Friday, the 8th of January

Reaching the Polarcircle

Photo Credit: Ulrich Breitsprecher and Matt Konfist

After crossing the polar circle, we are now surrounded by the icebergs we had hoped to see. I counted 35 during my morning whale watch on the bridge. The view is unbelievable and the hard-drive of my Mac is filling up with photos. The sea is quiet. There are both types of icebergs: enormous floating masses and tiny blue-green sculptures. Each of them gives a sense of quietude and calm that carries over the observer. I stop and stare and can hardly turn my gaze away. Only the spray of the bow cuts through the waves and the distant sound of Polarstern's motor breaks the silence.

 

Ulrich Breitsprecher and Matt Konfist