Grytviken

Massive elephant seals, sea lions and seals lie just behind the waterline on the beach. The deafeningly loud "burps" of the elephant seals in particular give us a queasy feeling for the first few meters. We explore the surroundings for a few hours, see the first king and gentoo penguins, and one or two mouths remain open in amazement and enthusiasm. As the weather is stable and the swell allows it, we sail on to explore Prion Island. A few wandering albatrosses nest here between meters of tussock grass, which at this time of year are about to hatch their offspring.