Umitaka Maru — CEAMARC voyage2 February 2008First icebergPatrice Pruvost — correspondent aboard the Umitaka Maru
Today, we see our first iceberg!
We are always fascinated and impressed by these enormous masses of ice, incredibly white, floating in the water. Whether it's the first or the 'nth' iceberg you see, the pleasure and excitement of such a spectacle is the same and no one can be indifferent to them!
This iceberg is really big; it must measure close to 3 km long and 50 meters high. This immense iceberg must have calved from another that was even bigger. We are facing an enormous white mass that stands out between sky and sea. This first iceberg makes us feel that we are finally in Antarctica and have arrived at the heart of our mission.
We do the day station 1.5 nautical miles (about 3km) from this gigantic island of ice. After having sailed for days in a sea bare of any object, we are happy to contemplate these blocks of ice that play with the light of day. Is it because the iceberg is so close that we have caught several icefish for the first time? One more sign that tells us we have penetrated the Antarctic zone. This entry into Antarctica is accompanied by a drop in temperatures. Now we have to work with gloves on and wear polar clothing!
Today I try my first Japanese bath. In Japan, tradition dictates that you shower before taking a bath. Showers are taken sitting on a stool. The ship respects tradition! A huge tub has been filled with warm water so we can take our bath after our shower.
To top this beautiful day, we have the pleasure of sashimi for dinner! The menu comprises slices of raw fish and squid accompanied by rice. We are all, or nearly all, passionately fond of this kind of menu.
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