Tough skipper's wife with a story
From the very first moment I spoke to Eva, I sensed that we were going to do something special. During our phone call, I could feel her energy. Eva is open, doesn’t mince her words and knows exactly what she wants. Eva wanted to travel with her husband Huib to Antarctica and the rugged, unspoilt Patagonia. We were more than happy to help with that.
Johan in conversation with Eva van Dijk-Bijl
During our Gente Magica interview, Johan spoke to Eva van Dijk-Bijl about her extraordinary journey to Patagonia and Antarctica. She also shared her insights on the climate, drawing on the presentation she’d been given by the scientist and guide.
The ferry to Tiengemeten
Together with her husband Huib Bijl, Eva runs the boat trip company De Hoeksche Vaart. They also crew the ferry that connects the nature island of Tiengemeten with the rest of the world. Running a boat trip company and a ferry service means hard work and long days. Yet Huib and Eva feel privileged to live and work in this unique part of the Netherlands.
A journey to the Carretera Austral and Antarctica
Because there’s always work to be done at home, travelling is the only way to truly unwind. And they love to travel – preferably to the most beautiful landscapes in the most remote corners of our planet. After discussing it with Eva, I decided to plan a trip along the Carretera Austral, one of the most beautiful driving routes in the world. The road, which is unpaved for the most part, is interrupted several times by waterways that must be crossed by ferry. For a skipper couple like Eva and Huib, these ferry services abroad are, of course, the icing on the cake. After the Carretera Austral, they would fly to Antarctica to explore the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the Magellan Explorer.
A detailed account of their journey
During and after the trip, Eva gives a detailed account of their adventures. The open and uninhibited way in which she tells her story reminds me of a modern-day version of Alice in Wonderland.
Read more about the trip
The story of climate change
Back in the Netherlands, Eva has a mission. On board Antarctica 21’s Magellan Explorer, they are not only discovering the unspoilt wilderness of Antarctica. The scientists accompanying them on this voyage are also explaining the adverse effects of climate change. In a fragile ecosystem such as that of the South Pole, these effects are the first to become apparent. Eva wants to share this story with the rest of the world so that we can all become aware of the fact that we need to treat our planet in a much more sustainable way. So that future generations can also enjoy all the natural riches the Earth has to offer in the same way.
Please get in touch for more information
For more information about this interview or a trip to Antarctica, please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to help. Send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or call us on +31 73 610 62 04. We’d be happy to help.