Waiting for better weather

My work week in Svea usually starts on Thursdays. Last time I got some ekstra days in the town because all the local flights were cancelled. Finally on Saturday forenoon we got a flight and the work week started. Even though work week started couple of days later it finished as normal on Wednesday. I didn't complain too much about a shorter work period!

Over the white landscape

We were having some wonderful days on our scooters during those last beautiful days in April.

A seal is having also good time on the sea ice. You can see Noorderlicht, a sailing boat frozen on ice, on the background.

Mars and April is also a busy time for tourist companies. We met a  line of 38 scooters, guides included. Somehow I was happy I wasn't part of them.

Glacier fronts are always imressive.

I think that seal must have one of the most beautiful places to have his breath hole.

A stone formation called Tarantellen, Tarantella in English. I quess you can see why it has got that name.

We were having a break by Mittag-Lefflerbreen, in Austfrjoden. Suddenly glacier calved and a huge piece of ice collapsed just behind us. We were far enough from the glacier front, so we weren't in risk to get some ice on us, but sea ice made really spooky sounds after collapse.  We decided to move on the other place pretty quickly.

I think mountains with stripes are really cool.

This picture is taken about glacier melt water basin. Ice is totally clear and it seems to be endlessly deep. There is really stylish patterns on the ice, which are totally impossible to capture on pictures.

Life in the ghost town

Pyramiden is a Russian "ghost town"about 110 km by scooter from Longyearbyen. The town was abandoned 1998 and being empty since. At the most there were living over 1000 inhabitants.

Lately the Russians have been developing tourist industri and the hotel, Tulipan, is partly renovated  and it's possibly to overnight there.

The hotelrooms gives sweet Russian feeling.

The restaurant reminds me equivalent in Barentsburg.

I guess the worlds northernmost Lenin is standing in Pyramiden.

Industry in Pyramiden was also based on coal.

Pyramiden was a lively town with sporty and cultural activities.

The cultural house was giving a good possibilities for different hobbies.  Town was also having a kindergarden and a school.

The houses didn't had their own kitchen but food was got from the canteen. I think this mosaic in the canteen is really cool.

There is also a little museum. That polar bear is looking somehow strange...

I think Pyramiden is the most beautiful town in Svalbard. Nordenskiöldbreen, a glacier on the other side of Billefjorden, is really impressive. I would love to have that kind of view from my kitchen window.

Days of blue dream

We have had perfect weather here lately, over some weeks of time in April. April is absolutely one of the best time in Svalbard! Then we don't get anymore dark at night time and weather is pretty often good and stabile. I'm always feeling almost quilty if I'm staying inside during those beautiful days.

This is what Svalbard is for me: Sunshine forever.

This is what everybody is dreaming about in Svalbard:  A polar bear mummy with two cubs.

I guess this cabin is one of the most photographed, it's a trapper Hilmar Nøis old cabin in Fredheim.

A sight over Templefjorden, about 60 km from Longyearbyen. You can see a sailing boat Noorderlicht in the right corner. It's a boat frozen on the ice and it's used as a hotel.

A glacier front, a perfect place for a cup of hot chocolate and some snack.

Ice sculptures in the front of the glacier are really amazing.

Just quick visit on Noorderlicht.

It's also nice to have some activities beside driving the scooters. Here some climbing in Brattlidalen.

The world where the sun doesn't set

We had the last sunset at 16th of April and the next one will be 25th of August. I just love this time - you can be awake when ever and it's light anyhow.

A touch of human

The flights between Longyearbyen and Svea are really beautiful. I think I will never get tired to see all of those mountains under us. But, it's not only mountains we see under us, we also see a touch of human.

Svea, our working place. This is the settlement, the entrance to the coal mine is behind the mountains.

Colesbukta, which was serving Grumant as a port. The coal from the Grumant was loaded here. 

The coal from Grumant was transported to Colesbukta with a railway.

This is what is left about Grumant, a Russian mining town. The town was abandoned at 1965 and at the most there were living over 1000 people.

Bjørndalen, a cabin area. Now we're landing soon at the airport.

Isfjorden Radio

Isfjorden Radio is an old radio station in Kapp Linné, about 90 m vest from Longyearbyen.

That was the station which catch a radio signal from mainland-Norway, about 1000 km southward.

Nowdays it's a cosy tourist place. You can overnight there or just come and have a good lunch.

Driving there is a nice way to have a little bit longer day trip.

Barentsburg seen from the other side of Grønnfjorden.

There is a nice viewpoint to have a break and look at that Russian mining town.

Do you think they would need to think about to do something with this cabin? Anyhow, it's still hanging there and feels pretty solid - strangely enough.

A windy day

I think it always so cool to get windows covered with snow. Then I'm just feeling like to get a good cup of tea and have a cosy moment on our sofa.

It's always difficult to get out on windy weather, but when you finaly get out properly dressed it's not actually that bad. Then you can also see how beautiful it can be despite the weather.

Center of Longyearbyen, totally wind-blown.

A parking plot to our only grecery store was totally full. Easter is time for good food and there is always needed some ekstra for visitors and for to have a good cabin trip.