From Chile begins the trip to Antarctica... 

Our flight from Miami arrived in Santiago, Chile on the morning of October 24, 1995. After being on a plane for over 18 hours it was nice to just have some time to get our bearings back. We stayed in Santiago for just one day. We tried to make the most of our time there, by walking to see some of the sights. Mostly, we were just trying to not think about the start of the cruise. Everything was happening so quickly. One more flight and we would be in Punta Arenas, and we would finally be on our way to Antarctica.

Most of our time in Punta Arenas was spent preparing the science gear for the cruise south. We had to make sure that all equipment was in working order, and any last minute essentials had to be purchased before we set sail. It was a hectic time. The crew was unloading gear from the last cruise as they were loading the gear for ours. There was an excited tension on the ship. Everyone looked forward to leaving the harbor and heading for the Bransfield Strait.

It took three days to cross the Drake Passage. I can remember only one and a half. I spent most of the first three days sea sick in bed, joined by many others from the science teams. We experienced some rough seas, but they were mild by comparison to a typical crossing.


Santiago Chile ...

View from the Castle The Streets of Santiago
View From the Funicula Statue of the Virgin

Santiago Chile: Santiago is beautiful Latin American city. It has a wide range of actvities that are sure to excite any traveler. The photos above will give you a representative view of the city. I was only able to spend one day ther but in that time I was able to walk through a large area of the city. I visited the Castle which is an old fortress high on a hill above the city. I also visited the Statue of the Virgin, which watches over Santiago from high on another hill.
 

Punta Arenas Chile ...

The airport at Punta Arenas The traditional sailor's foot rub for safe passage.
View of Punta Arenas from the harbor The clothing room at the ASA warehouse.
 


Jackson School of Geosciences»

Note:  The photos and journals contained in this website were prepared by Steven Stevenoski, science teacher at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin