Antarctica IV

Our last visit to a base, it´s another ex BAS base, Port Lockroy. Founded in 1944 for WWII intelligence reasons, it was manned until 1962. It´s muldered and rotted from then until just 2 years ago. When it was restored by a British charity (the Antarctic Heritage Trust) and turned into an unlikely gift shop & museum !

It´s an excellent & interesting museum and also gift shop, quite a lot of people from the ship bought souvenirs (including me, a mug (sic)), well, you would would´nt you ?  It´s run by 4 plummy girls (volunteers) who came out with the MV Ushuaia just 11 days before, on the first cruise of the season. We are they´re first customers ! They are out here until March 2011.

Inside it´s a time warp from the 40´s, 50´s & 60´s. They never seemed to make themselves comfortable in those days. The wooden structure resembles a garden shed and has a little more insulation, just 2-3 inches. They have just uncovered & restored some hand painted "girly" pictures, obviously from the 1940´s (the style is unmistakable) under several layers of paint.

Initially, I was quite excited by the possibilty of returning and volunteering at this base, and the volunteers were very upbeat about it, they said that not many guys apply. But two days later I realise that it´s Antarctica, yes, but primarily they are running a gifte shoppe, for 7 months, for no pay. They are stuck on a small island, there is no science here and apparently the other bases are being snooty with them by not talking on the radio.

Zodiac Cruise !!  I am out of luck here ! I get alocated to the "Ye Oldes" zodiac completely by chance. This is the only boat that does not get involved in a massive zodiac "Pirate War" involving snow balls (snow taken from passing icebergs) !! I am out-voted every time I try and join in, and it looks like great fun !! boo hoo !!

          Penguin about town !!