Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen and the Svalbard Peninsula- Sail Away!!

Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen and the Svalbard Peninsula- Sail Away!! I made it up above the Arctic Circle...finally! Already a change of temperature: from upper 70's in Oslo to mid 40's in Longyearbyen. It's all good. The Spitsbergen Guesthouse where I was staying was pleasant, clean and basic. I don't really need that much when I travel. But I did have to get used to the fact that the sun never set last night. Got up at 3 a.m. and it was bright blue skies! I've never experienced that before, and I have to say it is really neat! So today (July 27) I'm meeting our group at 3 p.m., ready to board the ship at 4. I can't wait!! 4:00 p.m. Boarding the ship, I met my old dear Israeli friend Amir, who was a fellow passenger with me on my Antarctica expedition. This time he brought the wife, kids, mother, and brother-in-law! Also staff members Rose (Australia) and Andy (Argentina) were on the Antarctic trip as well. I have a nice roomie named Paul from Yorkshire, England and all in all, I've settled in. So excited and just being on board again has brought back some wonderful memories of the past trip and sheer excitement of this upcoming adventure. Standing on the deck, the Arctic wind blowing in my face, watching the Arctic Terns, Northern Fulmars and Common Guillemots following the ship as we left port, brings a perpetual smile to my face. I'm back on the expedition, adventures unknown, and I feel so free and anticipatory; it feels amazing! Thanks so much for reading this and sharing this journey with me! It's gonna be a blast!!!