After a
slightly bumpy night, today we awoke to calm seas. This enabled our passengers
to wander at leisure around the vessel; and perhaps, to take a look at some of
the original artifacts of the Fram of Nansen and Amundsen fame, which we have
on board as a loan from the famous vessel’s museum in Oslo.
One might
start analyzing the model of the ship in its display case, with its robust
round hull designed by Colin Archer to withstand the tremendous pressure
exerted by ice – should it become trapped in it. Afterwards, it’s interesting to
take a look at the various navigational, exploration and everyday use objects
also on display: knives with beautiful scrimshaw handles, sextants, gunpowder
pouches, enamel dishes sporting the name of the ship… Also on public display
are very interesting photographs of life on board the original Fram, as well as
life outside its cozy interior, when mariners ventured out to explore the cold
territories awaiting them on both poles of the planet, the Arctic and the
Antarctic. And it’s nice to know that you can get some rather nice replicas of
some of these objects in our shop – they make great souvenirs and elegant
presents.
Finally, a further
nice thing about experiencing gentle waves and winds in the Scotia Sea, is that
some of its inhabitants are easier to spot – and we were lucky to spot some
today: fin and humpback whales, antarctic and cape petrels, light-mantled sooty
albatrosses… A fine day at sea!!
