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Disembarkation day. It was an early start, cases outside the room by 7am, out of the cabin at 8 am and ready to head onto the bus around 8.40 am. A quick tour to Camp Berantz before being dropped at the airport.
To be honest, none of us really knew what Camp Berantz was! Or why we were going there. But I have to say it turned out to be quite a special moment.
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Just about everyone we were with on our Hurtigruten’s ‘Circumnavigating Spitsbergen – In the Realm of the Polar Bear’ trip with wanted to see a polar bear. Well, of course, thats one of the main things you visit for.
But it’s definitely not as easy as you think! You can say that about most wildlife of course, it plays to its own tune and if you spot anything in the Arctic, especially in the ocean, then you are very privileged.
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What’s the first thing you think about when planning a trip to the Arctic? Most probably, will I see a Polar Bear?
What’s the second thing you think about? Which of the many trips should I go on and which am I and my party best suited to?
Both are very good questions.
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Very excited to hear that our film ‘It’s time to act. NOW’ has been nominated for another short film festival – Germany this time.
All you need to know follows and if you haven’t seen the film yet, then you can watch it here – it’s only 2 minutes!
We hope it’s a film that will keep giving – to those organisations that are already working on protecting the Antarctica and all that is in our Southern Ocean.
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A powerful advocate for the environment, a guardian of cultural heritage and a catalyst for change, all describe ‘Polar Art’ to me. When someone captures the stark beauty and profound significance of the Artic and Antarctic regions, it’s not just an artistic endeavour.
May seems to be the month for ‘Art Trails and ‘Open Studio’s’ across the UK and I reconnected with a fellow shipmate from our trip to South Georgia and Antarctica, Polar Artist Helen Young, at her Open Studio event as part of the Oxfordshire Art Weeks.
Come with me as I recount the experience of what I can only describe as a quintessential British garden party but with substance, in the depths of stunning countryside that is Oxfordshire.
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Seaweed may become another ‘thing’ for me. But in all seriousness it’s fascinating to dive into these topics, but even more fascinating to uncover local stories that are supporting this welcomed shift we are seeing to a better appreciation of our surrounding nature. This beautiful illustration of Cornish Seaweed by Rachel Akerman, is definitely to be appreciated.
But it’s more than that. This shift – I am hoping – may help each of consider what small changes we might make that will have less impact on our planet and that nature.
Let’s head to Marazion, a coastal town in Cornwall….
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I’m beginning to think I really should have tried harder in Geography at school! Why? Well, when a colleague mentioned the Sargasso Sea, I had absolutely no idea where it was or why I should be so interested in it. Let me tell you, since last week that has certainly changed. Whilst not claiming to have got anything close to being an authority on its importance, a chance invitation to an expert meeting, had me rubbing shoulders with some pretty key people that definitely are! Here’s what I learnt…
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Is there anything better than the English country garden in the Spring? Two nights at Gravetye Manor makes you appreciate all that is good about this part of England. I swear it was a degree warmer! But that’s not it. Perhaps the locally produced English sparkling wine, the meadows and tranquil gardens littered with spring flowers, the warm comfortable welcome from the happy helpful Gravetye team and the excellent cuisine? Yes, absolutely.
But of course, for me there was more… some surprising hidden ‘goodness’ that radiates outwards from this stately, historic manor hotel….
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Thats a very good question and scientists quite frankly are divided. I think it could be another ‘audacious goal’ but share the nervousness that, like my last week’s blog on the Arctic, we are interfering with nature and eco-systems in a big way and don’t necessarily understand yet the implications of that.
Here’s the dilemma…
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Soon as it starts getting into Autumn – darker nights and gloomier skies – my husband’s thoughts turn to ‘where can we go to get some sun over Christmas and New Year?’. Now I am more of a ‘snow and fairy lights’ type of person… well that’s what I tell myself. With a ‘complex’ family structure – thats one way to describe it – exiting the country (UK) is a good way to extract ourselves from seasonal challenges, but it’s more than that. This is our third Christmas and New Year in Lanzarote, first time in a hotel rather than villa. Let’s look at how that went and explore how you can SKI’ing in Lanzarote when there is no snow or snow dome! Read on to find out more….
Read moreZodiac cruising in the stunning Yoldiabukta #Spitsbergen The #ice cracked the sun shone but read our #polarbear adventure in my latest icy writing here: https://bit.ly/3Wpu9MG
Choosing a polar expedition cruise can be a challenge. My latest icy blog - well more about seeing #polarbear than #ice ! This might help or watch the video
https://youtu.be/zzisoGg0Knk
Zodiac Cruising in the Arctic, Circumnavigating Spitsbergen in the...
What's it like to go on a zodiac? Will I be able to get in and out of it easily, I have a knee replace...
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Beautiful #Burgerbukta in Spitsbergen held many secrets in its icy bays. Huge #glaciers #seaice & #BelugaWhales #whales #Spitsbergen
Read my latest icy blog: https://bit.ly/3Wpu9MG
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