in. Before the briefing started there were rooms that had not signed in and the presentor crew members called them out by room number! In the literature we received after we had booked, they mentioned if we missed a briefing we will not be going on that next excursion!! Definitely serious! Anyway, the main presentor was the Expedition Leader, Chad Burntt. He’s a South African who had a part in discovering the wreck of the Endurance, which was Shackleton’s boat that had sank in the Weddle Sea in 1915. Anyway, the main quotes from his lecture for me: First that, “Antarctica belongs to nobody, yet belongs to everybody;” and second that everyone must remember three things -#1 have “Flexibility,” #3 have “Flexibility,” and #3 have “Flexibility!” This second point was funny, but he made us aware Antarctica is difficult in the best of conditions. I can’t remember his exact words, but it is challenging, brutal, and amzing all in one (or that was the jest I got of it). The first quote means that Antarctica is not a country belonging to people but because of IAATO regulations it belongs to everyone. I find this profound and ringing true that mankind was placed on earth to be the overseer or caretaker that God had made Adam and his descendants to be. 

Anyway, after Chad’s briefing, there was a meeting for those interested in Kayaking. Jeff went but once it was said the kayaking would be in place of shore landings or Zodiac expeditions, he left. He wants to experience landings or touring of Zodiacs that I do.

Next was lunch. We both had an assortment of meats offered: Slow-roasted Lamb Shoulder with lemon/herb sauce; Roasted Duck Breast with Szuchuan sauce; Silician Tuna Steak with tomato-olive ragout; and hand-carved Crispy Roast Pork. We had little bits of each with some bits of salads and sides. We each had a red wine. Lovely!

At 1445 we were to report to have a Mandatory Biosecurity and Boot Fitting. We had to bring our outer layers of clothing – if not new – for inspection of seeds dirt or invasive species. Then we went to the mud room and tried on our parkas and boots. Their sizing charts were spot on and fit us well. So it went well. Next was an optional lecture- “The Ultimate Survival Machine: Seabirds.”  It was fascinating, but a bit dry, speaking on mostly Albatroses, and a few other birds [Frigates, and Ganets(or Boobies) come to mind]. Then we had a light “hearted” Valentines Trivia with our Cruise Director Renata. We manged to get 8 right answers out of 13 (we missed the first two questions) fun facts of Valentines day. Lastly we had a Expedition Recap and preview of tomorrow. 

We had a special Valentines Champagne welcome to dinner for all. Jeff and I split three starter dishes: Salad Gourmandise- fried sweetbread, slice of lobster, duck croquette, pickled onion, mixed lettuce all on lemon puree; Slow-cooked Veal Cheek on pumpkin puree with portwine sauce; and Poached Red-wine Pear with Roquefort cream and rosemary honey. Then we had two mains: Char Siu Pork Belly with bok choy, rice, and crispy garlic bits; and Beef Wellington with truffle sauce, asparagus, and pomme fondant (like a roasted potato). Dessert we shared a Dark Chocolate Souffle. 

We went back to our cabin and our Steward, Dewa, bought us special Valentines Chocolates. Our steward is from the northern part of Bali. This the part we liked best of Bali. Anyway this is his last cruise – he’s going back home after 6 months. We settled in and watched The Expedition (documentary on Shackleton’s expedition) on our TV. Bed by 2130. Good full first day on the boat at sea!