Cadiz Pirates: August 2018

Friday, 31 August 2018

How to Start a Travel Blog

a laptop on a desk
Updated: 8/31/2018 | August 31st, 2018

Whether as a hobby or profession, starting a travel blog is pretty easy. You can set it up in under 30 minutes. It’s gotten a lot easier than when I started my blog in 2008 when I didn’t know the first thing about making a website. Luckily, on my adventures around the world, I met Matt and Kat, a British couple who also happened to be web designers. When I came home and decided I wanted to start this travel blog, they agreed to help me set it up and teach me HTML. Back then, I hand-coded the website and used a funky tool called Dreamweaver to build it. It was painfully slow, and I wasn’t very good at it. (And my original website was really ugly!)

Luckily, you no longer have to build websites that way. They have gotten a lot easier and simpler thanks to WordPress, a simple out-of-the-box platform designed to make sites easier for those not technically savvy (like myself). It powers over 25% of the internet and is the best platform to start a blog on. It’s super flexible and can do whatever you want it to do — from a simple journal to a complex e-commerce website.

In our blogging course, we’ve had thousands of students start a website on WordPress without any technical skills. They got them up and running — and you can too!

A few months back, I talked about the ways you could succeed with a travel blog, but today, I want to give a quick tutorial on how to create a travel blog from scratch in seven easy steps.

Step 1: Picking a Name
Step 2: Signing Up for a Host
Step 3: Installing WordPress
Step 4: Setting Up Your Website
Step 5: Installing Your Theme
Step 6: Creating Your Main Pages
Step 7: Joining Our Blogging Course

Step 1: Pick your name

The first thing you need to do is pick a domain name (i.e., your website name). When doing so, there are no hard and fast rules. There’s no such thing as a “wrong domain name,” but there are a couple of rules I like to live by:

Make a name that can last – If you pick “JohnsAsiaAdeventure.com” and then you leave Asia, the domain name won’t make sense anymore. Make sure you pick a name that isn’t so focused that if you decide to shift gears, you can keep the same domain name.
Don’t date your blog – Don’t pick something related to your age either. “Twenty-Something Travel” becomes really irrelevant when you get older, which actually happened to a blogger I know. Pick a name that can be used no matter your age!
Try to avoid certain words like “nomad,” “vagabond,” “wanderlust,” and “adventure.” They have been done to death, and they will make you seem like you’re copying people, not being original.
Pick a name that describes what you do as much as possible – I was a nomad, so “Nomadic Matt” was the best pick for me. If you’re into luxury, put words in your domain name that convey that. You want people to see the name and go “I get what that website is about.”
Keep it short – Use 3-4 words maximum. You want the name that rolls off the tongue. Even Ramit Sethi from “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” abbreviates his site to “I Will Teach” or “IWT.” The shorter, the better.
Keep it simple – I’m not a fan of using jargon or slang in your domain name, as I think that makes things confusing for people who don’t know it. The last thing you want is someone saying, “What does that mean?” or being confused. If someone has to think hard about the meaning, then you’ve already lost them. So don’t try to be clever!

Step 2: Sign up for a host

After you’ve picked out your domain name, you’ll need to register it online and buy hosting (the little computer in the sky that’s going to power your website). There are a lot of basic hosting companies out there — and most of them are pretty terrible. However, the two biggest and best are HostGator and Bluehost. I would go with one of those two.

However, though they are owned by the same parent company, I lean toward HostGator, as I find its call center customer service quicker and friendlier, and HostGator is prone to fewer outages (no one wants their website to go down!). I’ve been using it since I’ve started; I still run my email through it. It’s also really improved its service recently and now offers free SSL certificates (that’s the thing that tells users your website is secure).

Here’s a walk-through of how to set up your host with HostGator (it won’t take long):

First, head over to the website’s sign-up page and get hosting for only $2.78 per month. That’s over 60% off the normal price!

Enter the domain name you picked and then choose the Hatchling Plan. This is the most basic plan, but it’s perfect for new blogs:

I wouldn’t recommend spending more money until you get a lot of traffic and decide you’re going to do this long-term! Additionally, the longer you buy your hosting for, the cheaper it is. If you select three years of hosting, your domain will only cost $127 USD, so I think you should do that. It’s a steal, cheaper than most other hosting packages. You don’t have to pick three years, but the marginal cost of adding additional years is small, and it means you don’t have to worry about renewing for a long time!

That’s it! All that takes about five minutes from start to finish!

Again, you can click here to go to HostGator to set it up.

