Day 7: Ainsworth Bay and Tucker Island

I'd originally thought I might lose some weight during this trip on account of all the exercise we've been getting, but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm actually heavier when I go home. The ship is feeding us very very well. It's a blessing and a curse.

Our morning hike today was around Ainsworth Bay. I donned my Timberland hiking boots that my grandma bought me (and for which only Ashley gave me props -- the rest of you were too occupied with Jimmy Choos and the like), and we boarded the zodiac to go ashore.

It was an easy picturesque hike, although, admittedly, neither Mr. Monkey nor I was terribly impressed. As you know, we are obsessed with animals, and we had little interest in learning about flora. Sorry, plant lovers. We are all about the fauna.

Finally, we spotted some fauna -- elephant seals in the distance, to be exact. The elephant seals, however, were mere specks to the naked eye, and even my zoom couldn't do that much better.

At the end of the morning hike, we had our choice of hot chocolate or...whisky! Our ship is full of lushes; it's open bar, 24-7.

Then back onboard we went.

Our afternoon excursion was to Tucker Island, home to more Magellanic penguins (I never tire of these guys), skuas (birds of prey that eat my beloved penguins), geese, and cormorants.

So far, it's been fun, but the wildlife is not nearly as amazing as that of the Galapagos Islands, which is teeming with exotic indigenous fauna. Of course, this is Patagonia. Far fewer animals can survive in this climate. The scenery is extraordinary here, though, and there is nowhere else where you can have such comfortable access to a glacial wonderland.

On a somewhat related note, Mr. Monkey has been reading a brochure about expeditions to Antarctica. He is crazy.