Day 9 – Nuuk Greenland (Greenland at last)

After 4 days at sea and 1,647 nautical miles (3050kms) we were able to go ashore in Greenland, Nuuk Greenland to be precise.

The weather was crisp, well when compared with Singapore it is, with bright clear blue skies, perfect for a day of touring.

A number of the passengers on board were itching to get ashore, seems 4 days onboard a luxury liner in calm seas is too much for some. Not sure what the problem was, we had not run out of food or booze and we all had suites with plenty of room, guess some people need more.

Sail In

I knew we were in for a good day when I woke up and saw this outside.

Caviar

On Sunday’s Regent usually has Caviar and Bubbles on offer for breakfast. It was on today, so I did partake, sans the Bubbles…. Lots to see today, I hope!

Now that I have had my serve of Caviar I was ready to explore Nuuk.

Tours

Today I was booked on two tours, one in the morning and the other after lunch. It ended up being a nice, unhurried day.

Highlights of Nuuk

Drive through Greenland’s diminutive capital, which nestles at the head of a fjord, and trace the town’s history through its marquee attractions. After departing from the pier, you will soon find yourself in downtown Nuuk, the world’s smallest capital and Greenland’s biggest town. Nuuk means “cape.” A reference to its location at the tip of a peninsula at the mouth of an extensive fjord system.

Missionary Hans Egede officially founded the city in 1728, although Inuits, Vikings and various other groups had lived here on and off for about 4,000 years. It’s still a captivating historical setting. As you drive around town, pausing every so often for photos, you will see landmarks that include the Parliament, the University of Greenland and Katuaq, a cultural venue whose modern design was
inspired by the magical play of light on the ice and snow.

The National Museum occupies several buildings around the colonial harbor, where a statue of Egede
overlooks the sea. Other prominent historical buildings include Nuuk Cathedral. Consecrated in 1849, it was constructed with so-called half-timbering, a technique where the timber frame was filled with soapstone and talc. That was later covered with the red paneling seen today.

You will also drive through Nuuk’s neighboring suburbs, which include Nuussuaq and the more contemporary Qinngorput district. Regardless of where you travel, the craggy mountains provide a
majestic backdrop as you return to the pier.

Please note: This tour is panoramic in nature and walking is at the guests’ discretion during photo stops. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the bus and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Warm clothing; cap; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable shoes are recommended.

Nuuk is definitely a picturesque town, took way too many photos 🙂

The Nuuk Harbour is home to the majority of the pleasure craft in Greenland, it even has something to keep Don Johnson happy..

We did not see an “average” view the whole time we were touring Nuuk.

Nuuk Cemetery

One of the more picturesque sites we visited was the Cemetery. The Cemetery is situated where it is and has the graves facing the bay so that everyone has a great view.

The archway symbolizes the journey to the afterlife.

Nuuk Cathedral

The Nuuk Cathedral was built in 1849, with the tower being added 35years later in 1884. As with most Churches in this part of the world it is a Lutheran one.

Hans Egede Monument

After our tour we headed back to the Ship for lunch. Whilst waiting for the next tour to depart I wandered up to the upper deck to enjoy the view and watched the arrival of a plane at the Nuuk Airport.

The Nuuk Airport does not currently handle international flights as the runway is to short. They have commenced work on extending the runway and building the facilities needed for Nuuk International Airport. May be we can fly in there next time.

Kayak Show

Discover how Inuits have long used kayaks on hunting expeditions and how this specially made watercraft has become synonymous with their culture. Without venturing far from the pier, you will watch a local Inuk demonstrate some of the remarkable maneuvering techniques that Inuits have used when hunting at sea in kayaks.

These vessels are made for the open water and the unforgiving arctic environment. In fact, each kayak is constructed specifically for the owner, so it has just the right balance and fit. The first Inuit kayaks were constructed with the precious few available materials, such as driftwood from Siberia, sealskins and sinew. Today, kayaks are typically made of fiberglass. Even so, the design hasn’t changed much and still has to be precise, as the cold arctic seas could be fatal if the kayak capsizes. That’s why it is so important for hunters to know how to flawlessly execute a “roll,” where they can quickly right their kayaks if they turn over in the sea.

Incredibly, Inuit hunters can perform the maneuver without getting a drop of water inside. During the kayak show, you will watch the highly experienced Inuit kayakers demonstrate the “roll” and various other essential maneuvers. After all, Inuits still use kayaks to hunt. In fact, in certain areas of Greenland, narwhals can only be hunted from a traditional kayak with hand-thrown lances and spears. Following the kayak show, you will return to the ship.

Please note: This tour includes approximately 30-minutes of easy walking/standing. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Those with walking difficulties are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Warm clothing; cap; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

After lunch we headed back towards the Cathedral to watch the Kayak Show. The participants were all pretty young and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Their oilskins looked like they were doing their job and keeping them dry and the water out of the Kayak

Anyone would have thought it was a balmy summer’s day, these kids certainly did.

Sail Away

I missed the start of the sail away today, the Captain did not hang around until the scheduled departure time and left early, probably because he knew what was on the horizon, fog!

Fog

About 1 hour after we left Nuuk Greenland we left the bright blue skies for yet more fog. Hopefully this does not delay our arrival in our next port, Qaqortoq, too much or even prevent us from getting there at all.

Random Pics of Nuuk Greenland

Very glad were able to dock in Nuuk Greenland, it is definitely a place to visit in this part of the world. A very different climate and way of life to most if not all of us onboard the Voyager.

Night 9

Another Cocktail Party

After the sail away it was time to attend another cocktail party, this one is for Seven Seas Society Members who have sailed more than 75 nights on Regent, which I will have done by the end of the Cruise so considered to be a Gold member now… No caviar this time though, maybe they ran out at breakfast…

This was Emceed by the Cruise Consultant, she listed out where the various ships of the Regent Fleet would be next year, most will be on their way to Copenhagen. One of the Musical acts, Tiano, Shimi Goodman and Chris Hamilton, played their tribute to Broadway / the West End shows, a bit of fun.

Dinner – Chartreuse

After the cocktail party it was back to Chartreuse for another great dinner. Tonight’s wines were wines that I had tried previously, including the great sticky, 2006 Mas Delmas Fortified Grenache, Rhône Valley, France

First Course

Second Course

Dessert

Day 9

The whole day was enjoyable, though the Kayak Show did get a bit repetitive, still worth a look. From Nuuk Greenland we sail to Qaqortoq Greenland. The worry is the fog, will we need to slow down too much and therefore miss the port altogether. We will find out tomorrow.

Oz’s Useless Trivia

• Nuuk is the Capital and the largest city in Greenland, with a population of around 19,000, huge!
• It is the World’s smallest capital city
• Nuuk Greenland is the northernmost capital in the world, slightly further north than Reykjavik
• The city was found in 1728 by Hans Egede, a missionary
• Greenlandic is the official language of the Greenland autonomous territory
• Greenlandic is an Eskimo-Aleut language that about 56,000 people speak
• Nuuk is Greenlandic for Cape
• Greenland is a autonomous territory of Denmark
• Nuuk receives it power via the Ameralik Span which is the longest overhead electrical power line span globally. The power is sourced from a hydroelectric power plant