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Day 1 - July 22, 2012 - Longyearbyen, Svalbard
After a quick turnaround, and shortly after the charter plane landed, we started embarking our guests.
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Day 2 - July 23, 2012 - Monacobreen, Svalbard
I must admit that I am amazed that after four years of visiting the Arctic I can still have a day like today that leaves me speechless and breathless.
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Day 3 - July 24, 2012 - The sea ice north of Nordaustlandet
I bundled up to watch the Silver Explorer’s Polar Plunge, where the heartiest (or perhaps craziest) among us went for a swim in these frigid High Arctic waters.
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Day 4 - July 25, 2012 - Storoya, Svalbard
Soon enough I was climbing into my Zodiac and was eager to board our guests to observe such a stupendous sight as hundreds of walrus swimming around the island with a Polar Bear standing, somewhat alone on the beach.
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Day 5 - July 26, 2012 - Bråsvellbreen, Alkefjellet & Faksevågen, Svalbard
We then proceeded north and then west into Faksevågen. Fakse Bay, so-named after a horse in Norse mythology, a small fjord inside the much larger Lomfjorden, on the east coast of Spitsbergen.
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Day 6 - July 27, 2012 - Lagoya, Svalbard
There were another 5 or 6 walrus lying in the middle of a mud bath covered in mud from head to toe! I have never seen that before!
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Day 7 - July 28, 2012 - Ny Ålesund, and 14 July Glacier
A real highlight for me at Ny Ålesund was the birdlife, which seemed to be everywhere I looked.
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Day 8 - July 29, 2012 - Hornsund, Svalbard
The first of our Zodiacs that traveled into the fjord with guests discovered a polar bear feeding on a seal on top of a small iceberg!
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Day 9 - July 30, 2012 - Bjørnøya (Bear Island), Svalbard
The scenery here is truly breathtaking with 400 m cliffs rising above us; the coastline is dotted with beautiful coastal caves, arches, stacks and rock folding structures, creating a geological wonderland that could excite everyone, not just me.
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Day 10 - July 31, 2012 - Tromso, Norway
By 1pm the ship was alongside Tromso at the main cruise ship dock – only about a 2-minute walk from the centre of town. Perfect location!
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