Step 3: How to Install WordPress

After you’ve registered your domain name and chosen your hosting package, the next thing you’ll want to do is install WordPress. (WordPress is what will actually run the website. The host is simply the computer your site sits on.) WordPress is an open-source and free Web publishing application, content management system (CMS) and blogging tool built by a community of developers and contributors to make it easy for people to blog!

After you’ve paid, you’ll get an email telling your login details. After you click the link in the email and log in, you’ll see this screen. Click “Get Started with WordPress Today”:

You’ll be taken to this screen below. In the dropdown menu, select your domain name and hit “Next”:

Enter your user information. Under the blog title, enter the name of your blog. Create a strong username and then hit install.

Then presto! It’s done!

After your WordPress is installed, a screen will display the username you chose and a password generated for you. (You can change the password later.)

Now your website is up and running.

Step 4: Setting up your website

After you’ve installed WordPress, go to domainname.com/wp-admin and use the username and password you created to log in. You’ll see a screen like this after you log in:

Here’s a little overview of the menu on the left side of the screen:

Dashboard – The dashboard is the first thing you see when you log in to WordPress, and it’s the main administrative area for your blog.
Home – This will take you back to the main dashboard view.
Updates – This area will tell you if WordPress, your plugins, or your theme need to be updated.
Jetpack – Jetpack is a plugin that allows you to add a spell-checker, contact forms, extra widgets, etc.
Posts – You can view all your blog posts here, as well as set up new ones and add categories and tags.
Media – Here’s where you can view your media library and add new media content, like photos and videos.
Pages – Pages are the individual landing pages on your website (like your About page, Contact page, Resources page, etc.). You can add new pages here as well as review and edit existing ones.
Comments – Comments on your blog posts go here. You may want to check the spam folder periodically to make sure you’re not missing real comments.
WPForms – WordPress’s contact-form plugin.
Marketplace – Here you can create an online marketplace.
Appearance – This section lets you entirely customize your site’s appearance.
Plugins – Review, install, and update your plugins here.
Users – If there’s more than one person accessing your blog, you can create accounts and give them certain privileges here.
Tools – This section has certain tools to aid you with management tasks.
Settings – You can adjust all your site’s settings here, including things like your blog title and the size of thumbnails being used.
Insights – Insights provides traffic and user stats about those visiting your website. (Google Analytics is a better choice, though.)

Plugins are a great way to add additional functionality to a WordPress-powered site. And with over 56,000 (at last check) listed in the WordPress Repository and many more premium options available from developers, there are endless possibilities as to what you can do with your site. (I’ll list some examples below.)

Note: Jetpack, Mojo Marketplace, Insights, and WP Forms are pre-installed plugins.

From the main screen, click Plugins –> Add New on the left-hand column:

Now it’s time for you to install your own.

If you can think of a feature you’d like to have on your site, I can almost guarantee there is a plugin for it, but here are the essential ones for your travel blog:

Akismet – Just like getting junk mail in your mailbox, your website will get spammers looking to leave junk comments on your site. Akismet seeks to reduce the amount of this by automatically filtering it for you. This plugin comes installed with WordPress, and all you need do is activate it and sign up for an account at akismet.com.
Yoast SEO – The best SEO plugin out there. This combines the ability to create metatags and descriptions for your posts, optimize your titles, create a sitemap for search engines to read, customize how your posts appear across social media, and a whole lot more. It’s simple and easy to use and comes with foolproof instructions.
Relevanssi – While WordPress does a lot of things well, what it fails at is adding search functionality to your site. Relevanssi seeks to fix this and give your readers the most accurate results when searching your site.
Google Analytics for WordPress – Adding analytic tracking to your website is an important way to find out who your readers are, where they are coming from, and what your most popular content is. When you sign up for Google Analytics, the site asks you to place a snippet of code into your website. For most people, that can be difficult, which is why there’s Google Analytics for WordPress. This adds a lovely graphical interface to your site where you can click a couple of buttons and set up your tracking without any hassle.
Sumo – Free tools to help you grow your site, including the best social sharing plugin on the web. Use this! It comes with great analytics and testing features.
Jetpack – Jetpack (pre-installed) is aimed at supercharging your website with a host of features from WordPress’s free hosting platform, giving you the best of both worlds. With this plugin, you can add a spell-checker, contact forms, extra widgets, and a whole slew of more features, all with just one plugin.
W3 Total Cache – This plugin works by creating saved copies of your site, saving WordPress from having to generate them for every new visitor. This, in turn, cuts down on the amount of work your hosting server has to do and makes loading your website much faster.

