The midnight sun high in the sky, in Isfjorden

2000-7-24 00:23MET 80mm f/4 ; 1/1000" 400ISO ; pol 44·84Kb 1846·1194

We decided to go directly to Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard, where we were to be joined by Bente. We were already somewhat late. When we reached the waters outside Bellsund, roughly halfway to Longyearbyen, we finally made contact with Svalbard Radio, who told us that Bente was already waiting for us in Longyearbyen.

The trip to Longyearbyen was pretty uneventful. It was foggy all the way from Hornsund to the mouth of Isfjorden. There, however, we had a good deal of sunshine while passing the Russian town Barentsburg until we approached Longyearbyen.

We arrived Longyearbyen in showers of sleet 35 hours after our departure from Hornsund. Two things had to be done upon our arrival. First, drinks to celebrate that we had made it here. Secondly, and most important, showers. Then, finally, sleep without having to get up again three hours later. Bliss.

It was a beautiful day when we woke up in the afternoon: the bright sun against a deep blue sky, brown mountains and green grass in the valleys. We stayed two days in the town and renewed our supplies of food, water and fuel. We met Bente and celebrated our arrival once again, going to a restaurant, which served whale and seal meat. Unfortunately, Karl-Peter and Bente got food poisoning, but were well enough for departure the day after.

The area around Longyearbyen, particularly the area south of the town, has relatively few glaciers. It is quite mountainous, but not strikingly beautiful. The town is an oasis of modern civilization, not much different from towns on the mainland of the same size. Not much different, that is, except for the great number of snowmobiles, the worry about polar bears, and a flow of funny-looking tourists in the summer. There seem to be two sorts of tourists. There are hikers, usually young people, dressed in sturdy, light, mostly red and green clothes. And then there are the middle-aged foreigners dressed up as if they were going to spend a night on the Antarctic polar plateau.

For us the greatest attraction of Longyearbyen was the hot showers. After we refreshed ourselves, there was nothing to keep us in the town, and we left.