Waiting for us in our cabin was a nice insulated RED parka, a high quality blue backpack and a matching zippered portfolio. The portfolio contained a spiral book of facts about Antarctica, like the Geography and History of the Continent, the sea animals, birds, plants, climate and much, much more. I figured the parkas were red so it would be easier to find us if we became lost on shore. In the backpack we carried our cameras, extra film, water bottle and other necessities.

After all passengers were on board, the first order of business was a safety drill. If you heard 7 short blast and 1 long blast of the ship's horn, you were to report to the Discoverer Lounge in full dress from head to toe. For me that meant your regular underclothing, one or two pairs of wool socks, thermal long johns, sweat pants or similar heavy pants. Now I would put on those special knee-high waterproof boots I lugged all the way from Ohio; next the waterproof, windproof slacks. On the top part of my body I had a moisture wicking turtleneck, a light wool sweater, a sweatshirt, the parka, the life vest, then the backpack. On my head I had a double layered wool/cotton hood that I could adjust to cover as much of my face as I wanted. Finally, the insulated waterproof gloves. Quite a picture!! I soon discovered that I could never locate all these articles of clothing that were so neatly stored in the drawers and closet, get them on and get to the lifeboat in time to save my life. Plan B: I put everything in a neat pile on the love seat in the order which I would put them on. However, the parka and life vest were hanging on a coat rack near the door of the cabin. Thank God we never heard those dreaded blasts.

After departure from Punta Arenas, we cruised through the Straight of Magellan into the Atlantic Ocean to Westpoint Island in the Falklands. We arrived at 6:30 A.M.

There were two types of landings, dry and wet. Most of the landings were wet; meaning you disembarked the zodiacs in water. There were always at least two crew members tugging and pulling you, helping you to stay upright.

Other instruction: Don't touch the animals. Sit down and the penguins will come to you. Stay away from the seals; they are aggressive.

Tags: Everyone had a tag with your number on both sides. One side was green, meaning you were on the ship. The other side was red, meaning you were on shore. When you left the ship you turned your tag to red and when you returned to the ship, you turned it to green. And never, never turn anyone else's tag.

One of the lecturers told us this true story. On a cruise in the South Pacific, the passengers went ashore on an uninhabited island. A woman returned to the ship and thinking that her husband was on board, turned his tag to green. After the ship sailed, she couldn't find him and told the crew. The ship returned to the island, made a very thorough search and never found him. Ummm.

~~ Installment #6 will deal with the Falklands.

Sarah