Tuesday

A very early start today with a wake up call at 4.30 am. Had to have luggage at reception by 4.45 am then breakfast and onto the bus by 5.30 am for drive to Bergen Airport

Checked in and did self baggage drop then to departures for security screening which was very busy.

My suitcase weighed 21 kg which seemed odd as I had not done much shopping and my suitcase weighed 17 kg when I checked in at Brisbane ?....

Flight at 7 am. Boarded the plane but then a fault found in plane so had to get off again. Glad they found the fault before the plane took off.

Managed to get on an 8 am flight to Oslo as our flight to Longyearbyen left at 9.50 am .

Boarded flight at 10 am. Stopover at Tromso where we had to get off plane to go through a police check and got a stamp in our passport. Arrived Longyearbyen at 2 pm. More people joined the group in Oslo so final count is 71delegates

Checked into Spitsbergen Hotel and then went out for a walk.

Currently 8 degrees Centigrade. Had dinner at Mary Ann Briggen restaurant reindeer steak and vegetables very nice but 355 NOK about $60 AUD

Starting to rain as we walked back to hotel wearing beanie scarf gloves .....an uphill walk

A bit of excitement for Devi and I as we ended up locked in our room as the door lock broke. Devi e mailed several people who came with the hotel man to open the door