If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Where the extraordinary is ordinary

I am absolutely fascinated by Longyearbyen. “Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. The small Arctic town is inhabited by nature enthusiasts who live in close unity under tough climatic conditions with the High Arctic wilderness right on their doorstep. Longyearbyen is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most adventures in Svalbard. This Arctic wilderness starts virtually in the town centre and never ends!”

A resident of the town (online source) has written.

“Although the tiny metropolis may appear a bit “harsh” with a rough industrial exterior, Longyearbyen is renowned for its hospitality and high level of comfort. Most people enjoy themselves in Longyearbyen and quickly feel they belong here. Many are bitten by the “Arctic bug” and refuse to move southwards. “I only planned to be here for one year, but I’ve been here for many years now,” is a comment you hear virtually every day. Nevertheless, Longyearbyen is a place people come to work and not somewhere they can spend their entire lives. The average time people live in Svalbard is seven years, according to Statistics Norway.

The residents of Longyearbyen feel that we live completely normal everyday lives. However, those looking from the outside often perceive our everyday life as somewhat extraordinary. The polar bears are never far away, so it’s a necessity to carry weapons when we venture outside the settlement. The climate is harsh and unpredictable. Some people find the contrasts and changes between light and dark challenging, while others think it’s wonderful.

There are separate “roads” in the town centre for snowmobiles

• We only have one grocery store

• We are used to living next door to reindeer

• We still take off our shoes when we enter hotels and restaurants, a tradition that has arisen from the problem with coal dust in the old days.

• All the mining infrastructure is protected and remains as surreal monuments in and around the settlement.

• The streets in Longyearbyen have numbers instead of names.

• Longyearbyen has a university centre with 300 students, all of whom must learn to use firearms.

• Seeing whales swimming in the fjord from our lounge window is not an uncommon occurrence.”

I live in Darwin, NT, Australia. It is hot and humid, with two seasons,

“Wet” and “Dry”. More dry than wet and very, VERY rarely cold.

Longyearbyen is very appealing.

Source: “Longyearbyen- online information”.