The ship sails through the Straights of Magellan before crossing the open ocean.

We board the L M Gould, an icebreaker.

We are issued extreme weather clothing.

There are a lot of overhead wires in Punta Arenas.

I share a room at the Hotel Isla Rey Jorge with Cheryl Leonard, a composer and fellow grantee.

28 hours after leaving home, I arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile. 

Travel to Antarctica starts out like almost any ordinary trip. Patience is required at the airport. It's just that when you fly on 3 planes, over 7000 miles, you need more than average patience, and a couple of good books.

CHAPTER 1

Enticing

I am traveling to Palmer Station, Antarctica as a grantee of the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. 2 years after beginning the application process I am finally on my way to spend a month on the southernmost continent.