First Impressions

And so I have arrived!

It seems like a parallel universe.

We flew in over a semi-frozen sea, with the first glimpses of Svalbard as snow covered peaks tinged pink in the last of the day's sun, and it was before 2pm! It was stunning. I have never seen so much snow and so little development. The coal power station on the way into Longyearbyen from the airport mars it a little, but you soon forget about that when you reach the town. The accommodation I am staying in is a fair walk from the University and shops etc but has a lovely view of the mountains across the water at the end of the valley on the way in. So far I have seen little in real daylight as it got dark shortly after arriving, but the days will get longer and longer as my time here goes on.

I decided to be proactive and gather as many bodies as possible to go straight to the supermarket, and a group of us have organised to cook dinner together tonight. Everyone is really friendly, and I even found a very helpful Canadian who helped us get our macs online, hence me being able to blog already. I have even found a cooking 'buddy' to share food with to keep costs (and heavy backpack loads) down. Food is hideously expensive, but not as bad as the £5 sandwich and £2.50 bottle of water I was forced to purchase at the airport. Thank goodness for the muffin you gave me mum otherwise I may have starved today!

The barrack I am in has smaller rooms than the other I have been into, but wins hands down on the access- ours has steps, the other is so iced in you have to use a rope to climb up the ice sheet to get in the door!! I have a very saggy bed, a large desk, wardrobe, smaller table, comfy chair, bookcase... and even a special rifle lock in the cupboard! I have yet to meet the person I share a bathroom with but I only have to share with the one person which is good.

We have already seen a few reindeer but it was too dark to get a pic. We have seen no other wildlife, but the little kids walking home looked so cute in their snowsuits and high-vis vests. There was even a baby being pulled in a little carriage behind a skidoo! I can't wait to get the camera out tomorrow. The safety course starts on Thursday so I have a whole day to get my bearings.

I shall keep you posted.

Step One...Oslo

I have begun my journey! Today I have made it as far as Oslo.

The day started grey and misty and stuck in a queue on the M4, but I was met by the beautiful sight of snow and fir trees with black ribbons of roads winding between them on the descent into Norway. I had failed to realise it would be snowy here, as well as minus six but it is so hot indoors it is almost a relief when you step out into it!

We arrived in Oslo airport at 4.20pm local time and within an hour I was in the centre of Oslo. The fifteen minute train journey has to be the most expensive I have ever taken though! Realisation dawned that we had no map, and so therefore no idea how to get to the hostel, but this was soon sorted at the tourist information office. The hostel is very well located, reasonably clean etc but is on the fourth floor accessed by a peculiar lift with no side. The room is on the sixth floor (no lift!).

We have spent the evening walking around the city and trying to find dinner that we could afford. We walked up to the palace, down to the waterfront... and discovered that no-one else seems to walk (or drive) around Oslo in the evening- it was practically deserted. I have already taken a tumble on the ice but seem to have survived, but there seems little hope for me in Svalbard if I'm already falling over here.

I would upload some pictures but as I have left my card reader at home...oops.

Off to bed now as an early start tomorrow.

Before the off

View Larger Map

Tomorrow I head off to Svalbard, up in the frozen north, for six weeks. I am going on a glaciology course up there.

Hopefully I shall keep you all updated on my adventures while I am there... whether I encounter any polar bears, how successful I am at driving a skidoo, and of course... whether I get frozen toes!