31.01.2013 (Thursday). Time is
running fast on the Polarstern. This is already the last day of January. I wake
up under a dark cloudy sky. The sea is now much quieter and completely icefree.
From my cabin (aport of the ship), I see the snowy mountains of Elephant
Island. I put my clothes and go outside. It is cold with a slight drizzle.
Elephant island looks like a very inhospitable place. Young mountains made of
dark rocks, with a lot of snow and glaciers descending to the sea level. Mineratility: no trace of vegetation, at
least seen from afar. Some mountains and especially their lofty top are
enshrouded by clouds. Feeling to behold
a dark fantasy world of misty hostility. Around 10:00, Elephant island becomes
almost completely swallowed by the fog. 11:30, weather now totally foggy;
visibility reduced to 150 m. 14:35, more waves, less fog but the sky remains
cloudy.
The misty moutains of Elephant Island.
In the morning, I look at our
photographs of amphipods taken some days ago and try to put a name on it. In
the afternoon and in the evening (past 21:00), we continue the direct
examination of the specimens. It is foggy again. Really the impression to be
now part of the Polarstern microcosm. The outer reality is no longer ours. We live
in our own closed community, with its own rules, far away from the ordinary
life.
People get sick the one after the
other. This is apparently not the flu, but some kind of nasty virus. Freija
Haucquier is really not well. Two days ago, she worked to the limit of her forces
(taking almost no sleep). She was really exhausted, which made her especially
easy target for the microbe.
(Cédric)
I missed Elephant Island. I saw
pictures later, with the foggy weather, the island seems even more inhospitable
and hostile. Later in the day and evening, we continue with the
identifications. We spend a quiet evening today. We better rest a bit before
the rush, waiting for us next week. Moreover, more and more people are getting
sick everyday. In this confined environment, a virus spreads fast. It´s
probably not the real flu, apparently lasts a few days tops. So far, I was
spared, let’s hope it’ll stay that way.
(Marie)
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