Dear Apollo,
I know how much most of you love penguins, so I thought I would send you some more photos of them.
Some of these are from the trip I told you about in Chapter four where the group of penguins came up to us. They are just like little toddlers full of curiosity, trust and wonder.
| |
|
|
|
| I also got to go out to a place called the Penguin Pool. The penguins there are emperor penguins. Emperor penguins are very different from the little adelies, not only in looks but in action. Emperors are much more regal and slow moving. They are as curious as the adelies but not as quick and goofy. |  |
 |
The Penguin Pool is set up for scientists to study the emperors' diving physiology. |
| These penguins are "teenagers". They were abandoned eggs and the scientists hatched them. It would have been fun to see them as little chicks. I bet they were cute! |  |
 |
Since these penguins didn't have their moms or dads to teach them how to dive and swim, the scientists have built a pool in the ice so they can practice. I never thought penguins would need to be taught how to dive and swim. I thought it was instinctual. You learn something new everyday. Isn't that exciting? |
You will notice that I am wearing Birkenstock sandals.
I only wear those inside. It can get really warm in the buildings
and then boots get way too hot. Some people do wear Teva sandals
with socks outside. They also wear shorts on occasion. I think they
are nuts. I mean this is still Antarctica and the warmest it's been
is +38*F. (That does feel warm though after sub-zero temperatures!)
The person behind me is Joel. He works as an Administrative
Assistant, too.
It is still daylight 24 hours a day. We did see the moon yesterday though for the first time in 3 months. It looked like a white ghost against the blue sky. I am looking forward to seeing stars when I leave the ice at the end of February. Since we are in the Southern Hemisphere, we will see different constellations from the familiar ones up there in the Northern Hemisphere. When you study the solar system and astronomy, think of me down here at the bottom of the world!
If you are interested in expeditions going on down here, go to the web-site www.yourexpedition.com. There are two women who are skiing across the continent. Their names are Liv Arnesson and Ann Bancroft (not the actress). They arrived at the South Pole yesterday and hope to arrive here in McMurdo on Feb. 15. I hope they make it!
That will make them the first women to have skied across Antarctica. Helen Thayer is probably keeping her eye on them, as should you! It's very exciting. I can't imagine setting up my tent in the wind day after day. Their sleds weigh 250 pounds and they pull them along behind them, harnessed like horses. Talk about goal setting! I really hope they make it. It will be an eventful day in McMurdo if they do.
That's all for now. Enjoy the photos! Study hard and have fun!
Love,
Miss Talso