Norway and Sweden

[Houndoc]

Quick summary of our trip to Scandinavia.

First stop was 2 nights in Oslo.

By staying near the harbor the only public transport we needed was the ferry to the Fram Museum. Everything else easily walkable.

Oslo Opera House is cool building as roof slopes to the ground and is encouraged to walk it.



Personal highlight for me was the Fram. Without question my favorite ship- if you are not familiar with it look into it's polar exploration history, especially under Nansen.

It was an amazing feeling stepping aboard the Fram.

 

[Houndoc]

We then flew to Longyearbyen, Svalbard. About half the distance between mainland Norway and the North Pole at almost 79 degrees latitude.

Very unique in that is part of Norway but governed by international treaty that allows anyone to live and work there visa free. No Norwegian taxes paid but also zero social welfare benefits. Nearly half the population (of 2,000) are from outside Norway.

Greeted by light snow.



Boat tour including stop at the near ghost town (10 residents) of Pyramiden, a former coal mining town run by the Soviet Union then Russia. It is still under Russian control.

 

[Houndoc]

Most important part of that stop was an evening swim in the Arctic Ocean.

Was after sunset, water temp 41, air low 30s with stiff breeze.



The walk to and from the water (100 yards or so) was colder than the swim.
We also had to have an armed guard with us because of polar bears.

Note, don't forget your swim suit.

 

[Houndoc]

Flew back to Oslo, one night at a lake side town an hour north of the airport then flew to Stockholm for one day.

The Old City area of Stockholm is beautiful.

 

[Houndoc]

We then flew back above the Arctic Circle to the town of Kiruna where I had a conference on sled dog medicine.

Interesting city. It basically exists because of an underground iron mine. Because of the mine, the city is sinking and neighborhood by neighborhood is being torn down and rebuilt several miles away.




We did a Northern Lights tour one night. Money well spent as they took the time to find clear skies (was snowing in town)

 

[Houndoc]

Also toured the Ice Hotel, but decided against $1,000 night to stay there.

Some of the ice sculpture was cool, some creepy.




Following day was a beautiful trail ride on sure footed Icelandic Horses.

 

[johngottfredson]

Wow! Thanks for sharing

 

[rholbrook]

Beautiful. On my list, we had an exchange student live with us from Sweden and I want to go visit him and his family.

 

[I Lean]

That is awesome, thanks for the pics!