First look at Guests at a You could teil there was great antici- pation. Ship mail averages 500 pieces per port but in Ushuaia, the most southern city in the world where they do a brisk business in pen- guin postcards postmarked “Argentinean Territory of Antarctica”, the front desk received 3,720 pieces. A sizable blip in this lit- tle town's economy. @ Jan. 28 — Excitement built as four guest lecturers with impressive credentials began their seminars on the history, research and importance of Antarctica. And the awe and amazement was universal when we awoke to a gloriously balmy summer day of zero degrees, not counting wind chill, ta see miles and miles of steep white mountain slopes, absolutely smooth for huge areas or broken up by craggy rocks. Qccasional patches of little black dots were revealed as pen- guins when examined with the powerful binoculars which were a gift to every passenger from Holland America. These tubby little birds somehow trek high up the slopes to make their nests where the winter snow will first met, then slip and slide their way back down to feed and cavort in the freezing waters. Hundreds of them played around our bow as they raced out, over and back into the water like skipping stones. An occasional seal sunned itself on a chunks of floating ice and Both Humpback and Orca whales were spotted very close to ¢ ship. _As the bridge alerted us to each new view passengers ran —FRAVEL tarctic ball from port to starboard snapping pictures afraid to miss anything. Our good luck in weather changed mid-afternoon when a verti- cal snow storm forced us inside but by then ice blindness and exhaustion had overtaken many. The next day however dawn is again as good as it can get here. Unlimited visibility and warm — if you're wearing toques, gloves and thermal! underwear. We're still plying the charnels and islands of the Arctic Peninsular which is such a small area of the whole conti- nent and yet the views are vast. Today we closely navigate dozens of ice bergs the size of large city blocks. Some are per- fectly smooth-topped, others are fantastic shapes and several carry hundreds of penguins within easy sight. We spot Esperanza Research Station where a zodiac zooms out and around the Rotterdam, the largest passenger ship ever allowed in these waters. The occupants wave with all the fervour of cabin fever and I think it’s quite chy" * of us not invite them to climb the Jacob’s Ladder for tea. On board the Crow's Nest Lounge becon,. “vase camp” where we sip thick Dutch pea soup and chat to the lecturers who patiently share with us their abundant knowledge of i.:+ area. The day ends with everyone dressed in white and silver formal wear for an Officer’s Ball. Penguins it seems come in all shapes and sizes. ~—- Glynis Bolton boarded the Rotterdam Jan. 6 in Fort Lauderdale on a Grand World Voyage. Watch for her dispatches regularly in the News. City of Sails '" Sl Auckland by’ Christine. - > Niven, Lonely Planet, first "edition, Jan., 2000, 180 ~ pp. 10 colour maps. . »-“Auckland resident *, Christine Niven provides us “with this entertaining look at i the City of Sails. ; ‘Almost a quarter of New Zealand’s population reside in the Greater Auckland region (1:2 million) and it has the : world’s largest concentration of Polynesian culture. | Photos, maps and sidebars - accompany the text in this “...weleome addition to Lonely Planet’s travel guide series. — Jolm Goodman ~ gold list for the Year 2060. - The New Zealand properties in the top > be Dr ae aa tae New Zealand’s northern waters teeming with life From page 34 capital of New Zealand. The ~ warm, coastal climate remains moderate throughout the year, without extremes of temperature. The summer months between December and February are particularly warm and sunny, offering a perfect opportunity to hit the crystal clear waters surround- ing Auckland. The self-proclaimed “City of Sails” was a natural choice to host this year’s America’s Cup. For starters, this genuine maritime city offers some of the world’s best yachting. Auckland is home to more yachts per capita than any- where else in the world. Between October 1999 and March 2000, teams trom six nations are challenging the current champion Team New Zealand for the prestigious America’s Cup. Yacht syndi- cates from around the globe participate in the America’s Cup, making it the world’s premiere yachting regatta. More information about the America’s Cup is available at SEED FD. rrr ie Wea eee eee Fe ee eee 500 places to stay are Nugget Point Resort in Queenstown and Huka Lodge in Taupo. Condé Nast readers said Nugget Point offered terrific views, laid-back yet out- standing service and immaculate rooms. They particularly recommended a soak in the spa pool while looking out over the . One of the best ways to appreciate New Zealand’s beautiful coastline is on a charter cruise. During the America’s Cup, many of Auckland’s charter companies are offering a prime opportu- nity to view the race with spe - cial spectator cruises. Charter cruises range from luxurious, including onboard bar facili- ties, gourmet meals and tele- visions, to “bareboat,” where visitors with a reasonable level of boating experience can take the helm themselves. The deck of a chartered yacht is sure to provide an excellent view of both the America’s Cup race and the 16,000 km of unspoiled New Zealand coastline. Adventurous travelers can explore the waters surround- ing Auckland by renting a catamaran, paddling a canoe at Mission Bay, sea. kayaking around Waiheke Island, or windsurfing and fishing just about anywhere. Snorkelling and scuba diving are also pop- ular activities. The ocean teems with marine life such as dolphins, penguins, seals, orca, and a variety of colorful birds and fish. Where there is water there are beaches. The East Coast boasts white sand and swim- ming, while the West Coast is famous for its black sand and amazing surfing. With its tranquil subtropi- cal location in the South Pacific, New Zealand offers travelers a friendly, beautiful and diverse experience. For travel information before leav- ing Canada, contact the New Zealand Tourism Board toll- free at 1-800-888-5494 or visit the 100% Pure New Zealand Web site = at . Getting There: Air New Zealand Phone 1-800-663-5494 Qantas Airways www .qantas .com Phone: 1-800-227-4500 Canada 3060 Holidays Phone: 877-973 3000 | __ New Zealand accommodations score high on list "* . The’ Condé. Nast Traveler 2000 Gold ~~ List has just released its “Best Places to Stay dnt the World” fist which polled 26,000 readers, The highest scoring 500 hotels, resorts, ‘spas and. cruise lines make up the Shotover River. The peaceful ambience was said to set Huka Lod tion. Readers recommended reserving a romantic private dinner in the Lodge’s wine cellar. And one reader said they inad asked to ouy the sheets they were so smooth. apart from other accommoda- Sunday, February 6, 2000 - North Shore News - 35 y 7 3 septa New York Alr Nationa) Gusrd/Weatharwise Magazine IN the Antarctic “spring” massive biocks of ice break apart as permanent and seasonal ice shift and move. Desert of ice on display THE latest issue of Weatherwise Magazine comtains a cover story on “Antarctica: A Desert of Ice at the Borrom of the World” written by USA Today weather editor. Jack Williams. The “continent for science” is the closest you can get to being © on another world without actually leaving our planet.. Almost 9,000 researchers live on Antarctica between October through .. February with the number dropping to around 1,000 for the rest. of the inhospitable calendar. The Weatherwise (Jan./Feb. $5.85) feature, with pages of fas-_. cinating photos and graphics is available at Global News, The - Market, Park Royal South. com f PRINCESS CRUISES SALE AT BCAA FEBRUARY 7-12 ONLY!" ez 4 Process Cruwes” aimee Reena ent bene Bo Ae ae oe a te. E CU ar nak we ry SPV CL 7 DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISES FROM $699UScpyice omy Including port charges © Ask us about airfare to Florida and San Juan .... Many dates and itineraries on sale ask,us! tbs cob ek eee ee BS EE Rei NS