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.

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.