In 2006, my wife and I participated in a cruise around Svalbard. This archipelago is also known as Spitsbergen but that is actually the name of the largest island.

We saw beautiful landscapes, several Polar Bears, nice birds including Ivory Gulls, and the wonderful Walrusses.

We made a full day-by-day trip report and a page of highlights.

In 2011 I made a 4-day trip to Vesterålen in North Norway. This is just north of the better known Lofoten. It's very pretty and they say it's the best place in the world for seeing the White-tailed Eagle. Indeed I saw more than 10 of these. Weather was bad for photography but I managed a bit.

I hope to go back there next year.