Happy New Year!
Trip Start
Aug 16, 2007
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22
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Trip End
Apr 07, 2008
McMurdo,
Antarctica
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
This year has gotten off to an amazing start! It has always been our dream to be somewhere amazing to celebrate New Year's and this year was just that!
A few days before New Year's we went to Antarctica's best concert - IceStock! There were 12 bands that played for 8 hours...in the snow! It wouldn't have been IceStock if it wasn't 18F and snowing all day! But don't worry...that didn't stop anyone from jamming out, dancing, and having a good time! There are so many talented people down here - from cooks to heavy machinery operators - they were playing like top name bands!
Unfortunately we had to work that day, whereas the rest of the town was on a 2 day weekend, but because we have an incredible boss everyone got 3 hours off to go and enjoy the music! Aaron even got a t-shirt to add to his collection of concert shirts!
In the midst of the music was a Chili Cook-Off! There were about 8 groups who had prepared delicious and SPICY chili to compete for the Title and bragging rights! We had everything from vegetarian chili to Spicy New Orleans chili and even Chili with veal brought over by the Kiwi's! It was a very yummy contest!
As you can imagine there were numerous parties going on for New Year's Eve! We stopped by a few collecting party hats, Mardi-Gras beads and noise makers along the way! But at 11:30pm we, and several of our friends, hiked out to Hut Point at the outskirts of town on the edge of the sea ice to ring in the New Year. It was only a 25 minute walk, but it was VERY windy and cold! We climbed to the top of Hut Point and waited for the countdown...5,4,3,2,1, HAPPY NEW YEAR! There were hugs all around, kisses between couples, toasting of champagne, and lots of pictures! (Look at our cute sign we made!)
After about 20 minutes we were all starting to lose feeling in our body parts due to the cold so we decided to head back to the galley for some tea & hot chocolate to warm up. We chatted with others to hear how they had chosen to ring in the New Year, and then it was off to bed at 2am so we could be prepared to work in the morning.
Comments
Happy New Year
Hi Michelle and Aaron:
Well, despite all the work, it looks like you folks down at the bottom of the world have a lot of fun too. The concert sounded fun (but cold)...and yes, it is amazing to discover what talent everyone has.
That was also a neat way to ring in the new year.
We hope that 2008 will be another wonderful year for you two.
Love - A. Carol and U. Joe
seriously...
how many people can wear a sweatshirt from McMurdo? great to see you two are having fun! t-7 days and counting! im heading out for colorado - finally!