BORGA

Our last morning in Antarctic waters. Watched sunrise paint icebergs pink and gold. This frozen continent has changed me profoundly. Already planning to return someday.

Visited Port Lockroy - Antarctica has a post office! The historic huts are preserved from the 1950s. Mailed postcards that will take 2-3 months to arrive. Met researchers at the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station.

The midnight sun is surreal - 24 hours of daylight! Spotted at least 15 humpback whales bubble-net feeding. One curious humpback surfaced just meters from our zodiac. Magical!

Did something crazy - polar plunging! The water was -1°C! The adrenaline rush was incredible. Later, we had an encounter with a leopard seal showing off its impressive teeth.

Today was the highlight - a helicopter tour over the Antarctic Peninsula! We soared over massive glaciers, their ancient blue ice glowing in sunlight. Landed on a remote peak for pure solitude. Spotted orcas hunting from above!

PENGUINS! We landed at Half Moon Island. Thousands of chinstrap penguins greeted us. They waddle right up to you, curious about visitors. The landscape is otherworldly - black volcanic rock, white snow, deep blue sea.

The Drake Passage lived up to its legendary reputation! 6-meter swells rocked the ship. We spotted our first albatross gliding over the waves - wingspans over 3 meters!

Today marks the beginning of our Antarctic adventure! We boarded the MS Roald Amundsen in Ushuaia. The ship is magnificent - 140 meters of Norwegian engineering. As we sailed through the Beagle Channel, we caught our first glimpse of penguins on the rocky shores.