After hiking up to this view point looking out over Paradise Bay, it was a great time to just sit back and relax for a bit. This is not what I imagined Antarctica to be like, at such an extreme edge of the world, but I can't argue with beautiful scenery like this. As adventurous and jam-packed as my trips can be, it's nice to be able to just soak up the fresh air and view for a bit.

In the distance is the Akademik Ioffe, the spartan expedition vessel I chose for my voyage. It cruised through the Drake Passage and breached the Antarctic Circle before heading back up north along the peninsula to deliver me to paradise...bay, that is.

After seeing the Salesforce Dreamboat docked in San Francisco, the Ioffe looks quite tiny in comparison. To quote Han Solo, "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts."

The waterproof pants and boots were provided by the ship. Definitely recommend that versus bringing your own since they will smell like the ocean afterwards.