Step 5: Install your theme

One of the most important things a blog needs besides good content is a good design. People decide in seconds whether or not they trust your website and choose to stay. A visually unappealing website will turn off readers and reduce the number of return visits you get.

So to accomplish a good design, you will need an amazing WordPress theme (i.e., design templates and files).

Luckily, there are lots of out-of-the-box options for you where you can download a predesigned theme, upload it to your website, switch it on, change some settings, and presto! A new look for your website!

You can get:

Free themes – Free themes are plentiful and for budding new bloggers looking to make their mark online. They seem like a great option, as they allow you to keep costs low. There are many great free themes online, but most of them are not amazing. If you plan on blogging for a long time, this might become a problem as your website grows. However, if you just need a simple design to blog for your friends and family, then go the free route. You can find some good free themes at wordpress.org.
Premium themes – The next step up from a free theme is a premium theme. Premium themes are paid themes that offer a bit more uniqueness, flexibility, and functionality. These cost $25 USD and up, depending on the developer and features.

I suggest getting a premium theme. Yes, it’s another cost — but here is why you should do it:

With a premium theme, you almost always get customer support from the developers. If you get in trouble, they are there for you. You don’t get that with a free theme.
With a premium theme, there are more controls and instructions so they are easier to change. Free themes don’t have that.
Premium themes tend to be a lot prettier.
Premium themes are faster and more SEO friendly.

The two best companies for premium themes are WooCommerce and StudioPress. My favorite is StudioPress as it is more SEO friendly, a bit sleeker, and cooler. WooCommerce is great for photographers and more “fun” personal blogs.

To install your theme, simply go to the left-hand column, click Appearance –> Themes –> Upload.

Whatever theme you picked will come as a .ZIP file for you to easily upload. From there, you just activate it, and it’s turned on! All themes come with a manual and help file so you can customize your design to your specific needs.

(If you want a custom logo, two sites to find freelancers are Upwork and 99designs.)

Step 6: Create your main pages

After you’ve uploaded your theme, you’re going to want to make a few basic pages on your website in addition to the blog posts. The difference between a page and a post is that a page is a static piece of content that lives separate from the blog. A post is a blog post that gets “buried” as you write more and more. For example, this post is a blog post. When I update again, another blog post will get put on top of it, and it will be pushed down in the archives, making it harder to find. But a page, like my About page, lives on the top of the website, right near the main URL, and does NOT get buried. It’s a lot easier to find.

To create these pages, go again to your left sidebar and click Pages —> Add New. (For blog posts, use Posts –> Add New.)

I recommend creating four basic pages to start:

About page – This where you tell people about yourself and your history, what your blog is about, and why it will help them. This is one of the most important pages on your website, so make it personable!
Contact page – People need a way to reach you! Be sure to be very clear on what emails you will and won’t respond to, so people don’t send you spam.
Privacy page – This is a standard user agreement page informing readers what the applicable laws on your site are, that you use cookies, etc. etc. You can find out-of-the-box examples throughout the internet.
Copyright page – This is a standard page letting people know you own this work and not to steal it. You can find out-of-the-box examples of these, too, throughout the internet.

(If you look in my footer, under the “About” section, you can see examples of all four of these pages!)

Step 7: Join our blogging course! (optional)

Superstar Blogging
If you’re looking for more in-depth advice, I have a very detailed and robust blogging course that uses my ten years of blogging knowledge to help you start, grow, and monetize your website. It gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how I run this website and features detailed analytics, tricks, tips, and secrets about what I do. You’ll learn everything I know about creating a successful blog.

I will help you come up with your domain name, sign up for hosting, create engaging content, go viral, network with bloggers, get media attention, master SEO, create products, grow a newsletter, and make money. I will give you the tools for success — and then show you how to use those tools!

Plus, you’ll get over 12 hours of expert interviews, edited feedback on your writing, monthly webinars and Q&As with me (ask me anything!), tech support and help setting up your blog, and a community of bloggers to help you succeed right out of the gate.

I’ll be there every step of the way. I’ll be your personal mentor.

If you’re interested, click here to learn more and get started!

***

That’s it! You’ve set up your basic website. Sure, there are social media buttons to add, blogs to write, images to upload, and things to tweak but all that comes later. Once you do the steps above, you have the framework needed to create and share your story with the world! To recap on how to start a travel blog:

Step 1: Pick a Name
Step 2: Sign Up for Hosting
Step 3: Install WordPress
Step 4: Set Up Your Website
Step 5: Install Your Theme
Step 6: Creat Your Main Pages
Step 7: Join Our Blogging Course (Optional!)

