I can't believe it.....I am in Antarctica!!!

I made it!  There is so much to say, that I am going to have to save most of it for a "Antarctica Party" in Stonegate.  I am writing this after a really-really long journey.  It is 7 pm on Friday and I pretty much have not slept since 8 am Thursday (and really I landed in NZ just 7 hours before this).  We started the process at 6 pm on Thursday, got all of our cold weather gear, then boarded the C-17 and took off about 10:30 pm.  It was a 5 hour flight (landed at 4 am) that was amazingly an easy plane ride, which really surprised me.  It was loud and you will see from pictures below we sat in jumps seats on the side of the plane.  But over all the C-17 was really smooth.  When we landed it was poor visibility, windy and snowing.  I would not of wanted it any other way, it made it feel like Antarctica.  Then it was an hour bus ride to base, then another hour of briefings.  Then we were set free.  Not really free, but to go see our room, get sheets and our bags.  Let me tell you there is no Valet in Antarctica.  I had to hall three heavy bags pretty far to my small room, kid size beds and rock like mattresses to share with two other people. Then we got situated, got breakfast, worked a little and went on a hike to a hut for some good views.  Cafeteria style food, the food part might be the one single reason I could not stay down here very long.  I saw one seal out on the ice.  When the ice melts more the penguins will come in.  The town is pretty small and it just weird to be in, just different than our lives at home.  Most things are pretty basic and simple because of the lack of resources and trying to conserve resources (no cells phones!!).  It is crazy to talk to people that have been down here for a long time, I could not do it.  There are lots of different type of people here.  The views of the ice is just amazing, I just cannot believe it.  It is so beautiful and mesmerizing.  Just like standing on the beach looking the ocean but this is a frozen ocean.  I am just going to post lots of pictures and will have to explain later.  Thank you all for your interest, it is fun to post knowing there are people interested.  I am hopefully going to go sleep now....