Camping in Antarctica and the (in)continental landing

Camping in Antarctica, not something everyone can say they've done

The weather held and the outdoor camping was on.
We were shipped to land on a small island at 21:00 and could start dig our grave to sleep in/on the snow for the night.
I guessed I would be the one with the least experience with camping, but thenagain I might be one with the most experience with snow. I found a nice place close to a small hill and dug about a meter so I would have nice coverage for the wind - which it prooved to be none of.
Most just wandered off and sat down in the middle of the plain, stepped a few times on the ground and placed their gear down. A lot looked a bit confused and didn't seem to know what they were supposed to be doing, kind of like the penguins we'd gotten to know very well these last days.

Finally got the chance to do something other than eating and
going where I was supposed to, so I dug tunnels all over the place

The sunset was beautiful, eventhough it doesn't not really set, it sun just hides behind a mountain for a short while before it returns, it still gave a beautiful view.
More or less as expected I had a hard time sleeping, but managed to steal a few hours of on-and-off sleep.

Next morning we were picked up at 6:30 for a swift return to the ship, an even swifter shower and a tad slower breakfast before the first continental landing at Neko Harbour.

As the greatest surprise of the trip there were gentoo penguins waiting for us on the shore, more nesting close to the beach and even a weddell seal a bit further down the beach.
There was also a small hike up the mountain ridge to a viewpoint were we could get some pictures of ourselves with the Antarctica flag.
Most likely there will be more interesting sights on the islands than on the mainland, but of course to actualy set foot on the continent is an important part of the trip for most of us and now that goal has been reached. For me this means that Oceania is the sole remaining continent to set foot on, and for surprisingly many of us traveling here either Oceania or Africa is still missing to get all seven.

Before every landing there was, of course, an announcement that we should get ready to disembark at 9:00 or whatever time the first zodiacs would leave the mothership. There were also some other announcements, as e.g. dinner, lectures, the store is open etc.
From time to time during these announcements there would magically appear a jar with some strange words, if this was to appear the announcer had to pick a word from the jar and find a way to get it into their announcement. This is why we were told there would be an "incontinental" landing and not the ordinary continental. We did get a bit wet, but I think the worst problems are gone by now.

More Gentoo Penguins

It didn't feel like it was much of a hike when I was there, but the picture kind of proves otherwise

Most made it to the end of our hike at Neko Harbour