Qaqortoq Greenland

After so much sleep yesterday I wake at 6 am and read for a bit before quietly getting dressed and heading up for a coffee and breakfast at 7 am.

We are at anchor in a beautiful bay. It is overcast with a light drizzle.  Crew are setting up all the lounge chairs on the open deck.  Always amazes me how they set them all up every morning and take them down every evening. 

 

The World Fresh Marketplace (which is way too long a name to type out) is actually rather busy for 7 am.  I am sure a lot of people have early tours.

At 730 am we have received clearance and tenders, ummm sorry water shuttles. are ready.  Elites are directed to Explorers Lounge for priority tickets.  Everyone else goes to island dining room to get tender tickets.  I am use to them handing out numbered tickets but here they give you a ticket with a nautical name.  Coral, dolphin, mermaid, seahorse.  So when they call out what tenders are ready they say "all those holding starfish tickets proceed to the tender".  Cute but personally I think numbers are better, then I know where I stand in the queue. 

For those wanting to stay on board the day is packed with activities, plus the ship will be quiet.

People on line, have been asking me how is the wifi.  Well we are in a zone where the medallion is not getting a good signal from the satellites.  This pretty much started the first sea day after Sydney and continues.  It got a bit better once we arrived in Greenland but not great.  If you plan to sail just take note that you will be without wifi for a week or so.  

Even once we were in Greenland getting a cell signal was not easy either and really not worth it.  

I also was not able to find free wifi ashore yesterday, we will see today.  Note - I can report that once again I couldn't find any wifi.  Maybe a restaurant or bar would have it but we didn't go to either.

We board the tender around 930.  It is definitely quieter today, at least now.  I think not as many are going ashore.  It is cool, but not raining, and overcast.  

Tender ride was not long maybe 15 minutes but boarding and waiting to unload is where it takes time.  I say give yourself an hour if you are to meet a tour ashore,

It is definitely bigger here than yesterday.  More people and more homes.  But it is not flat it is on the side of a mountain so walking away from the pier be prepared to climb.

Tourist Office

Locals selling handicrafts

The tourist office is right at the pier.  A few more items inside but don't expect much.  In fact magnets are a hot commodity and there were 3 left with Greenland on them, and a bunch that didn't say Greenland.  They were $11 US each.  

Not many souvenir shops and the stores that are open don't really carry souvenirs but you can find some lovely local crafts.  Also many set up tables selling bead work, pictures, knitted items.  

We climb the mountainside walking around the homes.  Cool looking colourful homes.  Beautiful views.  Note there are no sidewalks so be careful.   There is also a bus and numerous bus stops but no idea where it goes.

first grocery store

We came across two grocery stores, a police station, a quaint church and a few museums.

the church

the second grocery store

After a few hours we join the queue to return to the ship which is not as long, but it is still early.

Our evening was the usual.  Pre dinner cocktails, dinner in Palm dining room.  We never make reservations as there just are none for 2 so we just show up around 730 and we are easily accommodated.  Most quests on board eat early so after 730 no issue, or at least not an issue in Palm dining room.

After dinner we attend a top five trivia where again we have fun but don't come close to winning.

I have had lovely comments from so many guests who recognize me from my lectures.  I have been so pleased and my heart is full of so much love.  

It has been a great cruise.  

Nanortalik Greenland

After an amazing sleep we wake to a beautiful sight - land!  It has been 5 days at sea and we are ready to set foot on solid land.  Then the sound - announcement that tenders are ready (they now call them water shuttles).

We are not in a rush.  We get breakfast, shower, do a few errands and gather our stuff.

Water shuttle tickets are handed out and then you wait for your group to be called.  We waited around 15 minutes at 10:30 for our group to be called.  

We choose to sit at the top deck on the tender.  It is around 9 degrees, no wind, and no rain.  Yes cool, but if you are dressed appropriately you will be fine.  Plus you can get some very cool pictures.  Tender ride is 20 minutes plus loading and unloading.

Icebergs dot the landscape.  They are stunning.

The town is not big.  You can easily walk around the entire place if you can manage slight hills.

People come here for the scenery.  Don't expect a lot.  There is a grocery store, a fish store, a few clothing shops, a hotel, a bar, an outdoor museum, a sports field/complex, a church, a community hall and a tourist bureau.

We have no plans today but to walk around.  First thing is Bernie wants to put his feet in the water.  Crazy, I know. But he insists and he admits it is cold!  But worth it.

We walk around town maneuvering around road work that is happening.  Be prepared, there are not a lot of public washrooms.  You will find one at the tourist bureau, the church, the community hall and the bar.  I am sure there may be more but I did not find them.

Community Center

Fish Store

Grocery Store

If you are looking for shopping, well there is the grocery store.  The tourist bureau had a few things.  Some locals set up a table or lay their things out on a piece of wood to entice passing tourists to buy.  Prices were in US as well as Euro and Krona.  Note there are not a lot of places to buy souvenirs.

The church has a performance by the choir every hour.  Price is $14 and includes coffee and cake/biscuits (the coffee/cake is served at community hall).  We decide to attend.  The performance was around a half hour and all sung in Inotutuk.... quite enjoyable.  We make our way to the community hall for our coffee and biscuits.  In all was it worth $14, yeah I would say yes and no.  Pricey but everything here is more expensive, and I know that the monies will be put to good use in the community.

We walk all over, climbing over boulders, enjoying the birds that fly and swoop down to lead us along.

Now check out this great soccer field.  Artificial turf, I am sure growing grass here for 10 months a year would be difficult.  But man I couldn't play here, I would be distracted by that view.

We have worked up a thirst.  The restaurant/bar is a big blue building.  The bar is like any in any small town.  Bernie gets two pints of local beer.  Cost - a whopping $14.50 US each.  But it was good.

We walk to the other side of town and get some nice pictures.  In all we walk over 15,000 steps.  

On our way back we run into Dominique and together we explore a bit more before deciding it is time to get in the queue for the tender back.  

The Water Shuttle is over by the red building, we are at the back of the queue

us at the front of the queue looking back at the long line!

The line is huge, winding down the street!  We join it and slowly make our way to towards the pier.  Chatting with the people in the queue.  It takes about an hour to get to the front of the line.  Crew have hot chocolate and cookies for us  Thankfully it is not rainy.  

Back on board we grab some food from the buffet. A light snack as it is 430 and we have not really eaten since breakfast other than the biscuit and coffee.

My intention was to watch sailaway but I am tired.  Soon I am fast asleep.  We both decide a quiet evening in is what we need.  We watch a movie, we order a light meal from room service later and have a night that we needed.