Greenland

One last note about Iceland…. And an opportunity to share a favorite photo:

Downtown Reykjavik with the Harpa Cathedral in the distance…. The rainbow street is not just for Pride Month, but emblematic of Iceland as a year-round LGBTQ-friendly destination. Icelanders are independent and respectful of the rights of others to live as they see fit. Vive les differences!

Getting back to …… GREENLAND!

Their flag represents the midnight sun…. And the ice that covers more than 80 percent of its surface.

Greenland is the biggest island on the planet, a bit more than 3 times the area of Texas….. but the most sparsely-populated country, with fewer than 60,000 inhabitants. Since it is covered with ice and glaciers, people live along the coastline in small communities.

Although a member of the kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is geologically a part of North America, sharing space on the same tectonic plate…..

…. Which – much as we hate to admit – would provide some rationale to the idea of our former president that the US should buy the island as a logical extension of its sphere of influence (!)

Scandinavian Vikings (mostly from Norway) first established small settlements along the southern coast beginning in the 9th or 10th century – at approximately the same time, give or take, as Inuit people emigrated to the north from what is now Canada. The Inuit livelihood was already adapted to Arctic conditions, with primary food sources from seals and other marine life. The Norse settlers on the other hand brought with them livestock and crops that ultimately proved unsuited to the harsh environment. The Norse communities shrank and were ultimately abandoned in the 15th century. The last record of their presence was a wedding in 1408 at this church on Hvalsey Fjord:

The Inuit people survived here through the ages, and represent more than 85 percent of the population today.

This is an “expedition” cruise…. a small ship going to remote parts of the world, with programs and adventures that emphasize nature – flora, fauna, geology and ecosystems – as well as the local culture of the places visited. In this part of the world, glaciers and icebergs are part of the scenery.

The weather changes frequently and dramatically.

Trips in small Zodiac boats get us closer to the icebergs, glaciers, waterfalls, bird colonies… and an old wreck in one of the harbors.

Of course, our ship is much nicer……

Our journey has taken us to the capitol city, Nuuk (population about 20,000), as well as to the much smaller communities of Qaqortoq and Paamiut.

Interesting sculpture dotted the natural contours of Qaqortoq:

Apparently Greenlanders have problems with the invasion of the spiky flowering lupine as well…… this worker was diligently pulling up the plants, and Henry gave him a hand.

Henry did his bit to bolster the local economy with purchases from local rock hounds!

We’re always on the lookout for creative uses for shipping containers…..

But happy to return to the relative civility of shipboard life…..

Adverse weather resulted in cancellation of another community visit, and the ship is moving on to Nunavut province in Canada’s far north……