Our flight just departed Ushuaia, heading east down the Beagle Channel, covering in 15 minutes the distance the Octantis covered in four hours yesterday westbound, before gaining enough altitude to risk a turn to the north, avoiding the tail end of the Andes Mountains, which surround Ushuaia.

Yesterday was another sea day, the last piece being the Beagle Channel. Lots of birds enjoying the brisk winds, especially those pesky Black-browed Albatrosses that seem to follow us everywhere we go. No creature on earth enjoys flying more than those birds and no creature gets more miles per calorie burned. They are masters at working the wind currents to their advantage.

We probably could have made it from West Point Island to Ushuaia in a hard day’s sailing; we cruised at 8 knots rather than the 14 to 15 we’d done earlier. But this way gave us the chance to see the Beagle Channel in daylight. It probably serves some scheduling objective known only to Viking.

It’s three-and-three-quarter hours to Buenos Aires, an eight hour layover and nine hours overnight to Miami. Rather than enduring a six hour wait in Miami, we’re renting an Enterprise Rent-a-Car for a four hour drive, plus a stop to see Cousin Debbie. We can even drop the car in Sun City Center, avoiding Tampa.

So, bottom line: should you go to Antarctica? Endure the sea sickness? Have your itinerary change twice a day? Stagger down the hall to dinner and yet another lecture by some naturalist? Clamber in and out of zodiacs wearing cumbersome all weather gear and huge rubber boots? Being rescued from an island where the overnight accommodations are folding chairs in a barracks and the mail boat comes sometime around the first of the month? See the most spectacular scenery, the most amazing wildlife, experience the most unique continent on the face of the earth?

We’ve covered a lot of the world in our travels and, no matter what continent, region or country, there’s a lot of similarities. Everywhere has mountains, bodies of water, hot and cold regions. Taylor Swift fans. But Antarctica is truly unique, a world of its own.

So the answer is yes, you should endure the hardships and if at all possible, go. In fact, the hardships are essential to understanding Antarctica. Don’t think of this as a cruise. Think of it as an expedition, an adventure. You can always recover on a Caribbean cruise later on. I, who spent time worshiping at the porcelain throne during our Drake Passage, am so thankful we did go. At last, we have an answer to those who always ask, “What was your favorite trip?”

Thanks for coming along with us!

But wait! There’s more! Judy’s still hard at work on more videos. I’ll make a posting when they’re ready. But no more blogging for me. I’m off to forage in the American lounge here in Buenos Aires. Haste luego!