Christmas Day - Wilhemina Bay

Nature's gifts just kept on giving. 

The Captain did indeed get us out of the windy weather and find us a beautiful, calm bay: Wilhelmina Bay along the Danco Coast of the Antarctica Peninsula.

Like all good Christmas package, I want to share the beauty I received.

Resolution stopped in Wilhemia Bay and out went the zodiacs.

This is the true color of this entire iceberg.

This Leopard seal popped his head up as we drove by. To again quote the Exploring Antarctica Map: Leopard seals are "one of Antarctica's most fearsome predators. Leopard seals earned their fierce reputation by hunting and consuming almost anything in their domain. They are 11' long and 1,300 lbs. They inhabit the pack ice around the continent and are almost entirely solitary". 

Another Leopard seal checking to see if we are anything edible. One one trip, a Leopard seal did take a bite out of a zodiac, deflating that tube.

Wilhemina Bay is also nick-named Whale-mina Bay for the large number of Humpback Whales.

As we floated around, the trip's "expedition leader" Dan, dressed in his Christmas gala, entertained us with serenading to call whales.

It worked. 

"Humpback Whales are a species of baleen whale. Adults range in length from 46-56 feet and weigh up to 40 metric tons. They are known for breaching. The males produce a complex song typically lasting 4 to 33 minutes. The Humpback whale was a target for the whaling industry. Humans once humted them to the brink of extension; it's population fell to around 5,000 by the 1060s. The population is rebounding though entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution continue to affect the species."~ Wilipedia

We continued to tour the bay for a couple of hours.

Not quite Santa down the chimney, but the bar crew and hotel manager did surprise us with goodies - hot cocoa with our choice of liquor.

A little peppermint schnapps does wonders for my artistic eye.

Dan collected a chunk of floating glacial ice. After handling it around for all to hear the pop of the air bubbles escaping as it melted, he put it on the zodiac bow. Later we motored up to a blue iceberg.

Weddell seals resting in the sun.

Our first Gentoo Penguin.

The reflection of thelettering on our ship.

The zodiac garage. It is open to both sides of the ship and has two hoists for quick zodiac and kayak access. 

As we continued to sail south, diner was served in the most beautiful restaurant in the world. The dining room is called the 270 because the views cover 270 degrees from your table. 

But the day wasn't over. We all adjourned to the Ice Lounge for the "Christmas Crew Show". The crew put on a 3 hour talent show that got everyone up and dancing to rock and roll and in the end, singing Christmas carols. The day was indeed a Christmas to remember.