svalbard -- july 3-4, 2004

On Saturday, we took a boat trip. Here are green cliffs (fertilized by sea birds) along the coast of the fjord, between Longyear and Barentsberg.

We got off the boat in Barentsberg, the Russian coal mining settlement on Svalbard (population approximately 800, half miners). Here I am next to a statue of Lenin. Praveen was being charged by an angry Communist bull as he was taking this picture.

A view from the boat.

The boat trip proceeded across the fjord to the Esmark glacier. There was a light rain off and on, and a full rainbow appeared as we approached the glacier.

Same rainbow.

Part of the coal mine at Longyear. Probably where the coal is loaded on to ships.

The main settlement on Svalbard is the the Norwegian town Longyearbyen. We stayed in Guesthouse 102 in Nybyen ("new town", but actually older), a bit further up the valley.

An abandoned coal mine near Longyearbyen.

Mist cloaking the clifftop.

Me.

Sunday we went on a fossil hunting and glacier walking expedition with some Danish guides and a dog. Here we are fossil hunting above Longyearbyen. Praveen is on the right.

Here Praveen is indicating his desire not to be photographed. Or something.

A leaf fossil.

Me and Inouk, a Greenland husky.

Some hiking companions, at our lunch spot on the glacier above Longyear.