
29 Apr A Tour of Antarctica, by Photo Journal

The blue icebergs you encounter near the fringe of the continent make a visit to Antarctica unforgettable. ©Candice Gaukel Andrews
Traveling to and around Antarctica is a trip many people — at least, those with adventurous spirits — fantasize about. I am one of them. I’ve always been attracted to the poles for some reason, a predilection I like to phrase as “the call of a cold place.” I think such spots speak to me because I prefer remote regions, uncrowded corners, and pockets of peace.
So when I had the opportunity to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula in January, I was thrilled. I imagined being awed by the sight of massive mountains, thousands of penguins, and titanic icebergs. I did see all of those things, and I was amazed. But what I wasn’t expecting was how impressed I would be by what I heard.
I listened to wind that seemed to mumble and whistle louder than any breezes I had ever experienced before. I laughed at the braying sounds of gentoo penguins, their donkey-like shouts drowning out the crashes of stiff waves breaking on cold, stony beaches. But mostly, I paid attention, on the calm days, to the silence. I had forgotten what a world without any resident people sounded like.
My camera captured some of my vantage points on the White Continent, which you can see for yourself, below. What I heard is still echoing in the back of my mind.
For most travelers, visiting Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope you get to go there once, I really do.
But I’m already dreaming about going back.

With thin, dark lines running from ear to ear, chinstraps, I think, are the most beautiful of penguins. ©Candice Gaukel Andrews

Chinstraps vocalize by stretching upwards, flapping their wings, and emitting a series of loud, shrill syllables. ©Candice Gaukel Andrews

The mountains on the Antarctic Peninsula are thought to be a continuation of the Andes of South America. ©Candice Gaukel Andrews

Gentoos, the penguin world’s third largest species, populate the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous islands around the frozen continent. ©Candice Gaukel Andrews


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