Svalbard

Hello :)

Last year, off the back of my 100th country visit to Norway, I spent three nights in Svalbard, one of the most northern archipelagos in the world. Though I wasn't there for long, I felt it was an interesting place to do a podcast about, covering history, wildlife, culture, and of course the ethical aspect of travelling to somewhere like that in the first place.

Not a spoiler: I did not see a polar bear.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
Parts One and Two: Housekeeping and Introduction

Part Three: Overview
* So remote even the Vikings didn't go there
* Whale-hunting, fur-trapping, Wild West Mining Towns, and how they became Norwegian
* Svalbard v Spitsbergen
* How its different from Norway
* Population un-Density

Part Four: Wildlife & Environment
* This is the land of the Polar Bear
* Birds, but not in winter
* Longyearbyen feels very small from above
* There are no trees, only scree

Part Five: Things To Do In Longyearbyen
* The Airport is surprisingly insta-ready
* The Seed Vault
* Museums
* The world's most northerly brewery (and why it only dates from 2015)
* You don't come here to die
* What do you mean 'Shoes are Banned'?!
* The Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights

Part Six: Ethical Travel
* The notable effects of Climate Change
* Cruise Ships and the dichotomy of tourism v environment
* How locals view tourists
* What some businesses are doing for sustainability
* Eating local means eating whale and seal
* The transient nature of the population
* Visit Svalbard's tips for ethical tourism

Part Seven: What I did when I was there
* A local orientation tour
* Hiking Sarkofagen
* Local Beer
* Sailing along Billefjorden
* Accommodation in Longyearbyen
* Did I visit ethically?

Part Eight: Final Thoughts

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topics, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There is a contribution in this pod from my friend Julie, who blogs at "I Am A Polar Bear", which is an apt name for someone who's also been to Svalbard.

Until next time, bye for now. :)