15 November

Wow, it's super windy this morning.  Sure hope to find the tripods still standing when we go back up to the Observatory on Monday and sure am happy we're taking the weekend off.  It wouldn't be much fun being out in this.  Clicking my heels together is not getting the desired result.

So, it's above freezing now, and raining.  Later today, it will be below freezing.  I think I will be investing in an ice scraper for the car.  And what's up with that half sun symbol!  I think maybe that's indicating that the sun will only be shining below the horizon.  

At least I have food, so don't need to leave the building.  Found these crackers that I absolutely love with a slice of cheese on top

We ventured out to the Arts and Crafts Center this afternoon.  There, we discovered "Game of Svalbard".  You get a game folder and have to visit all the different locations to get their codes.  I think you win a scarf or something, if you get ten of the codes.  So, we visited the church

where I saw my hopefully only Polar Bear

and got the game code for that location.

Then it was on to the museum, where we had to find out who first found Svalbard (Barentz) and then the bank, butikken, and Svalbar.  We had a Norwegian Wood beer, with a smoky flavor, at Svalbar.  That's one strong beer! 

From there we walked down to the Barentz Pub in the Radisson, for the 125 kroner dinner special - lasagne.  We wolfed that down like we hadn't eaten in a week. The wind is so strong that I keep being blown in to a run.  So glad it was at our backs!  It's supposed to get colder tonight so I suspect the roads will get pretty slippery. 

Good to have a day off and see the sights.  There are still three sites that we have to go to, in order to fill out our card.  I think this has been the big excitement of the day :)