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2018 Travels
Svalbard

August 16th to August 20th, 2018

Svalbard is a truly wonderful place. The island is in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. We stayed four nights in the town of Longyearbyen, which is the northernmost town in the world. Our experience here was fabulous.

Below: We saw five polar bears on the first day. They are beautiful animals but very dangerous. In fact, it is not permitted to walk outside of town unless you are armed with a rifle to protect yourself. We went exploring with a guide who was well-armed.



Below: We went kayaking amongst glaciers and icebergs. It was spectacular; one of the greatest experiences of our lives.









Below: Puffins migrate to Svalbard each summer and we saw a lot of them.



Below: There were several reindeer walking around. That's no surprise considering Santa Claus lives not far from here.



Below: This polar bear with her two cubs had just caught and ate a seal. They still have a red tinge on their faces.



Below: This is the residential area in Longyearbyen. Because Svalbard is so far north, the sun does not set for four months straight. From April through August, it's always daytime.



Below: Cocktail lounge near our hotel. But don't drink too much because it is illegal to die on Svalbard. I'm serious; look it up!



Below: Aerial view of Svalbard from our airplane window as we departed. We miss it already.