Beth F. has enjoyed many adventures with Africa Adventure Consultants. In her five trips with us she has explored around the globe, visiting Rwanda, Tanzania, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa and Madagascar. Her latest trip was to Antarctica and Chile.
Beth and her husband Todd planned this trip to fulfill a lifelong dream for her.
The most fascinating part of their trip was “Setting foot on Easter Island and the content of Antarctica. Since I was a kid, I wanted to see the Moai first hand. Visting Rapa Nui and actually seeing the Moai face-to-face renewed that sense of wonder I had as a child. The Moai are truly the stuff of unanswerable mystery. Growing up in a small town in West Texas, going to Dallas was something to write home about. As for Antarctica, when I would mention I wanted to set foot there I might as well have wanted to have set foot on the moon, it seemed that unattainable.”
Beth and Todd spent two days exploring the history, culture and remarkable sights of Rapa Nui and its ancient Moai. The island feels more Polynesian than South American in character. Covering just 64 square miles, Easter Island was annexed by Chile in 1888 and is now known as the world’s largest open-air museum, home to more than 800 of the island’s iconic stone statues. Although theories differ on how and why these monuments were created, the Moai and other aspects of Rapa Nui culture remain a mystery due to the absence of written records from the period.
In addition to visiting Easter Island, Beth and Todd explored Santiago before heading off on an Antarctic cruise, fulfilling a second childhood dream of setting foot on Antarctica. During their cruise, they visited remote islands to admire dramatic scenery and incredible wildlife including countless birds – among them myriad penguin species – seals, dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals, whales and more.
“My favorite wildlife would have to be the mother humpback and her newly born calf swimming alongside the ship. Talk about a humbling moment. Also, the elephant seals with their endless supply of comical snorts, burps and other laughable noises.”
They explored the region’s extraordinary history with local storytellers and visits to historic sites, including Ernest Shackleton’s final resting place on South Georgia Island.
Beth and Todd also enjoyed hikes, zodiac cruises, hiking and kayaking en route to the Antarctic Peninsula. Once there, they were able to stand in awe of the Larsen Ice Shelf, enjoy incredible wildlife sightings, gaze at shimmering icebergs and glaciers and more, including a polar plunge!
“My husband’s favorite part of the trip was the polar plunge, which I watched comfortably from the balcony whilst sipping a glass of Champagne. My favorite part of the trip was … all of it.”
A parting moment was poignant for Beth:
“As our ship was heading into the Drake Passage, (which was the signal our trip was coming to an end) I took a moment to go up on deck while everyone was at dinner. It was snowing and extremely cold, but I felt warmth that was indescribable. I was actually witnessing a part of the planet so beautifully fragile it just took my breath away. Travel always renews my sense of wonder and gratitude for the planet we share with nature.”
Beth had words of praise for her latest trip with AAC.
“We could not have made this trip without the guidance of AAC. From the moment we began planning with Tracy we felt like we really had a team. We even breezed through the entry into Rapa Nui unlike most of the other passengers on our plane. AAC had every detail covered which allowed us to not miss a beat or spend a moment worried about the details. All we did was live in the moment of a truly special trip.”
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Photos courtesy AAC Tanzanite Circle member Beth F.