By following these steps, you can start your travel blog and your stories and tips with the world! (That’s where the real fun begins!)

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, including the links for HostGator and Bluehost. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase using these links. If you have any questions about the companies or my status as an affiliate, please don’t hesitate to email me.

The post How to Start a Travel Blog appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-create-a-travel-blog/

Thursday, 30 August 2018

This Non-Nomadic Life (Part Duex)

Matt in NYC
Posted: 8/30/2018 | August 30th, 2018

Years ago, when I tried to slow down and travel less, I wrote a post on my new “non-nomadic” life.

It didn’t stick — and I was quickly back on the road.

It was a pattern that lasted for years.

I’d come home, proclaim to my friends was I’m going to settle down for real this time only to leave again a few months later.

It became sort of a running joke between my friends and me.

(And I think here too, with all my “no, for real!” blog posts.)

But, after many false starts, I finally became truly non-nomadic last year.

This year, I’ve only spent a combined two and half months on the road. While that’s a lot by “real world” standards, it’s not a lot for a guy who spent a decade moving every few days/weeks/months and named his blog after his being a nomad.

I don’t even have another trip planned until October — and, right now, it’s only 50/50 that it will happen.

This is the least I’ve ever traveled since I went on the road in 2006.

My friends had grown accustomed to me popping in and out of their lives. Now they are getting used to the weirdness of having me around. It’s been nice to get texts asking what I’m doing and if I’m free again.

And you know what?

I love my non-nomadic life.

I think settling down has stuck this time around because I’m ready to finally do so. As I said in a blog post earlier this year, I finally became OK with the fact that life changes, situations change, and your desires change.

Moving on doesn’t mean abandoning who you were.

I kept traveling as a way to hold on to the past. I couldn’t let go of the image I had in my head of life on the road and all it symbolized: freedom, adventure, meeting new people, and a lack of responsibilities.

It was all very fun — and I didn’t want to grow up. I had made a life around traveling and, in a case of irony, I couldn’t leave my comfort zone.

To me, doing so would negate all the hard work I had done. It would be admitting defeat. It would be like death.

But trees don’t grow because they blow in the wind; they grow because they have roots.

And accepting that if I really wanted to lead the life I wanted — one of routine and presence — that I would need roots was a huge shift in my mindset.

I love my routine: the daily writing, working on this website, sleeping in my own bed, cooking breakfast, going to the gym, seeing friends regularly, dating, and just being in one place and not tired all the time.

Don’t get me wrong: I love travel and still want to see countless places around the world. I roam the guidebook aisle in my bookstore, dreaming of where I might go next. I search flight deals each day. I imagine myself in far-off tropical lands and picture the people I’d meet there.

Yet I’m OK with “going tomorrow.”

After so many years on the road, these last few months at home have taught me that my nomadic ways are truly over.

As I sip tea at a café where the barista knows what I want when I walk in the door, I’m perfectly content where I am.

I’ve seen a lot of the world.

I’ve had incredible experiences.

But, right now, it’s time to just enjoy the simplicity and pleasure that comes with staying in one place for more than a few days.

The rest of the world can wait a bit longer.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

The post This Non-Nomadic Life (Part Duex) appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/non-nomadic-life-part-2/

Everything You Need to Know About Nikon Z Cameras

Now that Nikon has announced both the Nikon Z6 and the Z7 mirrorless cameras, it is time for us to take a closer look at these cameras in and go through some of the most important features. Without a doubt, the Nikon mirrorless system is one of the most highly anticipated releases in Nikon’s history. And given that Nikon is moving up to a much larger Z mount, existing Nikon shooters might be wondering whether it is worth moving to the new system or not. In this article, we will explore all the key features of the Nikon Z cameras in detail and see what they have to offer when compared to their DSLR counterparts.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nikon-z-cameras#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=everything-you-need-to-know-about-nikon-z-cameras

Wednesday, 29 August 2018

Nikon D3500 Announcement

Nikon just announced the D3500 DSLR, the most recent in their popular line of entry-level D3X00 cameras, with a starting price of just $499 with the 18-55mm AF-P kit lens. It has been two years since the prior model, the D3400, was released, and the new D3500 comes with a few noteworthy changes. Namely, the new camera has higher battery life than its predecessor (up from 1200 to 1550 shots), as well as a lighter and more ergonomic design. Here’s what we know so far.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/news/nikon-d3500-announcement#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nikon-d3500-announcement

Top Signs You Are a Travel Addict

a traveler sitting on a dock
Updated: 8/29/2018 | August 29th, 2018

The travel bug. Chances are if you’re on this website, you’ve got it (or will soon). If you’re always dreaming of far-flung adventures, pining for a change of scenery, or incessantly adding things to your Bucket List then I have some news for you: you are a travel addict.

