Day Eight - Nanortalik, Greenland Saturday 19 July 201

 

Icebergs and Mountains --

Woke early and walked about 6:00 am -- chilly, windy and crowded on Deck Six --not with walkers but with photographers.  As we approach Nanortalik -- all we see are icebergs and mountains --but the combination is spectacular.  Ony the southern part of Greenland is inhabited with a population of about 55,000 -- Nanortalik has a population of 1400.

Iceberg and Mountains in Greenland

As Phil and I eat breakfast -- we are mesmerized by all the icebergs  so close by.

The Zeendam anchors  -- is cleared -- and we are walking through Nanortalik by 7:30 am.    We pop into the Visitors' Center which is also a shop selling everything:  sweaters, shoes, postcards, souvenirs, internet for $10 for the day.    We decide to come back after touring the area.

Tender Dock with Veendam and Mountains

 We move in the direction of the Church -- which is closed -- so we keep going to the Nanortalik Museum -- a folklore museum consisting of sixteen old buildings with exhibits inside them.  These buildings are in their original locations clustered near the harbor.  Admission:  $10 per person.

After going through the museum, we keep walking around town in and out of the various neighborhoods -- single family houses are painted in bright colors.  We pass the cemetery which is just behind the school building painted red --  which is in the same area as several apartment buildings.  Actually Nanortalik is just one great big neighborhood.

Church in Nanortalik

Pretty soon we are back in the dock area -- and decide to check out the supermarket -- which is quite nice.  As one would expect they also carry clothing and household items -- we were told there were two supermarkets -- we only found one.  Other than the Visitor Center shop -- the supermarkets seem to be the only places for locals to get what they need.  

Pat with all the colorful houses.

By the time we went back to the Visitor Center for the internet -- the place was a mob scene -- which means that the signal would have too many people on it --- and there was no place to sit down.  So we decided to wait for Iceland.    I also feel like I'm coming down with something -- so just wanted to get back to the ship.

After lunch -- I slept off and on all afternoon --- got up had a small dinner in Lido and went back to bed --  I have a fever.

Nanortalik Museum -- Doctor's House 

We had a wonderful day in Nanortalik, Greenland -- I do not know how anybody can live here all the time.   I asked a young man working at the coffee shop about having darkness all day during the winter.  He said "Oh we have light in the winter" -- when I asked how many hours, he responded "Three".  

It's always an education ---

Thanks for Reading!

Pat