Arrived!

After 3 flights and over 3000 km we arrived at Longyearbyen Airport just after 8 pm. To make sure we understood just how far north we were, this sign met us as we walked out of the airport under leaden skies and persistent rain. Just 1309 kilometres from the North Pole!



Our hotel is warm and inviting and we have just been left a message by the tour organiser to say that our first trip is delayed to the afternoon allowing us a lie in tomorrow morning, yippee!



Longyearbyen can best be described as functional. It is clearly a working town with mainly low buildings running of a main street. At the moment snowmobiles litter open spaces. No grass, the soil can best be described as scree and it feels as though you are within a massive quarry. What does stand out are the magnificent snow capped moutnains surrounding the bay and town. As I look out of our window we are faced by a vast valley wall probably 2,000 feet high, which dominates that side of the town. We're now off for a bite to eat before retiring.



ps **We have noted the little warning sign at the bottom of the pole!**