Prince Albert's trip to Antarctica, Jan 2009

[QUEENECE29]

Prince Albert heads to Antarctica
News Summary Royalblog.nl: Prince Albert heads to Antarctica

[iceflower]

Here's another nice pic of Albert yesterday:

Prince Albert of Monaco walks as he arrives at Punta Arenas
January 4, 2009. He is in southern Chile to visit Antartica.

-----> Pic

[giov]

Prince Alberto of Monaco in Punta Arenas, some 3000 km south of Santiago, on December 4, 2009. Prince Alberto will lodge in the Chilean Air Force base Eduardo Frei Montalva, and will visit other 26 scientific bases from 18 countries, among them those of Russia, China, Uruguay, South Korea, Brazil and Poland.
AFP/Getty
AFP/Getty
Belga
Belga
Belga
Prince Alberto of Monaco complies with the tradition of kissing the foot of the statue to the Patagonian Indian.
AFP/Getty

[Renata4711]

On the Prince's Foundation website, one can follow and download his progress via Google Earth:

http://www.fpa2.mc/fhttp://www.fpa2....ge=ANTARCTIQUE

Not sure whether I copypasted the link okay - here is comes again...

Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco

[QUEENECE29]

Monaco's Prince Albert heads to Antarctica
AFP: Monaco's Prince Albert heads to Antarctica

[iceflower]

This photo provided Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009, by the Monaco Palace shows
Prince Albert II of Monaco talking with an unidentified Russian scientist,
Monday Jan. 5, 2009, on George Island, off Antartica, as part of a voyage
to the South Pole to raise awareness about global warming. The trip will
last through Jan. 22 and will include visits to 26 international bases on
Antarctica.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

This photo provided Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009, by the Monaco Palace
shows Prince Albert II of Monaco arriving Monday Jan. 5, 2009, on
George Island.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

[Glistening Seas]

O_M_G there is no snow. We all know it's summer but honestly it's really, really hard to think of -15 degrees being "summer-like". Whaaat brave people to work there under such harsh conditions. PA's pics turned out great the coat looks fab on him. Although a t-shirt??? it's possible that minus the "adorable" floppy" ears PA is indeed part polar creature??? it was hoped there would be pics of beautiful ice formations and all things creatures from Antartica and skies too but we will have to see.

[iceflower]

I've found an additional pic from yesterday,
Albert posing for a photograph with a group of scientists and
students, during his arrival to the Chilean Antarctic, on 05
January 2009.

------> Pic

[iceflower]

Here's a nice pic from yesterday:

This photo provided Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009, by the Monaco Palace shows Prince Albert
II of Monaco watching penguins on Ardley island, off Antarctica, Tuesday Jan 6, 2009 as
part of a voyage to the South Pole to raise awareness about global warming.

-----> Pic
.

[Lakshmi]

So, on 01/05 prince Albert was at George Island. This island seems not to have any plants at all, just rocks and no snow...
It seems PA hit Antarctic continent day later than we thought, on 01/06. Of course if we consider Ardley Island a part of continent.
I just realized that all pics from Antarctic came with a 24 hour delay. So, even in times of fast information some places are still remote...

[giov]

Originally Posted by iceflower

-----> Pic
.

This pic with the penguin is so nice! Thanks Iceflower!

[Maricar]

Yes, the penguin photo is very nice. Prince Albert is clearly enjoying the close encounter. It's always good to see him taking such an interest in the sciences and the environment.

I'm surprised at how little snow there is. It is Antarctica, after all.

[iceflower]

I'm glad you liked that pic as much as I did

I still have to get used to the wolly hats on him

Prince Albert of Monaco visits the satellite station at the
Great Wall Chinese base in Antartica on January 6, 2009

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **

[stellad]

I wonder who is more fascinated...him or the penguin?

[Glistening Seas]

great observation stellad. You're probably right, too!!! that place hasn't seen much activity till PA and students showed up to break up the monotony of it all!! Must say PA is more appropriately dressed great outfits. However, too so much melted water and so little snow was a shock to the system here as well. We will just have to wait and see what the results of his visit prove??

[QUEENECE29]

Prince Albert P-P-P-Picks Up A New Bird
The Royalist - Prince Albert P-P-P-Picks Up A New Bird

[oxygen]

Originally Posted by Maricar

Yes, the penguin photo is very nice. Prince Albert is clearly enjoying the close encounter. It's always good to see him taking such an interest in the sciences and the environment.

I'm surprised at how little snow there is. It is Antarctica, after all.

It is currently summer in Antarctica.

[giov]

A few pics from PPE
PPE Agency

[Maricar]

Originally Posted by oxygen

It is currently summer in Antarctica.

Well, that just burst a bubble. I never thought summer comes around over there. :)

[smdouglas]

Originally Posted by Maricar

Well, that just burst a bubble. I never thought summer comes around over there. :)

Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents 70% of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it) Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.


....Just part of the education process about where PA is.