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Antarctica is the Earth's southernmost continent, encompassing the South Pole, as described in geographic textbooks. It's the fifth-largest continent after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Approximately 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile (1,600 meters) in thickness. Its mountains cover a significant area, making Antarctica the highest of the seven continents on average. In addition, it is also the windiest, coldest, and least populated region on the planet.

Two years ago, we tried to set foot on the South Pole while traveling across Tasmania, Australia. However, it took at least five hours to fly over from Hobart, Oceania, which made it impossible for us to take a daily shore excursion. Since then, Punta Arenas (Sandy Point) has become our dream place to reach Antarctica.

Punta Arenas in southern Chile lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Strait of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. It remains a prosperous town today, thanks to its rich natural resources. To us, the city was the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a vast region of fjords, rivers, steppes, and the Andes Mountains to the north. To the south reclined the tremendous frozen mass of Antarctica. Adventure awaited in any direction at this port near the world's end.

Mom booked the tour to Antarctica months ahead of our departure. Upon arriving at King George Island of the Antarctic Peninsula, we would visit the research center, one of the continent's oldest and most critical meteorological stations. Meanwhile, we were planning to embark on a zodiac to Ardley Island. In this marine protected area, Papua Penguin colonies lived, and to catch sight of the Chinstrap Penguin extending the narrow band of black feathers from ear to ear, the Gentoo Penguin sporting a broad white stripe like a bonnet across the top of its head, the Adelie Penguin waddling its signature white "tuxedo shirt" front, a killer (orca) whale or baleen whale with its pair of blowholes, etc.

This morning, tiredness caught up with me on the bus just as we arrived at Punta Arenas International Airport (PUQ). Here, we boarded the chartered plane for the approximately 2.5-hour flight to Villa Las Estrellas, a Chilean Antarctic settlement. We were scheduled for a four-hour field trip to King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Mom and I were covered from head to toe with some cloth. I felt like I weighed over 200 pounds (91 kilograms) in my attire. Before I knew it, I was taking off layers of clothing. Soon enough, a disaster struck! Our plane to the Antarctic Peninsula was canceled due to the heavy fog and poor visibility. The wind must be 112 miles/hour or 180 kilometers/hour to blow away the fog. Otherwise, the fog was expected to persist the rest of the day. According to the pre-travel arrangement, we had to change our plan to Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate, Argentina, where an astonishing 230-foot/70-meter wall of ice sparkled with a thousand shades of blue among the 13 glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park.

The day couldn't get any worse. But oh, how naive I was, confirmed! At mid-flight, people from Argentina ordered us to go back to Chile. At first, I thought Argentina was at war against Great Britain over the Falkland or Malvinas Islands. Later, Mom overheard that the airport workers might have been on strike in El Calafate. No matter what, we floated in the air and landed where we took off an hour ago. Since it was not our fault, we received a full refund.

Mom could not let it go quickly. She asked me if I wanted to tour Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1978. But just as she finished offering, I exploded with a NO! After experiencing such a fantastic exploration, I almost melted and was barely conscious. Of course, I couldn't blame anyone for waking up at dawn to catch a plane and returning with little savory memories. I would instead dive into a swimming pool and soak myself in a hot spa. I did it with steam, taking off my pants!

【紅霞譯】

正如地理教材所述，南極洲是地球最南端的大陸，白雪蓋頂；繼亞洲、非洲、北美洲、南美洲之後，其地表面積名列世界第五名。大約98%的土地被平均至少1英里／1,600米厚的冰川覆蓋，高山巍峨，使得南極洲成為七大洲平均高度最高的一個。此外，它風力最強、溫度最低、人口最少，可以說舉世無雙。

兩年前，當穿越澳大利亞塔斯馬尼亞海峽時，我們曾試圖縱跨南極。從大洋洲霍巴特“閃耀的智慧”出發，單程至少要花上5小時飛行，根本不可能當天往返，因此打那以後，我們立志要來智利“土地的盡頭”阿雷納斯“沙灘”角實現夢想。

阿雷納斯角是智利南部的名城，背面有連綿不斷的安第斯“高聳的山脊”山脈，前沿有濤浪翻滾的麥哲倫“巨大”海峽。早在巴拿馬“多魚之地”運河通航之前，這裡曾為貨輪過往太平洋─大西洋交匯處合恩角“海岬”的主要港口，至今因為富含自然資源而依然欣欣向榮。對我們來說，阿雷納斯角不僅是通往智利北部旅遊勝地──南美丘陵、太平洋峽灣、沼澤河流、草原牧區的重要門戶，而且還是連接智利南部與南極洲的交通要塞，我們的探險之路應始於天涯海角、世界最南城市的阿雷納斯角。

