Well, i've been in Ushuaia for a week now and it must be said that i've not really done very much. However, that is exactly what I felt like doing and sometimes its great to take some time to do nothing, rest, meet the people around you and not feel the 'need' to dash straight off to see the next great landmark.

Anyway, i've started to come down with a cold (seems to be an epedemic in the Hostel.) I'm hoping that it will pass in a couple of days as i'm of to Antarctica tomorrow (speaking of great landmarks!). I hear that the Drake Passage is typically a very rough crossing and sea sickness is VERY common (even amongst those not usually affected). Sea sickness combined with a head cold is not the start that i'd hoped for on my Antarctic trip, but i'll have to wait and see how that works out.

The trip has a great range of lectures from prominent PhD's and expedition veterans on all aspects of the Antarctic environment and wildlife, so it will be good to be learning lots of new stuff.

The ship leaves tomorrow afternoon and we spend 2 days crossing the Drake Passage before we hit the South Shetlands and then its onwards and 'downwards' to Antarctica. Once we reach the peninsular we should be making landings in the small Zodiacs dinghys 2 or 3 times a day (weather depending.) So expect lots of pictures of Penguins and Whales (and of course lots of Ice).