And there is no cure.

Once you are infected with the travel bug, it never leaves your system. It only gets worse. You’re going to be hooked for life!

But that’s ok because you’re not alone! I have the bug – and everything I do revolves around travel. Travel is always on my mind, and I’m constantly planning my next trip. Sound familiar?

In case you’re worried you might be infected with the travel bug, here are some signs you might be a travel addict too:

You start all your stories with “When I was in…..”

You’re always asking friends to go on trips.

You’ve watched everything related to travel on Netflix.

Anthony Bourdain will always be your spirit animal. (RIP)

You’ve also seen every episode of No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

You read guidebooks for fun.

You plan trips you will never take.

Google Flights is your homepage.

You’ve signed up for every flight deal newsletter in the world.

You always ask people “Where are you from?” even when you can tell by their accent.

You wear flip-flops in the shower.

You take toilet paper everywhere you go out of habit.

Google Translate and XE Currency Converter are two of your most-used apps.

You have more than one currency in your wallet (just in case).

You keep a packed suitcase handy.

You have a travel playlist on your iPod.

You speak in airport codes, not city names.

You have more SIM cards than you can count.

You can tell where people have been by the cheesy logos and sayings on their shirts. (Same Same = Thailand, Yellow Star = Vietnam)

You have elite flyer status on multiple airlines.

You attend travel conferences multiple times a year.

You don’t have paintings on the wall — you have maps.

If you haven’t been anywhere in a few months, you get the shakes.

You can breeze through airport security with your eyes closed.

You spend two hours each day reading travel blogs and travel websites.

You subscribe to multiple travel magazines.

No matter how often you travel, your bucket list is always getting longer, not shorter.

When you think of prices, you value things in terms of how many days in your next destination it costs. “That TV is 10 days in Paris! Let’s get this one — it’s only 5 days!”

You don’t do cash back. You do points.

You have a collection of luggage tags that have been gifted by friends and family over the holiday.

You pretend you are a travel writer.

When people ask you about your hobbies, all your answers contain the word “travel.”

Some people cry when they leave home. You cry when you have to go back.

When people ask you your profession, you say vagabond.

You filled your first passport before the first year was over.

You have trips planned for next decade – just for fun.

You keep your used guidebooks in your bookcase as a badge of honor.

You have a map tattooed somewhere on your body.

You plan your next trip while on a current trip.

People you haven’t spoken to since kindergarten randomly message you on Facebook asking you for advice about their upcoming trip.

You write a travel addict post.

Book Your Next Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight to your dream destination by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation
To book a hostel for your next trip, use Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Need Some Gear?
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information?
Be sure to visit our robust collection of free destination guides for even more planning tips!

Want to meet other travel addicts? Come join our awesome travel Facebook group, The Nomadic Network! It’s an online community where you can meet other travelers, share tips, and get advice. Check it out today!

The post Top Signs You Are a Travel Addict appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/top-signs-you-are-a-travel-addict/

What Is an IPS Monitor? A Beginner’s Guide

Everyone who buys a new computer monitor needs to decide on the best display technology for their uses. This doesn’t just mean the size or resolution of the screen – you also need to decide on the panel type you want to get. That’s especially true for photographers, graphic designers, and anyone who works with color; the wrong decision could mess up the colors you see. This article explains IPS monitors and why you might need one for your work.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/what-is-ips-monitor#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-ips-monitor

Tuesday, 28 August 2018

A Typical Day on an Antarctica Expedition Cruise

What’s a typical day like in Antarctica? What do you do? How do you spend your time? How cold is it, anyway?! I’ve gotten so many questions about Antarctica, but what I’ve really wanted to write about is what a typical day in Antarctica is really like.

First things first: anyone who has been to Antarctica is laughing because there’s no such thing as a typical day in Antarctica! You’re held to the whims of the harsh environment. Your crew might have the best laid plans, and they can be knocked asunder in an instant.

I traveled on the Ocean Diamond in March 2018 with Quark Expeditions, who hosted me on this trip. I spent a few days taking notes on everything I did so I could write this post for you. Here’s a complete log from how I spent one day in Antarctica.

6:45 AM: My alarm goes off. Leanne, my roommate, is up already and taking a shower. As a solo traveler, I knew I’d be paired with a stranger; I lucked out to get someone as sweet and considerate as Leanne, who is a few years older than me and comes from Melbourne via Adelaide.

