Our trip was in three parts. For me one of the highlights was completing the W trek, the variety of terrain and the smooth organisation added to this. We then visited Los Glaciares where a highlight was seeing thePerito Moreno Glacier. Antarctica offered us the opportunity to reflect on a wonderfully different world. A highlight for me was waking up after camping out on the ice and seeing the wonderful colours reflected in sky and sea. And also the fantastic and uninhibited display of curiosity and fun all around us by a pod of whales. To be so close to creatures like this was a truly one of experience

Antarctica showed us a beautiful, mysterious pristine world of snow, ice, wildness and silence, which made us pause and reflect about the importance of interdependence and respect for all kinds of life. It certainly lived up to my expectations

Yes

The service that Swoop gave us was excellent, full of careful planning and detail. We were particularly impressed by Zoe who was extremely helpful and informative and reliable in dealing with all our questions and dilemmas

This all worked well once we had sorted out the crisis over Ioffe, which left us feeling a bit wobbly and unsure whether we would actually make it. We think we did a lot of research ourselves to help us find an alternative place on the Resolute, but once all this was resolved everything went smoothly. John was extremely helpful in all this and without him, the crisis might have proved insurmountable. Good to have a Polar expert on board.

The zodiac excursions really made the trip for us. It was wonderful to get so close to penguins, whales, seals, and to set foot on land and be able to explore. The expedition staff were excellent, – mostly informative and keen to tell us of their experience. They were young and enthusiastic and obviously wanted us to get the most out of our trip. We got the impression that there was nothing that was too much trouble for them to do for us.

It is good for us to reflect on how small we are in the perspective of things, to decentre ourselves from our own importance and take up a different place in the world. Antarctica. An ancient wisdom of a Bright and shining world. No Fences or walls, no Boundaries or impoverishment of Racial or religious identity. A Free existence of Self and necessary Sacrifice, at once Cruel, harsh, indifferent, Yet Trusting, connected, community, Hidden worlds Teeming with life, both Seen and unseen. From an interior darkness we Gaze into a world of Luminosity, Bright, white light, a Liminal space of Silver gold and purple, an Open window into a Glittering world Beyond a Never setting sun. What does it mean to be Drawn into this world of Light? To seek and not to Know what we might Encounter? Longing, loneliness, desire Await the onlooker. ©HROFF 2019