Happy New two thousand twelfth!
For me this year brought significant changes, and I hope they’re for the better.
For the first time I finally partook in the Nieuwjaarsduik, “New Year’s dive”. This annual event is organized nation-wide by Unox since 1960. In 2012 it was held in 89 locations and attracted record 36 000 people, thanks to air’s temperature of +12° C.
The main location for this “polar bear plunge” is Scheveningen pier in the Hague. We departed on time, so did we arrive. But finding a parking spot was a challenge, so we had to move to the port area and walk back from there. It took us about half an hour. People in orange Unox caps were walking in the opposite direction.
![Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/yktoo/image/upload/blog/obvjp3oi10g70182.jpg)
The number of participants in Scheveningen was limited to ten thousand, and, since we were late, we couldn’t buy a ticket anymore. On the other hand, the sea is the same everywhere, so I joined other people plunging outside of the fence.
![Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/yktoo/image/upload/blog/u4fa4ksk1k7z2424.jpg)
![Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/yktoo/image/upload/blog/4vema8rnz0uv0455.jpg)
The wind on the coast was simply unbearable. Remarkably enough, the ice cold water (5-6° C) felt warmer than the air. I could resist the temptation to have a swim twice. Supporters hung around, cheering, in their coats and caps.
![Image](https://res.cloudinary.com/yktoo/image/upload/blog/kqqg9dynvorh3486.jpg)
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