Our last day on the ice shelf had us packing up all the kit and getting to the ship. Of course, it would be a real error by the Captain to get caught by the ever thickening sea-ice. As we left a group of whales accompanied us along the ice shelf,

Leaving the Brunt Ice Shelf

As it happened, a wide channel had opened up and we made the good time of 7 days to the Falklands. As ever on a ship, we were accompanied by Albatrosses and had some great sea views

An albatross soars along with the ship

Sunrise just south of the Falklands

We docked in at Mare Harbour, on the other other side of the East Island from Port Stanley, as this was close to the airport. There is still a huge military presence on the Islands, and a lot of the beaches and hills are out of bounds still due to mines (after 30 years!!) We were lucky with the weather though and there was still loads to see:

Arriving at Mare Harbour, The Falklands

Gentoo penguins on the beach

A Gentoo Penguin

Port Stanley, although small, has a long history of naval battles and a great museum, easily enough to spend a whole day looking around (worth a visit if you are passing)

The harbour front from the jetty

The famous whalebone arch and Cathedral

Series - Antarctic Painting

1. Polar Painting
2. Journey South
3. The Journey Continues; Iceberg Ahoy!
4. Ice Ice Baby
5. The Weddell Sea
6. Nearly there!!
7. Halley 6 : On The Ice
8. All Work and No Play
9. Different Shades of Grey
10. Racing Penguin
11. The Move Begins
12. Moving Postcard from Antarctica
13. Winter approaches
14. The Halley Marathon
15. The Final Week
16. The Journey North
17. Antarctic Painting – Year 3
18. Antarctic Demolition