Willem Barentsz in Vardo
Russia has to thank Holland for teaching Peter the Great about ships and the sea. My gratitude is directed to Maxine for all that she has done to make this trip possible, and to Dirk, the love of her life, for all the work he is shortly to be doing in Tainui. But gratitude also is due to Willem Barentsz, Dutch navigator, cartographer and Arctic explorer, whose expeditions into these waters in the 16th century made all this business of ours possible. He is remembered here in Vardø as this picture attests. Thanks to all of you.