The first part is done- The (hopefully?) hardest part of the trip is over.

If you're here, and reading this, I think it's a safe bet that you know who I am and are maybe even (at least in some form) vaguely familiar with my past travels. I am by no means someone I would refer to as a "well-seasoned traveler" but I am at least, lightly salted. (I could use some more thyme if we're being honest.) But something about this trip has caused me more anxiety than any trip I think I've ever been on. For the last week or so, leading up to the trip, I have spent hours awake each night, worrying over how it's going to go, what am I going to miss/mess up? And when I have slept, I've been having nightmares. For instance- I had a dream I was in a plane crash. don't worry though, the plane crash was in Bermuda, and everyone in my dream was fine. I was more worried about the fact that because of this plane crash, I would somehow miss my trip to Antarctica. (Seriously, at one point in my dream, I lamented to the other passengers with our scattered luggage around us- "How am I going to get to Antarctica in time!?" No one could answer, and I was like, "Why am I even in Bermuda?" Good question dream Emily. Too bad she woke up kinda panicked before that could get resolved.) So, anxiety, insomnia...I've been nervous before trips...before. But maybe because I had more control over the entire trip it was better? I should mention, because I wondered if I was letting people get the wrong impression-- I'm going on a cruise to Antarctica. It's tourism with extra nerdiness thrown in. Lectures by professors will be the main entertainment on the theater stage, and of course, a whole helping of geeking out by yours truly. So was part of this anxiety because I was going with a group? If I miss a step- what do? Well the answer is call but when you're brain is like, "YOU'RE GOING TO MESS UP" you kinda....don't remember basic stuff. But I guess I didn't know how I felt about "if something goes wrong, go through intermediary" When I travel by myself (/small group of friends) if something goes wrong....I come up with the solution. And I can immediately act on it. Here's a flashback: (and also a reminder to never do this) When I lost my passport in Iceland- I mean I 100% panicked, but I could focus energy on fixing my predicament. I had the ability to call the hostel, scour the area, check with the locals etc. I also, 100%, got lucky that I think I was without my passport for....mmmmm....maybe 2 hours? Someone dropped it off at the tourist café and they called because I had already been by to tell them to call me if it turned up. Anxiety about a lack of control- reasonable. I think. You can judge if you want, but I'm calling it reasonable. Not gonna lie, there was some anxiety about the weight restrictions we were given for our luggage. I only get 1 bag and 1 carry on for the boat??? There is logic by the way, but, well here's the situation. We fly international right? You get 2 bags and even 2 carry ons? You go Glen Coco. Oh, wait. Once you're in the country, you're flying domestically soooooo No. You don't get 2 checked bags. Okay, fine what-oh and that means domestic weight restrictions. Son of a-

it's fine. If I can go to Iceland with a backpack of clothes and my camera gear and that's it, I can sure as heck do fine with an actual checked bag. Except my brain kept telling me I don't know how to handle cold weather, and all their recommendations on clothes to bring I think messed with me. The weather is going to be about 20F at the lowest- I've been in weather like that! I've skied and I've lived in Virginia, and I've been to GD Iceland (seriously, Iceland was the trip I was like "It's another cold weather trip Emily, just do what you did then you'll be fine" so....lotta my pep talk comes from that.) I know how to dress for that weather....it's just been a while. It hasn't really gotten that cold where I live yet....and even last year I didn't really go out, so I didn't dress for cold weather so much as "dress to make it from car to destination". So anxiety about appropriate gear. Ironically, asides from memory cards, I didn't have anxiety about like, my actual camera gear. I guess that's at least one thing on lock. Go me. So, we come to the last, and biggest concern. Traveling in the age of Covid-19.

I have...17 masks total I think. And I think 12 made it on this trip. Argentina, the country we have to go through first before we can go to Antarctica is refreshingly strict on their Covid policies.....which also makes travelling harder. You need a PCR test - sure

Proof of vaccination - you got it

A letter from your insurance carrier that you can be treated- Oh, uh....um. yeah I can.... A sworn affidavit filled out 48 hours before you're flight - a what? sure yeah, List is getting a bit more tricky - timing this shit is hard Then we land and policies have changed (Thanks Omicron) - you need a PCR test upon arrival - oh um. yep. go for the nose buddy. you'll need another one in 7 days. okay. then you need another one 72 hours before your return flight home - OK!

And this is when I was grateful for being with a group instead of on my own for once. Step-by -step processes for how to get this done, plus coordinated testing times in line with certain group activities (like arriving at the hotel) This isn't my first time flying in the Pandemic, but it is my first international trip. If not made less stress free, it at least actually had the proper steps down.

So- I roll up to Delta on Saturday night, and while I thought I was checked in, turns out I wasn't, I was still able to breeze through with all the documents in hand because more organized people told me to. Then it was just general anxiety cause I was at the airport with like an hour before my flight and I couldn't go back! So everything was already in hand. They checked our temperature at the gate with one of the wrist ones, marked a big ol red 'T' on my paper ticket (that was the other reason they wouldn't let me check in online apparently) and despite a minute of more panic when I had to step out of line when I came up to board, they gave me the thumbs up and I was down the ramp. (I think, it was because I blinked during the facial scan, but who knows.)

