ZECO TRAVEL TALK

This enigmatic land is often regarded as the seat of civilization and has contributed remarkable treasures to the world of art, poetry, architecture and, most notably, history. While a fascinating place to travel, Iran is a place where one can not travel without a guide and most people are apprehensive to even consider going in the first place—a perception fueled by Western political figureheads and negative media coverage.

Recently, travel guru and Seattle native, Rick Steves visited Iran. While known for his “Europe Through the Back Door” PBS television series and popular guidebooks, Read more

Zegrahm travelers recently had the privilege of traveling with French Captain Étienne Garcia aboard Le Diamant on our Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands itinerary. Below is an excerpt from his farewell speech that was so well received by passengers, staff, and crew that they hoped we would publish it for all to read:

Good evening dear passengers, this is your Captain speaking from the . . . the stage. I don’t have the eloquence of Peter [Harrison] but I will do my best! Tonight I wanted to come personally to give you a few words of farewell. These 20 days have linked us with memorable and warm souvenirs. Read more

Congratulations Valene Smith! On January 28, 2010, Valene, who has traveled with Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions an astounding 27 times since 1993, will be recognized at the grand opening of the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology. Since its inception in 1970, Valene has made significant contributions to the museum on the California State University, Chico’s campus (where she is also a professor emerita in the field of anthropology); the museum has been renamed in her honor. Read more

We are delighted to welcome Simon Bellingham to the expedition leader team! Simon developed a passion for wildlife as a young child growing up in rural Zimbabwe where he fostered his love of the bush during holidays in remote regions such as Mana Pools National Park. Although he went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Chiropractic, his passion for nature could not keep him away from the lure of the wilderness and he soon resigned from the comforts of life as a doctor for a career in wildlife. Read more

As our 2010 Antarctica, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands’ trip comes to a close, we thought it was the perfect time to learn more about the important climate work being conducted in this remote area of the world. Below is a post written by Spruce Schoenemann, a Glaciology graduate student in the University of Washington’s Department of Earth and Space Sciences.

It’s a pleasure to be sharing some of my Antarctic experiences with you! I’m sure some of you probably wonder why or how one ends up working in Antarctica anyway? Here is the why. The intricacy of climate science is what fascinates me, particularly the multiple interactions and feedback processes which interrelate between the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the cryosphere. I am drawn to those icy, snowy, remote, and dramatic places on this earth, and I feel a responsibility to protect the intrinsic value of these unique environments. How? After learning about a job posting by the UNH Science Coordination Office, I applied to work as a Science Tech on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide Ice Core Project during the 2008/2009 austral summer. The ice core project was in its second season of drilling, and our goal for the season was to drill 1,000 meters of ice. The WAIS Divide Ice Core would be 3,500 meters long once the drill reached the base of the ice sheet scheduled for 2011. The WAIS Ice Core is unique in the high resolution of annual layers preserved in the ~125,000 years of ice. Read more

What a great day! Greg Homel kicked off the morning by providing insights about the little known and seldom seen birds of the Darien. After an early lunch we boarded a flotilla of local boats—modified dugouts, in fact—for an hour long ride to the coast and up the winding Mogue River. Our drivers swept from side-to-side on the broader areas to facilitate photography as we rode the incoming tide. The tide is critical to access the upper reaches. Soon it narrowed and we could hear the drums of the Chocó Emberá as we were rounding the final bend. Waiting for us were many of the villagers in traditional dress, including musicians and a gaggle of children who were shy, but curious and who quickly took us by the hand for the walk along the path to their home. They speak Spanish as a second tongue, but smiles went miles and language provided no barrier. Read more

We set out today to hike and retrace the steps of the last four miles of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic 22-mile (that is to say . . . 22 “as the crow flies” miles) journey of 1916. Ninety-one passengers and expedition leaders hiked across the path Shackleton took after he landed his lifeboat at South Georgia and then tried to get to Stromness, a Norwegian whaling station.

Our hike was in a spectacular location—dramatic glaciers and steep granite mountains surrounded us—and the snow was gently falling when we began. Setting off from Fortuna Bay, we were afforded exceptional views as we walked over picturesque sandstone and shale, past snow and icefields, and around Crean Lake. The hike up was aerobic—a great workout after being on the ship a week. Read more