Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 11:14

I can tell how positively excited you are to be on this expedition. Your tone of writing voice increases in nervous jitters. By the way I am incredibly jealous of everything you are seeing. Those birds in the pictures look positively incredible. And the ice burgs are some of the prettiest blocks of ice I have ever scene. Sounds weird I know since ice is usually associated with hardness and coldness. The ocean around the area reflects the water in a fantastic manor and the sunset shining through the broken ice burg has incredible imagery. This is rather ironic because it is an image, maybe I'm doing too much studying into words. THEE HUMBACK WALES. My dad would be soooo jealous. Of course I am too but I don't really have a whole lot of emotional attachment to the creatures. By the time I write I'm pretty sure you will be on the station so here are some questions.

Is the place homey, is it welcoming?

How is the view?

Do you have a view?

Are the room and board comfortable?

Is the cooking really what is was made out to be by Amsler?

Are the people nice?

And what was the weirdest thing that has happened there so far?

Luke Plowden

Nell Herrmann

Hi Luke,I'm glad you feel that I'm getting more excited in my journals-it's true, but I don't think it's from nerves I think it's more from being completely awestruck by my surroundings. Thanks for all the questions. I'm going to number them!
1) Palmer Station is very comfortable and the people there are all nice and helpful. The labs are impressive and everything is run very efficiently.
2) The view is incredible. I'll be posting some pictures soon, but the Marr glacier surrounds the station, as does Arthur Bay. There are several islands in the distance. I got to hike up the glacier today and heard it calving 4 times-it sounded like a cannon being fired or like thunder. I've never experienced anything like it.
3) I'm on ship for one more night, but anticipate that my room will be comfortable. I got a tour of the galley/kitchen today and met the cooks. All the food I saw in the kitchen looked A-MAZING, so I think yes- it will be just as Dr. Amsler said. I ate meals on the ship today, but will start eating at Palmer tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.
4) Yes, the people are all very nice. Everyone smiles and says hello. It's great.
5) The weirdest thing... Hmm. Well, when I climbed the glacier today (behind Palmer) there was a group of elephant seals hanging out below the back side of it. The noise they make is very weird-it sounds a bit like a frog!
Keep in touch,
-Ms. Herrmann