Having arrived in Longyearbyen (a small coal-mining town on Spitsbergen Island) from Oslo, our ship awaits us – the G Adventures MS Expedition – about to embark on the Realm of the Polar Bear in depth Arctic tour ….. ‘she’s’ looking resplendent in red and our excitement barely contained – our first trip on a ship – and what an adventure awaits us around Svalbard!
FACT: Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it’s known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes.
On boarding, we located our cabin (a fabulous suite with floor to ceiling windows, lounge area, bedroom and ensuite – this is going to be SO comfortable!), quickly unpacked as the introductory ‘tea and cookies’ briefing was to commence before we were permitted to sail.
With safety matters covered and our being shown around the life saving vessels, coats and wellington boots acquired, housekeeping addressed, professors and speakers met, Captain busy and crew positioned, we commenced our exploration of the western/northern coast of Spitsbergen.
After a day at sea, a good nights sleep (gently rocked to slumber by the motion of our ship, ignoring the gentle hum of the reassuring engines …) an early morning call across the ship tannoy and a delicious breakfast served, a land stop promised …. In and out of rib boats – balancing skills practiced as the ocean rocks and a welcome arm of assistance taken – we land, and beneath our feet not ice but Tundra … It felt like the most sponginess soil ever, very bouncy and moist, with a little stream running through …. flowers and ‘crusty things’ growing off rocks (sure there is a scientific name for such flora we will in time learn!!) which I confess resembled a scene from an episode of the 1970’s Star Trek – no Polar Bears yet but certainly life, but not as we know it!