I grab my phone and take a quick look at the ship’s email, my only source of internet during our 12 days at sea. (There is satellite internet on board, but at $100 for 100 MB, I don’t plan to touch it!) I’m only emailing a few friends and family members to let them know that I’m alive and check in on everything at home.

7:15 AM: “Good morning, everyone, good morning.” Every morning starts the same way, with an announcement on the intercom. It’s going to be a beautiful day on Danco Island.

7:25 AM: Kayaking meeting in the upper restaurant on Deck Four. We meet every morning to get a primer on the conditions and find out what lies ahead. Kayaking conditions can change by the minute, especially somewhere as wild as Antarctica, but it looks good — we’re cleared to paddle today, both morning and afternoon!

7:35 AM: Breakfast! I hit up the custom omelet stand for a veggie omelet and chat with my cook, who comes from Kyrgyzstan. It’s the end of the Antarctic season and he’s excited to go home. His family is planning a welcome home party.

I wrack my brain for Kyrgyz knowledge. “Are you going to have plov?”

He bursts into a grin. “Yes! My mother makes the best plov!”

8:10 AM: Suit up! It takes a good amount of time to get dressed: first my base layer, then my second layer, then my kayaking drysuit. I top it off with my kayaking skirt, booties, life vest, hat, hand warmers, and mittens. (More details on what I wore and packed here.) Ready for anything.

8:25 AM: Kayak meeting time! We meet 20 minutes before the first group is due at the gangway, “zipped and clipped,” and get to spot the zodiacs being lowered from above.

“Hey,” our guide Michael says. “Everyone, put your hands in the center. Now turn them sideways.” He clenches his fist and causes us all to make a spiral, and we cheer!

Since we’ll be walking on Antarctic land today, we step through a tub of disinfecting solution to keep impurities away. Or driver today is Juani from South Africa — not surprisingly, it takes us about two minutes to realize we have a South African friend in common — and speed toward our drop-off spot.

Brian and I are partnered up for this trip. He’s probably the passenger with whom I have the most in common: he’s in his thirties, lives in an east coast city, loves Broadway, and lives a five-minute walk from his sibling, just like I do. Brian’s in the back; I’m in the front. Our guide Vickie holds the kayak in place as I put my feet on the seat, sit on top of the kayak, and slide my way in smoothly before stretching the kayak skirt over my seat.

Danco Island is our morning excursion. This is a major gentoo penguin colony and we paddle along the shore, marveling at the penguins playing in the water before us. The first group arrives on the island and we watch them lots of photos.

Just then an absolute miracle happens — hundreds of porpoising penguins begin jumping around the water! Until today, I’ve only seen about a dozen of them, max. This is incredible. I am knocked senseless with joy.

Soon we make a turn and begin paddling around the island. Soon we land in brash ice. We paddled through brash ice in Port Charcot a few days ago, but this ice is different. It’s not as noisy. It requires a level of athleticism I haven’t deployed until now and soon I’m out of breath — but I keep pushing. (I feel bad that I’ve been taking so many photos and leaving Brian to do the brunt of the kayaking!)

But there’s a reward. We get through the ice and end up in a clearing, surrounded by calving blue glaciers on all sides. We can’t get anywhere near them for safety reasons, but you couldn’t miss the sound even if you try. The sixteen of us paddle into a line and become a raft, holding onto the kayaks next to us. Our raft floats in circles, as we stay silent, the ice calving around us.

10:30 AM: Excursion finished, we leave the kayaks with Vickie and Michael and Juani drives us to shore to hang out with the penguins.

Earlier in the trip, I spent all my time trying to capture perfect photo after perfect photo of the penguins. This time, I sit and watch them. One of the advantages of doing an Antarctica cruise in March is that you see lots of adolescent penguins. While they may not be as cute as the furry gray babies, they’re a lot funnier — they have lots of pool parties!

Since we’re on a 200-passenger ship and international law only allows 100 people from a ship on the continent at a time, half the group does a zodiac cruise while the other half does a landing. This isn’t to say that a zodiac cruise is inferior — some of the best experiences take place in a zodiac! But for me, with these penguins, this is all I need.

11:15 AM: It’s time to head back — I hop in the zodiac and we speed back to the boat! After climbing up the gangway, we spray down our boots and step through disinfecting solution once again to keep the penguin poop off the ship.

After hanging up my suit to dry, I head to the Club, the lounge area with comfy sofas, big windows, and 24-hour coffee and tea. I grab a seat with John and Trish, an affable Aussie couple in their fifties and two of my favorite people on the ship.