Then it was just about 10 hours of flying in a seat with one of those arm screens (that I couldn't figure out for like, half an hour and had to ask the flight attendant how to work it (it was a press latch!) ) and lots of leg room at the expense of my backpack being shoved in an overhead 6 rows behind me. I got like, maybe 2 hours of sleep. Suffice it to say, I am exhausted.

The meal was decent on the plane but.....

so

I couldn't tell if it was my seat partner or the guy across the aisle but there was a lot of farting on my flight. The mask only helped a little. I watched 2 3/4 documentaries, 2 movies, and caught the ending of another documentary I started on a different flight not too long ago. (The Lost Leonardo, Last Christmas, Reminiscence, Water and Power, The Truffle Hunters) Hey, Wham Ruling: If I watch a movie called Last Christmas, did I already lose? Because well

of course Wham "Last Christmas" played.

it was 96% of the movie's sound track. variations at least. Anyways, stinky, long flight, some nodding off despite rough air, and after landing having to hang out for another 15 minutes before we could de-board, I got off the plane, through customs surprisingly quickly, (got bumped 3 times by some Irish dude cause he kept turning around to talk to his buddies and taking a step back....into me) I met the travel group and bussed into Buenos Aires. Little tour as we head to our hotel, and

holy shit

I made it

I didn't think I'd get this far

But somehow I did.

I made it into Argentina, all my bags, all my documents, all of my dignity (well I didn't sleep with my mouth open and I could carry my heavy ass camera case so...) I made it to the Group Pick up for the travel group, made it to the hotel, got the 2nd covid test, got checked in, and even socialized a bit with some of the other passengers because it was 10 am and the rooms weren't ready. Y'all it's a huge nerd fest and I'm in love. The biggest hiccup didn't even involve me honestly. Like it did, in the way that we're all in the same room sorta thing.... Real talk: There was a lot of attitude from some other guests towards the travel...leaders? guides? i dunno, the people who's job it is to make our vacation...actually a vacation. People were throwing hissy fits about the covid tests To be fair, their point is somewhat valid, ie, "We just took a test on Friday" but the ship doesn't board us until monday at 3 so...that's maybe cutting it close at best, or in my case, missing the timeline completely. (it was 72 hours until plane departure, and then another 72 hours until boat departure.) We spend Saturday and Sunday being in Buenos Aires, that's 48 hours alone, and when did you take your test? I dunno, just....good ol Americans arguing bout freeduhm. Frankly, I remember what happened to the cruise industry at the start of Covid so.

No thanks. Give me ALL the tests baby. You want proof of vaccination? BAM here ya go. I hope you're having a pleasant day. Oh, and don't mind me just gonna throw on some hand sanny.... I get that it sucks we have to pay more money for tests. Especially since even at discount, this trip is HELLA expensive. But....y'all. Pay the $60, cry because the nose swab makes you, get over it and then let's go see some goddamn penguins in 48 hours. It's definitely a trip that caters to those who expect to be waited on hand and foot. And I don't get the attitudes I saw. They're literally spelling out every step, they're providing easy access to tests, extra masks, we've got guys carrying our bags to our rooms and the airports- calm down because they asked you which bag is actually being checked. Anyways. That's a small handful. We had a reception with everyone who's going on our ship. 136 passengers and then about 20 of us went to get dinner and see a tango show which was awesome. Quick sidebar: There was a 2 hour tour of Buenos Aires offered. My roommate for this trip, Cricket, texted that she would be at the hotel in time, and so I started typing this up instead of taking a nap. Around 1, an hour before the tour, I'm spinning. I go have a nap. Wake up panicked at 1:30 like, 7 minutes before she walks in and frankly I gotta get her to tell me what the hell kind of first impression that was. But we get on the tour bus, I even bring my camera despite the incessant rain the Bueno Aires greeted us with, but....

I ....

keeep.....

dozing...

off...

I felt so bad, The Architecture, the influence of cultures- what I was awake for was very fascinating. I just couldn't stay awake. Managed to get my life into some semblance of control after we returned, (the reception, the tango dinner, and even finishing this post- sans pictures.) OH DAMN. I totally forgot about the blown fuse. Happened like, 10 minutes after they let me into the room. I needed to charge my laptop, never fear, I have an adapter. I....can't get my laptop plug in. Ah screw it, I'll ask front desk. get an adapter. *My* adapter works with my phone charger for some reason, so I plug that in. Then, it's my laptop's turn. *fzzZAP* A spark, that sorta ozone smell

Shit

Everything is out. The phone, the lamp, the overhead, the clock...

I walk of shame to the desk to get it sorted and that took nap time I desperately needed (around 11:40ish?) so. At the risk of ending this post abruptly, I've got to sleep- I have a flight tomorrow in 7 hours and we all have evidence of what happens to me with little sleep. *FZZZAP*