| I just wanted to let
you know what Thanksgiving was like here on the ice at McMurdo Station Antarctica.
Everyone on base takes off from standard base operations. After signing
up for the dinner schedule (3pm, 5pm, 6pm), a long line of people forms
outside of the dining hall with each person cradeling a bottle of wine in
hand. As the doors open the crowd rushes in to secure adequate seating for
the number of people in their dinner party. Each table was decorated with
a loaf of fresh bread with an autumnal flower arrangement. The hall was
decorated in orange and yellow streamers, and a few of the staff lightened
the mood by dressing like turkeys. The new galley has three drink stations
for coffee, tea, assorted fruit drinks, juices and water. It also has two
main buffets loaded with entrees such as Antarctic cod, turkey, pecan stuffing,
sweet potato casserole, fresh homeade bread, and an assortment of vegetable
medeleys. Aside from the main buffet are gravy, butter, and other condiment
stations. To top it all off there is one huge table of desserts all of which
were yummy in their own unique way. For example, double chocolate brownies
pie with fresh whipped cream and raspberry sauce or fresh pumpkin pie. There
were too many to take an accurate account, and though I tried, I was unable
to sample them all. Suffice it to say, it was a fulfilling overall experience.
And just when you think you could not munch another bite, along comes the
top NSF staff serving pie (i.e. Dave Breshnahan serving pumpkin pie in the
picture below), pouring coffee, and busing our tables. The head chef examined
each diner and their plates with the ultimate look of complete satisfaction.
What a great group of people! A wonderful Thanksgiving holiday was had by
all during the fulfilling feast. Thank you Raytheon and NSF. Once dinner was over Steve, Sally, Andy and I decided to take a walk. We arrived at Scott's Hut about 8pm that evening and solemnly took in the homesite of some of the first Antarctic explorers. The conditions they braved to attain their goals ogf the furtherest South and the marking of the South Pole had me pondering how truly lucky I was to live in heated comfort in such a harsh and ever changing environment. Further up the slope of the Hut is a statue of the Virgin Mary dedicated to those lives lost to the first of the Deep Freeze and highjump operations. The foundation of the McMurdo Station base developed from the efforts of these brave souls. On a lighter note, we then walked the the aquarium where we saw some of the most humungous fish and starfish I had ever seen. After a snowball fight, our evening was complete. Hope your Thanksgiving was as gratifying as ours was on Ross Island, Antarctica! D.Gielstra |
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