The skies were grey and a light mist hung gently around the good ship Fram as we boarded in the port of Valparaiso. However, our spirits were not dampened because the weather forecast bode well for a great voyage. After collecting our expedition jackets, we settled into our cabins and got ready for our safety briefing. We had a very warm welcome from Captain Jon and his crew and were introduced to the Expedition Team who would be providing us with interesting talks and workshops throughout the voyage.