There’s nothing like taking a vacation to somewhere with plenty of sun, blue skies and … penguins?
Darryl and Carla Lambertson, of Oxford, certainly got their fill of the waddling black-and-white birds when they visited Antarctica last month.
The couple took a six-day cruise (dubbed the ‘Antarctica XXI?) through the islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula aboard a research vessel converted into a passenger ship and manned by a Russian crew.
‘It far exceeded all of my expectations,? Darryl said. ‘If I had to find something I didn’t like, I don’t know what it would be.?
The 60-year-old Lambertsons have now visited all seven continents since 1992.
Although the Antarctica trip cost around $15,000, Carla said it was ‘worth every penny.?
‘What really impressed me was how well the crew put everything together,? she said. ‘Everything just clicked.?
The couple’s tour group included a total of 36 people ranging in age from 8 to 84 and hailing from California, Australia, France, Italy, Argentina, Chile and the Czech Republic.
‘Everybody spoke more than one language except us,? Darryl said.
Normally, when people think of Antarctica, they picture a bitterly cold frozen wasteland ? not the ideal vacation destination, especially during a Michigan winter.
But with the exception of some harsh weather the first and last days, Carla said, ‘The majority of the time it was very pleasant? with ‘sun and blue skies.?
‘We haven’t seen the sun since we came home,? she noted.
According to Darryl, daytime temperatures ranged from 38 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
‘One day it got so warm, I undid my coat,? he said. ‘Had we not been moving, I probably would have taken it off.?
For the Lambertsons, one of the highlights of the trip was visiting the islands and taking plenty of photos of the ‘silly little penguins? as Darryl called them.
‘They’re just comical, waddling around, sliding on their bellies,? he said. ‘You had to love the little guys.?
‘If they came to a big rock, they would either hop up on it and keep going or hop around it. They would never tip over or anything, they just kept on going. You had to marvel at the little things.?
The couple visited colonies of Gentoo, Macaroni and Chinstrap penguins.
Although they ‘couldn’t touch them at all,? Carla said they got within five feet of the penguins. Despite being 1? to 2 feet tall, the birds always ‘had the right-of-way.?
‘If they were coming, you had to stand still and let them go by,? Carla said.
Besides penguins, the Lambertsons also got up close and personal with many seals.
Carla described them as ‘very docile? as they laid and rolled around ‘all blubbery? and ‘kind of smiling at you.?
Darryl said they made ‘belching? noises and when they turned over, it was ‘like a bowl of jelly.?
Not many people can say they took a dip in a volcano, but the Lambertsons can.
Off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula is a place called Deception Island, which is actually a collapsed and flooded, yet still active, volcano.
The Russian crew dug a large hole in the coarse, black, pea-sized volcanic sand, which then fills itself up with water heated by the volcano.
‘You could see the steam coming up from the water,? Darryl said.
Donning swimsuits, the Lamberstons took a dip in the makeshift bath.
‘It was very hot,? Carla said.
‘We looked like a couple of hippos in a mud bath,? joked Darryl.
Even the black sand was quite hot.
Digging three inches in certain areas ‘burnt the tips of my fingers,? Darryl said.
Touring the half-moon-shaped Deception Island, the Lambertsons saw relics from abandoned whaling stations from the early 20th century (such as the rusted-out boilers used to extract oil from whale carcasses) and scientific research stations, plus more penguins.
Looking back on the trip and everything they saw and did, Darryl said he was struck by ‘the vastness of the whole thing? from the ‘huge glaciers and huge snow banks? to the tour ship steaming its way through the endless ‘pack ice,? floating masses of ice formed from seawater.
‘As far as you can see, there’s just these huge walls of snow and ice everywhere,? he said.
Although these huge masses of ice and snow were giant in size, Carla said, ‘There’s no way you can really tell how big they were ? there’s nothing there to compare it to.?
‘The enormity of the area was breath-taking as Antarctica has to be one of God’s greatest creations. It truly is awesome,? she said.
The Lambertsons next trip will be to a more tropical destination ? Honduras.
A mission trip through their church, Oxford Free Methodist, will take them to the central American country in April.
Can’t wait to see the pictures.