The ferry from Vieques dropped us off in the town of Fajardo, on Puerto Rico’s east coast. We found a ride to the rental car office about twenty minutes south of town and a short time later we were in our rental car heading west along the north shore of the island. We passed the capitol of San Juan and continued for a while before we turned south and headed into the island’s mountainous interior. After a few more hours of winding mountain roads and stunning vistas we crossed over a deep ravine and found our home for the coming days. We were staying at Casa Grande, a lovely yoga retreat located on a lush hillside in the rugged center of Puerto Rico. We quickly got moved in and started relaxing. Our room had a lovely ... read more

Southward we went. The winds and the waves became fierce and rain set in, so the captain decided to skip our planned stop in Hornsund, at the southern end of Spitsbergen – The conditions were not good for a landing and there was a huge gale coming in. The ship was made ready for the open ocean and a crossing of the wild Barents Sea. We waived our farewells to Arctic expanses of Svalbard and to the land of the ice bear and we set our sights on the notorious ocean crossing that separated us from the Norwegian shore. The Barents Sea was known as one of the earth’s stormiest seas and it didn’t disappoint. The ship bounced, and jarred, and rocked, and rolled its way southward for the next four days. For the first day ... read more

I took in a deep breath, smiling as the icy air shot into my lungs and filled my body with a strong sense of being alive. It was still technically summertime, yet the multiple layers of fleece and nylon I was wearing did little to cut the Arctic chill. I looked down to my small backpack and hoped that I had brought enough clothing to stay warm. From my vantage point on the tourist dock I watched the infrequent boating traffic go by on the fjord. Each time I saw a new boat rise up out of the distant horizon I got excited, only to be let down when the small dot turned into a large fishing boat or a research vessel. Just as I began to wonder if my boat was going to show up, ... read more

The Oslo to Bergen railroad was known throughout Europe for its stunning scenery. The tracks traversed the high, mountainous plateau of central Norway where snowy peaks and glacial rivers were the norm and settlements were few and far between. My journey started in a station near Drammen. I took a seat at a north-facing window and then the train smoothly lurched and pulled out of the station. We passed through a few more stations before we started ascending into the mountains of central Norway. The rolling hills gave way to thick pine forests and then the trees gave way to the desolate beauty of the high mountains. I marveled at the snowy peaks and the expansive moraines. The train crossed several glacial rivers and I spotted several lovely waterfalls and lakes along the way. The train ... read more

After a train, a crowded bus, a confusing time in the Oslo bus station, and a second train, I walked out of the train station and got my first glimpse of Drammen. Drammen was the town that my great grandparents had left about one hundred years before to start a new life in America. I had always been proud of my Norwegian heritage, so it was exciting when my mom made contact with a second cousin who still lived in Drammen. Her cousin, Cato, and his partner, Mona, came to America and visited my family there in 2005. I was in Antarctica during their visit, so it wasn’t until 2007, when I met my parents in Dublin, Ireland, that I finally met Cato and Mona. We had a grand time in Dublin and became great friends. ... read more