Neko Harbour was the 2nd continental landing, if you’re not out kayaking, it was your chance to set foot again on mainland Antarctica. I skipped kayaking and I did not regret it cause after climbing a mountain I had a great view over the place, a spectacular scenery with the glaciers calving. The boat in the distance looked like a toy compared to the mountains around.
Gentoo Penguins at Neko Harbour
Snow, ice, glaciers, clear water and the many Gentoo Penguins who welcomed us at Neko Harbour is just unforgettable, my favorite spot in Antarctica.
Here I still have my zodiac lifejacket on which is different then the one used for kayaking
Penguin highway
Penguins coming down hill from the Penguin highway
When I climbed that mountain many penguins were passing me by on the penguin highway. The penguin highway is the path in the snow made by penguins and only to be used by penguins to make themselves get around easier from one place to another, cause with snow being very unstable at some places, penguins just like humans, fall over and have it difficult to move around quickly.
We humans just follow sticks put in the snow by the expedition crew that mark the path we have to follow to reach the top of the mountain. Two sticks in form of a X mean to stay at a distance, mostly because snow can be very deep at a certain points with crevasses, or its being used as a warning to stay at a distance not to disturb the penguins hatching eggs.
glaciers at Neko Harbour
red X means stay where you are, Penguins nesting place
Feels like being on top of the world
look how small the boat is compared with the mountain
Some more pictures of the Penguins
Penguin using the water as a mirror
Penguins running to the shore
Wandering Albatros stole a penguin egg
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