This post, will bring the story up to today, more or less, with some of the events/ things that have happened along the way.
To carry on the story, once I had sent off my expression of interest, it was just a matter of waiting and seeing if there were enough interested to make it happen.
Soon after sending of my email, I was sitting at volleyball talking to Phil and I mentioned that I was hoping to be going to the Antarctic...Phil paused mid sentence (which is a tad unusual for Phil) and then went onto the explain that with Mary's 50th birthday occuring in 2012, that a trip to the Antarctic would really solve the whole present issue for him. Antarctica was on Mary's bucket list..so home I went to secretly express interest on Mary's behalf. This was just fantastic, as I would now have a 'twin' to share who I actually knew.
The biggest challenge was the necessity now to say very little of the whole thing for another 6 months, till Mary's birthday on April the 19th.
In the meantime, I attended an information session to learn some more about the cruise and what to expect, etc etc. The numbers were building and it was looking very promising.
Time passed and there were forms and information to send in. Phil and I continued to plot and scheme behind the scenes.
I also decided if I was going all the way to South America to sail to Antarctica I should make the most of the opportunity to see South America. Or so I thought. I started researching and gleaning information from people who has spent time is Sth America. I had never realised just how big and amazing South America is...it soon became obvious, that I would have to limit the amount of places etc one could reasonably go.
My initial plans were to do another cruise around the Galapagos Islands and then check out Machu Picchu. However, advice was that it is a bit hot and humid at that time of year. Anyway I needed to wait till Mary was in the loop to see what is was she was interested in also.
At some stage the voyage was confirmed, we had enough folk interested to go ahead. Which was fantastic news. There were some deposits to sort out and it has been a waiting game.
In March this year, we had a get together of quite a few of the Victorian Teachers group, at Jells Park Primary School followed by lunch, this was another opportunity to listen to some more information and ask questions of some folk who had been before. By this time, many people had booked flights and were well and truly getting tours etc organised...I was counting the days till Mary would be presented with the exciting news. The group come from all over the state, from government, catholic and private schools as well as partners/friends and others associated with education.
In the meantime, Phil was getting a bit anxious that he would need to tell Mary early and on one occasion he reported that he dreamt he had told her and she didn't want to go - EEEK!!!
I was busy looking at and buying some of the clothing etc that would be needed, a new jacket on special when in Bendigo and the Teacher's games and numerous other bits and pieces of warm gear.
I also started seriously researching a new Digital SLR - I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new Canon EOS 60D in January and recieved it late Feb. I am trying to get the hang of it and am booked into a photography course next term (pending sufficient numbers)
Finally April the 19th rolled around and whilst walking the dog I recieved an SMS from Mary which indicated she definately knew and was pretty excited.
Since then, we have been plotting and scheming to determine what we might do. The outcome is that we leave Melbourne on Dec 27, travel to Santiago via Sydney and Auckland, then fly to Punta Arenas for a few days before we begin the cruise on the 31st of December. We are then going to camp for 5 days in Patagonia, return to Santiago, where Mary will fly home and I will continue onto Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls, before flying home.
So with flights arranged, some tours booked, we are now sorting out accommodation, transport etc etc. All good fun, but very time consuming.
SO that basically brings us up to now- and I will report bits and pieces as things develop. Then there will be a bit of a break before we actually get seriously on the adventure. I am hoping to be able to continue the blog whilst on the continent, but won't be able to upload while we are actually in Antarctica.
Hope you enjoy the blog...would love any comments.
till the next time.
Nicola