“Now, Kate, I have a question for you,” says John. “What are apartments in New York like?”

Ha. John is about to learn more about New York apartments than he ever knew possible!

“Tiny,” I tell him. “Until you get to 110th St., and then they get enormous — and that’s one reason why I live in Harlem…”

12:30 PM: Lunch time! On the way in, I say hi to maitre’d Alex and accept his offering of a squirt of hand sanitizer. We sanitize our hands often on this ship — before every meal and before we enter the Club or the theater. It seems like overkill, but longtime staff tell me people used to get sick much more often before they started doing this.

Not only is Alex Ukrainian, he’s from Odessa, one of my favorite cities in Europe! We’ve been eagerly gabbing about all things Odessa ever since!

Lunch is a buffet and I usually grab fish and vegetables. Each day there are meat, fish, and vegetable entree options, plus side dishes, a salad bar, and a soup, pasta, and sandwich of the day.

I sit with Bob and Barbara, two more of my favorite people. Barbara is a New Yorker as well and we met at the New York Times Travel Show in January — she came to the speech I gave with Quark and told me she was going on my upcoming trip.

Barbara and Bob met on a tour of Papua New Guinea and they’ve traveled together on several trips since. (Since Antarctica, they’ve also traveled on a cruise from Japan to Vancouver, a long trip through Central America, and they’re planning a trip to the Himalayas next!)

1:15 PM: Nap and rest in my room. I don’t actually fall asleep, but this busy ship can be a lot for an introvert, and I need a bit of alone time before we head out again.

2:20 PM: Time to suit up again. Kayaking is still good to go.

2:40 PM: Time for our afternoon outing in Wilhelmina Bay. There won’t be a landing here, so there’s no disinfection –the others will be doing a zodiac cruise only.

I have to admit that I’m hoping for a more low-key excursion after the hardcore paddling through brash ice we did in the morning. And I’m in luck in the best possible way — Wilhemina Bay is resplendent with whales, and we spend most of our time watching them in wonder.

Normally when there’s a wildlife sighting, everyone speeds to the same location. It’s like a safari that way. But in Wilhelmina Bay, every zodiac has its own whale or pod to watch!

We paddle around, keeping a good distance from the icebergs, searching for seals and penguins in addition to whales. For the past two days, we’ve started yelling, “Come on, come on, come on,” when it looks like a whale is about to show its tail, then we cheer when the tail appears.

Then IT happens. The biggest, most insane thing to happen to use while in kayaks.

A whale slowly rises out of the water, nose first, coming up higher and higher and higher. This is completely different from everything we’ve seen so far! Most of the whales just barely edge out of the water. What is this one doing?

Nausea burrows inside me. I think I might wet my drysuit.

And then…it goes underwater once again. It happened too quickly for me to photograph it, but I don’t care — I’m just lucky enough to have lived it!

“You know those dry suits?” my kayak friends joke. “They’re not dry anymore!”

“Everything surprises me in Antarctica, but it takes a lot to impress me. That impressed me,” says our guide Michael. “The only thing that would make that better would be if an orca jumped over all the kayaks.”

“And then Michael Jackson randomly started singing,” I add.

5:00 PM: Back in the zodiac and back on the boat. I take a shower and change into my lounge-around-the-ship clothes: leggings, a t-shirt, and my favorite long hoodie from Athleta.

Image: Quark Expeditions

5:40 PM: Time for the ship’s daily recap in the theater. Each day, our Expedition Leader Woody and several of the Expedition Staff share some of the best moments. Today it includes an AWESOME photo of us kayakers in Wilhelmina Bay with the whale breeching in front of us!

Everyone is uploading their photos to the shared drive. (Everyone, that is, except the pro photographers, because the rights will transfer to Quark.) We’ll be able to access them for the next two years.

6:00 PM: Usually we do a four-course plated dinner with unlimited wine. But tonight is special — we’re doing a barbecue on deck! The deck has been transformed and music is blaring. Everyone is in their bright yellow coats, grabbing food and laughing. It’s also “crazy hat” night, though only about a third of the passengers join in.

Hilariously, the Macarena starts playing.

“I haven’t heard this song since high school,” an American guy around my age says.

“Well, now you’ve heard it on every continent!” I offer. He laughs.

8:00 PM: Tonight’s activity is Antarctic Trivia in the Club. I get paired with a group of randoms including the Macarena guy. We choose the team name “Unstable, But Not Unable” then later lament that it should actually have been “Clueless and Unaware.” We’re pretty terrible at the trivia!

