Light in the Darkness: Antarctica, Ushuaia, and What's Next

After leaving Antarctica and returning to Ushuaia, I reflected on what comes next after visiting all seven continents in one year.

There was an actual nighttime last night for the first time in about 10 days.  It was equally as weird to be around people.  After spending 11 nights with just a handful of passengers and crew, walking around Ushuaia in the light rain was a refreshing change.

I had been really, really sad about the end of the journey to step foot on all seven continents in a year, like a lost puppy, and yesterday it all spun on itself and I realized what I already knew.

The past is the past.  The future is in front of us.

I also keep on going back to, at this time last year (12/30/2022) stepping foot on all seven continents in a single calendar year wasn’t even on the radar.

It’s amazing how quickly life’s trajectory can change.  I wonder how many other opportunities I have passed up in life because it wasn’t the right time, place or space in my life to being open to receiving them?

I am excited for 2024 and all of the new destinations I get to visit for the first time and the many that will be deeper dives or repeats into what I’ve done previously over the years of travel.

Friday, December 29th included a polar plunge in the ships aft cold plunge filled with water from Antarctica and then a quick warm up in the warmer pool.  I would guess there were seventy-five of us that partook and I am now a proud certificate holder of a Viking Polar Plunge.

We also learned about Aquavit, a Norwegian liquor that must sail across the equator twice, typically on top of a ship in oak barrels, before it can be bottled.  Good brands will list the specific ships that it sailed on directly on the bottle-check it out next time you are in your local bottle shop (liquor store).

Today, December 30th is a quick tour of Tierra del Fuego before starting the 36 hour trip back to Colorado.

Signing off for now

Cole from Colorado

Back to the future. A rebel without a cause

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Many of the reflections I share in my blog come from a year of solo travel across all seven continents. In my book, Filling My Bucket: A Year of Solo Travel Across Seven Continents, I go deeper into the moments that shaped me—the freedom, the loneliness, and the lessons that only come from being constantly in motion.

Explore Filling My Bucket at Books by Cole

Tierra del Fuego