sailboat | Infused exposures

Jan 29

Recommendation: sailing the Bark Europa to Antarctica

Traveling to Antarctica is a once in a lifetime destination. Okay, so I really want to go back one day but chances are slim. It's very expensive to travel there, not to mention the negative impact that tourism has in that pristine area of the world. We wanted to do the trip right. I wanted to go down on a small boat (less than 100) so that we could do as many landings as possible. Laurent wanted us to 'earn Antarctica' I phrase that I came to know quite well.

Mar 5

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Surviving the Drake Passage on our way to one of the most beautiful places in the world-Antarctica!

It was almost time for our Antarctica trip! After 7 days trekking in Torres del Paine, we headed from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas (putting us even further south). We left for Punta Arenas on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas day there too

Mar 3

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Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, getting ready for trekking, Part 1

After trekking in El Chalten, we took a bus back to El Calafate. El Calafate kind of sucks but unfortunately it's a major hub in Patagonia and is a gateway to the southern part of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (El Chalten serves the northern and free part of the park) and you usually have to go there to transfer to other places you want to travel to.

Jan 20

Back on land and a few other updates

So we made it back from Antarctica alive! No monster wave came and gobbled the ship up nor did I fall in some deep crevice at the top of a glacier. It wasn't easy at times being on the sailboat, we both got pretty seasick and sometimes we had to wake up in the middle of the night to do watches or steer the boat in the freezing cold but the payoff was huge. I experienced things I could only dream about and saw scenery and nature like I never have before. I felt like I was dreaming most of the time. And I promise to tell you all about it and share some photos too.

Dec 28

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Follow us on our journey to Antarctica!

So today we leave for Antarctica. Even though I'm typing these words and in a few hours we will board the sailboat that is waiting right here in the harbor in Ushuaia, it still feels totally unreal. Not sure when the reality will set in. Perhaps early tomorrow morning when we begin our passage over that notorious Drake passage? I'm sure! I hope to not be too sick to watch over Cape Horn as we see the two oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific converge in a (hopefully) peaceful meeting!

Jul 25

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Turning dreams into reality, the unwavering presence of time and to be or not to be

This has been a big week as far as preparations go for the trip. Things are starting to move around. Planning and talking is quickly being replaced by actions. Shapes are being taken where ideas once stood. We're on our way! Well, almost.

First, we were officially accepted as part of the crew on our voyage (yes, it most certainly will be a voyage, not just a trip) to Antarctica aboard the Bark EUROPA. Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale. We will join about forty other fools and a crew of twenty something (hopefully) capable people, floating down our merry way to quite possibly, our death. If it's fated that my time has come on this voyage, I hope to at least see Antarctica first and die on the way back. The EUROPA would certainly make an attractive (and extra fancy) coffin.

Jun 21

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Best laid plans, the possible removal of Uruguay and the most important thing

I had the best intentions. I was researching the food in Argentina and had already picked out a perfect little Argentinian place in Brooklyn to try a sample of this country and share my findings with you. I thought to myself, as soon as I returned from my travels, I would be on top of it.

Alas, now it's been a long time since my last post. A really long time. There are a few reasons for this, some good, some bad. April was a hectic month for me but in the best possible way. Traveling around, visiting some of my favorite places and seeing some of my favorite people. As good as April was though, May came and proved to be it's evil twin opposite.

Feb 22

Planning the trip: Top 5 ways to stretch your travel budget

It's about time I wrote something useful. Not that the last post wasn't useful in some way, but I think it was more useful to Laurent & I than to all of you readers out there!

Thanks to all of you who are reading and who voted in our poll. I still don't have a decision on the sailboat and I'm still occasionally watching youtube videos of the Drake. I've curbed the habit a bit though. I think I'm down to about 2 a day. Is there a Drake's Anonymous anyone knows about? I think I have until April to decide about the sailboat. Until then, stay tuned.

Feb 12

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Best laid plans, my crazy boyfriend and gratitude

I knew it would happen sooner or later. I just hadn't expected that it would be so soon.

Three weeks ago, Laurent went back to France. He spent almost a month here in New York and we diligently planned the trip and finished up this very website. We came up with a decent route for our trip, as documented in our last post. At the time, it made perfect sense. It was a concise route. It included all the things we wanted to see and at the right times of year. I thought this route to be pretty definitive. I knew it might change somewhat over the course of time but I didn't think that course of time would come anytime soon.