“I love when drunk people shout out the answers,” jokes our host. That, of course, leads to a drunk guy shouting out the answers. “What explorer was named Gentleman of the Border Region?” “RICHARD NIXON!”

The tie-breaker question: “How many eggs has the ship used since the beginning of this trip?” The answer? Over 8,000. Wow.

8:45 PM: I grab a seat with Kirsty from Australia and Leo from Brazil, both of them around my age. While most people on the ship are over 50, what kind of thirty-somethings end up on a trip like this? Kirsty works in broadcasting; Leo works for a big tech company. There’s an American engineer and a Brit who works in the oil industry. I notice that the North American and European thirty-somethings tend to work more upscale jobs; then Australians tend to work more middle-class jobs. You’re far likelier to find an Australian nonprofit worker than an investment banker. There’s a whole blog post in that, I’m sure.

In a celebratory mood, the three of us split a bottle of champagne. We discuss Kirsty’s green card lottery win and upcoming move to New York. We have no idea at the time, but five months later, she and I will be drinking mojitos together in the Hamptons!

10:30 PM: Back in the cabin, catching up with Leanne, and winding down for the night. Between the kayaking, the socializing, and the champagne, sleep comes quickly.

How are other days different?

Sometimes the conditions aren’t safe for kayaking. And if that’s the case, the kayakers do zodiac cruises and sometimes landings, just like the rest of the passengers. Luckily, we have primarily glassy conditions on this trip.

Keep in mind that most passengers don’t kayak. There were only 16 kayaking spots for the 200 people on this expedition; I was extremely fortunate that I got a spot. If you definitely want to kayak, try to book as far in advance as possible.

(Starting in late 2019, however, Quark will be offering a paddle-for-a-day option which lets you try out kayaking in a sturdy inflatable kayak. This is a good option for people who don’t want to commit to kayaking the whole trip.)

Sometimes there’s no morning or afternoon excursion. While the crew tries to get you out as often as possible, sometimes you can’t argue with Mother Nature. They often don’t know if they can clear passages until they arrive. And if there’s no afternoon excursion, they serve afternoon tea in the Club! (Which we really didn’t need, considering how much delicious food there was, but MY GOD we took advantage of it!)

Whenever you’re not doing an excursion or activity, there are lectures on science, ecology, and history. My favorite takes place on International Women’s Day. Our ship historian, Justine, leads a presentation on the history of women in Antarctica called “Where are all the women?”

I am now obsessed with Jackie Ronne and Jennie Darlington, the first women to spend the winter in Antarctica in 1947-1948. They didn’t let subzero temperatures stop them from wearing the most glamorous clothes. Jennie later wrote, “Antarctica to me is female. Fickle, changeable, unpredictable, her baseness disguised by a white make-up of pristine purity. Suddenly she strips off her gloves, rolls up her sleeves and with the ferocity of a wolf, springs at your throat.”

Usually it’s a plated dinner. Dinner has four courses: appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert. After a few days of gorging, most of us take a cue from the staff who have lived on this ship for months and omit one or two of the courses. Unlimited wine is served: one signature red and signature white.

Clearing Up Antarctica Misconceptions

I find that people have a lot of misconceptions about what trips to Antarctica are like. Perhaps nobody more than my mom, who was asking me a few days before the trip if I really had to go! She was more worried than she’s been for lots of my other trips. But after seeing it for herself, now she wants to go to Antarctica.

I hope this typical day cleared up for you just what these trips are like.

And just remember:

It’s adventurous, but not frighteningly so. Yes, the elements are wild, but you only spend a few hours outside each morning and afternoon, and other than that, you’re on a really nice cruise ship with a professional crew. The crew and staff always take steps to keep you as safe as possible.

You don’t need to be in excellent shape. You should be in decent shape, and good shape if you plan to kayak, but you don’t need to be an ultra-marathoner before you tackle Antarctica. The hardest thing is climbing the steps of the gangway. Some of the older passengers had issues with this climb, but they were able to explore Antarctica safely.

You could have a nauseating journey…or not. The Drake Passage is home to some of the roughest seas in the world, and you spend two days crossing them from Ushuaia. We happened to luck out on my journey and had moderate crossings without much nausea. I have friends who have fared much worse.

You learn a lot, but that’s not all you have to do. There are lectures on geology, marine mammals, history. And you can go to them…or you can slink off to the library to borrow a book. And there is always a cup of tea with your name on it in the Club.

Everyone is welcome — and everyone is interesting. What kind of people do you think go to Antarctica in the first place? People who have traveled extensively, of course. And everyone has stories to tell.