I often hear this question, I’ve answered it countless times, and surprisingly, the answer is different each time. From every trip to the far North, I bring back new memories, new experiences and lessons, new acquaintances. At first, the Arctic seemed very harsh and inaccessible: the industrial appearance of Arctic settlements, the ubiquitous pipelines. You won’t find breathtaking, beautiful buildings here. The Arctic is very sparse and simple in this regard.

Over time, I discovered the charm of the North. It’s really about us being guests at the pole. Nature has graciously allowed us to settle here, and it dictates the conditions of our temporary accommodation. The beauty of the Arctic lies in its wild, inaccessible, and yet undiscovered places. Of course, our innate curiosity pushes us to go higher, further, to the very limits of our endurance. The Arctic is still a mystery; nature allows us to slowly discover it, and that’s wonderful. We should feel grateful for its hospitality. But as is sometimes the case, Mother Nature, like any other host, can get angry. And when guests misbehave, she gently lets them know it’s time to leave.

The Arctic is people. It’s a little girl who, with a flower behind her ear like a princess, poses for my photo. It’s a scientist who talks about glaciers with great passion, yet sadness. It’s an elderly woman who has never left Greenland but dreams of traveling to Spain. In this snowy and frosty place, it’s people who are an endless source of warmth.

So what attracts me to the Arctic? The North is the best place to delve into oneself.