January 2, 2022
Current location: 14.9 N, 23.5 W
Happy new year from Cabo Verde!
Much of the science team for the research cruise has been traveling over the last few days. Although there’s been some drama with canceled flights and lost luggage, we are really grateful to all be healthy and to have a beautiful place to spend some time before getting on the ship.
I personally flew from my parents’ place in northern Florida to Miami. From there, a few other science team members and I flew to Lisbon, Portugal. Cabo Verde was a Portuguese colony for many years, so Lisbon is one of the main hubs to connect to the island nation. After a few hours in the Lisbon airport, we flew to Praia, Cabo Verde. Praia is the capital city of Cabo Verde and since we are doing our best to stay healthy, we are really benefiting from how beautiful the weather because it means we can do almost everything outside! I’ll do my best to write another post with more details about Cabo Verde soon.
Zach, Jade, Sam, and Sierra—members of the science team—demonstrate correct social distancing and masking procedures in the Lisbon airport.
Sidney, Sam, and I upon arrival in Praia, Cabo Verde. Tired after a long few days of traveling but excited to be in Praia! Photo by Jade Sauvé.
On a walk earlier today, some of us got a view of the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, which is the ship we will be traveling on for our voyage! Some of the science team has been going on the ship to get some scientific tools and instruments set up so we’re ready to get the science started when we get underway. Most of us will get on board on January 4. Unfortunately, my picture is a little blurry but don’t worry; there will be a lot more pictures of the ship in just a few days!
The NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown sits in the port in Praia.