Voyage of a lifetime
After their destination wedding in Lake Como, Italy, globe trotters – Suzy Guttler and Juan Castillo embarked on their happily ever after with a honeymoon to the South Pole.
Traveling the world has always been a big part of our lives and of our relationship. Juan and I have swam in the clearest crystal blue waters of French Polynesia, we’ve immersed ourselves in the historical and cultural splendors of the Great Pyramids. We’ve trekked alongside families of gorillas through the rainforests of East Africa, and have hiked the majestic, alpine ranges of Everest Base Camp. Our quest for the most profound place in the world to honeymoon lead us to our 7th continent – Antarctica. We set sail aboard Quark Expeditions’ World Explorer vessel for a 10-day voyage from Ushuaia, the southern-most tip of Argentina, to the Great White Continent.
Each day in Antarctica presented a new discovery. We marched alongside colonies of penguins in their natural habitat, and navigated through towering, incandescent icebergs. We hiked in the footsteps of bold explorers who discovered the continent only two centuries ago. The most memorable experience was kayaking along the Antarctic Peninsula. When you kayak, it’s a water level experience – we could reach into the water and touch the peaceful polar seas. We grabbed pieces of ice as they drifted by and tasted it. We watched penguins and whales glide through the water just inches away from our kayak. There was nothing more invigorating, more uplifting than paddling among majestic emerald-blue icebergs and mysterious glaciers. Being careful not to get too close to the icebergs in case they tipped, we marveled at how beautiful they were from water level. Knowing that these chunks of ice were thousands of years old was awe-inspiring.
The best part after a long day of exploring – warming up in our cozy cabin and enjoying a private, romantic moment with the Great White Continent from our balcony.
Amidst all of the transformative experiences, the most fascinating was discovering that the wildlife aren’t scared of us. In fact, they were receptive to our relatively close encounters. Whales would swim up to a few feet from our Zodiac boats, and our little penguin friends would waddle in front of us and right up to our camera lens. The curious wildlife in Antarctica have never been hunted by humans, so they have no reason to fear our presence.
We’ve always joked about traveling to outer space, but who knew we could find that experience on earth. Antarctica was like being on another planet, a surreal and otherworldly experience. There really isn’t another destination that’s more transformative, more enigmatic, and more romantic than the Great White Continent. (Think Titanic without the sinking situation.) Together we’ve braved the elements, and voyaged to the word’s most distant and isolated region. There’s no beaten path there.
For more information on how you can start your journey to Antarctica, visit www.quarkexpeditions.com
