What time is it in Antarctica?

Today is  6 months from when my vacation starts. Not my actual trip, that is tomorrow, and not the cruise that is the 22nd, and not landing on Antarctica, that is sometime next month (pending weather, as they like to say in the fine print).  But I am going to revel in today's 6 month mark.  Partly because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, but mostly because it is snowing today (in APRIL!, in VICTORIA!) and I need something to get through this ridiculous winter (yes, I see the irony).  

Anyhoooo, no shopping to report although my friend Carolyn lent me some waterproof pants.  They are about 12 inches too long but I will make them work.  That's what tall boots are for, to hide excessive hem.  

Here's a question to ponder:  what time zone is Antarctica?  I mean, the south pole is at the bottom of all 24 time zones so which one is THE one?  Turns out, each station just picks the time zone of their home base.  So, the bits sort of close to New Zealand and Australia use time zones from that side of the planet.  The peninsula, where we will be, uses Argentina time zones.  

 

Next logical question is: how much daylight there is in Antarctica in early November since this 'shoulder season'.  24 hours!  

But we'll be on vacation and it will be daylight all day, so really, what is time?  

Or place for that matter.  Here is the map that came with that sunlight graph - this is the location of Vostok Station

In research news, I read a book called The Birdman of Antarctica about a guy who signed up for a season counting Adelie penguins near the McMurdo Station.  Their camp was where Cherry camped from "the worst journey in the world' which I never managed to pick up again.  I may be spurred to read more.  

I went to a ballet (Ballet Hispanico hosted by Dance Victoria).  It was a dance version of Eva Peron's life story.  It was really good but not exactly biographical, more suggestive of the occasional choreographed cough with a lithe swoon. But it made me remember that there is more history to be learned than just Antarctic history.  Biography of Evita on its way.  

No trip is complete unless Air Canada is terrible!

You all know I have had my problems with Air Canada over the years/trips.  And of course, why break such a long streak.  But instead of focusing on how very, very much Air Canada sucks, let's all appreciate how awesome RBC Travel is.  

As you will remember from my December post (BUSINESS CLASS!!), I had points so I bought my amazing, business class tickets through RBC Travel.  I can't even remember if I booked them online or called the RBC Travel agent but I'm pretty sure I booked them myself to save the $10 'phone booking' fee.  But no matter that I didn't even pay that pittance of a booking fee, they still took care of me.  

On Wednesday, I got an email from RBC Travel telling me there was a change to my flight and I need to call them ASAP!  I had received a couple of other itinerary change emails where they changed the times of one or other of the flights, a few minute here, a half hour there.  No panic, the connections were still fine.  But this time, there were ALERTS! and red letters!  This is serious!  

We were scheduled to fly Victoria to Calgary, Calgary to Houston, Houston to Buenos Aires.  Freaking Air Canada cancelled the Calgary to Houston leg and didn't replace it with another flight!  

So, I called RBC Travel, expecting to be on hold for hours, the norm lately for calling any CSR for any business.  But Riha answered right away!  I assumed they just cancelled me because of my super-cheap Business Class seats but no, Riha said the entire flight is gone (shades of LOST).  She checked, the only other option was Calgary to Houston at 6am.  Which would have meant a hotel in Calgary.  

I suggested I am open to whatever combination of Victoria to any Canadian city to Houston she can find as long as we get to Houston in time to get our flight to Buenos Aires.  Off Riha went to her own experience of trying to get through to someone at Air Canada.  She assured me, as she put me on hold, this is Air Canada's fault and she will find a solution.  

I was on hold for over an hour, medieval lute music playing the whole time, before she came back on and said that she found a flight that works.  Victoria to Vancouver, Vancouver to Houston, Houston to Buenos Aires (this leg unchanged).  And still Business Class!  Book it I cried!  Already did, she exclaimed!  

I sent the info on my new flight to Amy.  Amy called her travel agent people, they fixed her up and now we are both good to go!  

Air Canada never sent me a notification.  I wonder if they would have if I had booked my flight through them.  Either way, I am pretty sold on travel agents now.  Even the cheapest ones available.  I hear horror stories about cancelled flights and dealing directly with airlines (and let's face it, I am asking for trouble with Air Canada AND United!).  I know, I know, travel agency is a dying industry, but this and my previous experience with a cancelled flight make me hope they stick around until I'm too old to travel (so another 47 years).