Ciao, so long and bye-bye …
It’s hard to believe, but our year in the Antarctic is nearly over. Before Christmas, we handed over responsibility for the station’s observatories to the new team. Now we’re enjoying the last days, the last impressions from the Antarctic – until mid-January, when we head back. Just as we were excited to get here a year ago, now we’re excited to see what the new year holds in store for us …
So today, we bid farewell to all of you who have accompanied us through the blog and pass the baton, together with our best wishes, to the 45th overwintering team. Good luck!
Alex Poniah
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The view outside the windows, the landscape might have stayed the same more or less but the sky and conditions were always different.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The start and end of the polar night created some amazing colours in the sky when the sun was skimming along the horizon, combined with the dark skies at in the middle of the night.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… watching movies, exercising, taking photos and playing video games.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Going out to the cinema again, seeing my dogs, and eating my favourite foods.
Amelie Nüsse
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
How cosy the lounge was in winter.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The end of the polar night: long nights and beautiful sunsets, but with the return of the sunlight and penguins.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in the lounge or outside taking photographs.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
My dog, all the fresh fruits and vegetables I want, and the smell of forests.
Andrey Jakovlev
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
That’s a tough one to answer. For me, there wasn’t any one place or thing I liked best – I liked the whole station.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
Spring, when there were more hours of daylight and you could stay outside and enjoy the sun, but there were still nights, too.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in the lounge for some social contact, or in my room to enjoy some peace and quiet.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Finally being back together with my family.
Anja Weber
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
In winter: the blue sofas in the lounge and the pool table; in summer: the view south out the panorama window.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
Definitely the polar night when skies were clear.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in winter: in the lounge or outside taking photographs.
… in summer: in my room reading or taking a walk outside.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
My house and my sheep, but of course also family and friends, fresh salads, and the smell of rain.
Helen Hobin
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
How much the station felt like a home, and the team felt like a family. And having the rare privilege of watching the emperor penguins marching, laying their eggs and raising their chicks.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
I loved seeing the return of the light as the emperor penguin chicks started to hatch in late July/early August. Watching the drift snow catching the sunlight as the proud emperors admired their young felt like a perfect end to the polar night, which had brought some beautiful aurora displays.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… sometimes taking a quiet moment to sketch or play the piano, and occasionally making the refreshing walk from the steaming hot sauna to the icy air on the roof.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
The feel of being in my garden, among the plants and insects, and the smell of the earth. Seeing my friends and family again.
Jörg Lauer
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The view out the window in the lounge.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The first few weeks after our summer guests had left, when it was pleasantly quiet and still bright outside.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in the lounge.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Seeing and smelling green things … and of course seeing my friends and family.
Johann Anger
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The location and the view from inside.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
Days with a sunrise and sunset.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… not working.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Other sights and new faces, freedom.
Johannes Schötz
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The view of Atka Bay.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The weeks just before and after the polar night, when the sunrises and sunsets were really something special.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in the fitness room.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Getting back to my friends and family, traveling, and seeing new things.
Laura Fabian
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The view out the panorama window every morning.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
When there were shooting stars.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… in the deep freeze or sleeping.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Toast topped with Philadelphia cream cheese with herbs.
Pablo Conrat Fuentes
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The location, the view from the office, lounge, chin-up bar and garage.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The weeks before and after the polar night.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… working out, taking photographs, doing crafts, chatting with the others, or watching movies.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
No alarm clock, seeing other people, a real piano, mountains and the ocean.
Tim Bösch
What I liked most about Neumayer Station:
The lounge and the times we spent together during the overwintering.
The most beautiful time of the year was:
The polar night and the beautiful starry sky in absolute darkness.
When I wasn’t working, I was usually …
… reading or playing video games.
What I look forward to most when I think about returning:
Fresh fruits and vegetables and finally being able to take walks in the woods again.
