Callum, Margot and 50000 Penguins: Drake's Passage as rough as expected

Antescriptum: The internet connection is very slow on board, naturally. Uploading
pictures is rather hard. Rest assured we've got some nice ones and I will try to upload
once or twice on board.

Dear all,
Margot speaking here. Callum is still asleep. We just spent our first night on the
Explorer. Yesterday was a day I'll never forget. Several childhood dreams were
fulfilled. The flight down to Ushuaia from Santiago was just incredible. We flew
straight over glaciers and other spectacular mountain formations in Patagonia.
Lucky also because, although hazy, it was sufficiently clear to make things out
from 36000 ft and to take a few pictures.

Loved Ushuaia too. The city at the end of the world. As soon as we landed we'
re taken on board a cat to sail around the Beagle Channel for a bit. Loads of
seabirds and sealions with the bestest and biggest highlight for me an Andes
Condor, perched on a cliff. Been wanting to see one since the days I inspired
to be an ornithologist (a long time ago).

We boarded the Explorer last night. Fantastic ship. People on board very fun to
be with also. We left the Beagle Channel around midnight. Ever needed to hold
on to your mattress not to fall out of your bed at night? Drake's Passage lived
up to its expectation. Swell is still there, but wind has calmed down and
people are moving about the ship again. A day of sailing left before we reach
the northern most islands near the Antarctic peninsula. Lectures today about
seabirds from Welsh Ian. Great guy who spent a lot of time on Skomer and
Ramsey and lives in St. Davids Head in Pembroke. This is fun information for
my family as we spent time there some 30+ years ago!

CAllum will write later. He's still sleeping.