[part of a series of posts beginning here]
One of the wonderful aspects of a National Geographic expedition is the opportunity to travel to remote places – places only accessible by ship, completely uninhabited – and to explore the tundra, fjords, and deep seas for some of the incredible wildlife that calls this wilderness its home. As part of our ten-day cruise from Iceland to the southern fjords of Greenland, we had ample opportunity to watch whales feeding, trek across treeless tundra, lock eyes with caribou, beachcomb remote shores, boat among the berglets that emerge from tidal glaciers, and even glimpse the aurora borealis. In the next several posts I’ll share a sample of each. Meanwhile, a special tidbit from the last night of the trip!
Our trip occurred in late summer, with early sunrise, late sunset, and long days. Nonetheless, it was dark enough in the wee hours to have an opportunity to see the aurora borealis (northern lights). On our final night onboard, our expedition leader woke us at 1am to alert us to an especially strong aurora. I rolled out of bed and took two steps onto the balcony, leaning into the chilly breeze while watching an impressive auroral display. I stayed long enough to take a few snapshots with my iPhone – I was too tired to dress and go up on deck for more extensive photos. The results were still worth it!
David Kotz 
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