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.

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.

Walk with the dog

Sometimes it's nice to have a walk with the dog in different places, just not beside the town.

Our dog has needed to learn all kind of things, just for that he has possibility to follow us. Sitting on the scooter isn't his favourites, but on that way we can have a walk with him little bit outside the town.

From Hiorthhamn it's nice to start to walk upward and enjoy the view to the town.

Our "TV-tower" is a pretty popular destination for small scooter tours.

Lot of pictures you can see from Longyearbyen is taken from here.

There were a nice halo. That's always a beautiful phenomenon.

Our dog had an important task: He was carrying our down jackets and ekstra clothes.

Exploring surrounding areas

You don't need to be driving that far away from Longyearbyen for a have a nice day out and see some beautiful places.

Eskerfossen is a frozen waterfall in Eskerdalen, roughly said around 40 km from Longyearbyen.

I think Brattlidalen, a valley by Sassendalen, is just amazing.

A narrow canyon is really impressive. Sedimentary rock is making almost tunnel-like formations.

It would be really nice to see this place in summertime with it's waterwalls.

One high point of the trips is always the breaks with chokolade and hot blackcurrant drink.

The pale moon is wandering alone on the light sky.

Hello mountains

It's always nice to see our town from further away. Then we can really realise how small our town actually is between the mountains.

I think I can never be tired to see snowy mountains and fjords between them.

The point with the driving around with scooters is actually to enjoy these fantastic mountains. It feels good to be surrounded by them and see how majestics they really are.

Wind has made amazing desing on the mountain sides. I could think about to have that design on my wall papers.