正因如此，媽媽早在出發前幾個月就把南極洲行程定好。我們計劃首先參觀南極半島喬治“農夫”王島上的智利氣象研究中心，然後前往極地動物聚集地戀家阿德利“熱情草地”島，除了訪問巴布亞“捲曲”企鵝家族棲息地之外，還要努力捕捉臉纏黑色羽絲的帽帶企鵝、頭戴白色羽帽的紳士企鵝、身着“燕尾服襯衫”的阿德利企鵝、實為海豚的逆戟鯨、長有一對噴氣孔的鬚鯨、等等。

早起在通向阿雷納斯角國際機場的大巴上，我一直昏昏欲睡，包機要帶我們飛往南極洲智利“星城”考察站，來回總共10小時，光路上就得耗掉5個鐘頭。

為了禦寒，我和媽媽從頭到腳里三層外三層，把自己裹得嚴嚴實實，感覺足有200磅／91公斤以上。沒過多久，壞消息傳來！因為南極半島持續大霧，能見度很低，暴風時速如果低於112英里或者180公里的話，老天休想趕走大霧，可據氣象預報，今天一整天都不會出現大風天氣，這麼一來南極機場關閉，我們無法就地着陸。按照事先部署的方案，我們必須改變計劃，經阿根廷“銀色之地”卡拉法特“填縫劑”城取道飛往佩里托·莫雷諾“專家·黑髮”冰川，其內230英尺／70米高的“冰牆”號稱冰川國家公園13座冰山中最雄偉的。

去不了南極，本來夠讓人晦氣的；可禍不單行，沒想到壞事接踵而至。我們從智利飛往阿根廷途中，卡拉法特機場拒絕讓我們着陸。我以為阿根廷人正為福克蘭“獵鷹”/馬爾維納斯“光明誓言使徒”群島爭端忙着跟英國佬打仗，但媽媽聽來的小道消息卻說當地工人鬧罷工，機場顧不上接待這些不速之客。我們像無頭蒼蠅，在空中漫無目標閒逛了個把鐘頭，最終灰溜溜地打道回府，因為我們不是過錯方，所以全部預付的費用將會如數退還回來。

媽媽心不平，氣不順，癮不過，事不完，見機跟我商量：“革命尚未成功，同志仍需努力”！她還想去智利潘恩“藍色”塔國家公園，1978年被聯合國教科文組織列為世界生物保護區。“不去！”我斬釘截鐵，先前兩次“奇異經歷”把我折騰得夠嗆，我對外出觀光早已失去興趣。當然我並不怪罪什麼，誰叫我天不亮就昏頭昏腦爬上飛機，在空中兜了一圈反倒哪都沒去成？此時此刻，我情願一頭扎進游泳池或者泡在熱浴溫泉里，讓不快煙消霧散。對啦，就這麼做！

Today in History(歷史上的今天):

2009: 新西蘭峽灣國家公園(Fiordland NP, NZ)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas，the City of the Red Roofs 沙尖·紅色屋頂之城-30001.JPG Punta Arenas, the City of the Red Roofs

(阿雷納斯角·紅色屋頂之城)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas w Croats in Some 50% of the Population 大約50％是克羅地亞人-40001.JPG Punta Arenas w/ Croats in Some 50% of the Population

(阿雷納斯角·克羅地亞人占大約50％)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas-120001.JPG Waterfront of Punta Arenas (阿雷納斯角海濱)

12-27-12_ Old Punta Arenas Pier0001.JPG Star Princess Docked over the Archipelago de Tierra del Fuego off the Southernmost Tip of the South American Mainland, across the Strait of Magellan

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪停泊在南美洲大陸最南端火地島的麥哲倫海峽)

12-27-12_ Strait of Magellan 麥哲倫海峽-70001.JPG Strait of Magellan, a European Sea Route to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean

(麥哲倫海峽·從大西洋到太平洋的歐洲人海上航線)

12-27-12_ Punta Arenas_Magallanes Tierra de Pioneros 麥哲倫先驅之地-80001.JPG Magallanes Tierra de Pioneros (麥哲倫先驅之地)

12-27-12_ Clock Tower 鐘塔0001.JPG

German Clock Tower of Punta Arenas (阿雷納斯角·德式鐘塔)

12-27-12_ Cathedral 大教堂0001.JPG

Sacred Heart Cathedral w/ a Renaissance Tower, Built in 1892

(聖心大教堂·擁有文藝復興風格塔樓，建於1892年)

12-27-12_ Nao Victoria, Magellan's Ship Replica in Museo Nao Victoria 沙角博物館·維多利亞大帆船即麥哲倫船復製品0001.JPG Nao Victoria, Magellan's Ship Replica in Museo Nao Victoria