Cruisin’ the Sound to Qaqortog

As we make the return trip to Boston we will again transit through the Prince Christian Sound.  Our weather has been deteriorating become colder, wetter and stronger winds.  The captain has kept us informed all along the way.  Everyday at noon he comes across the ships speakers and gives us latitude and longitude providing the details regarding the weather we may be sailing into.  Today the trip through the sound is quiet for the most part but he tells us that we can expect worse weather when we leave the sound.  The ship provides two narrator guides for the journey and they also tell us they will be dropping a tender to deliver food supplies and donations from the passengers to a Inuit native village with approximately 103 villagers.  The name of the village is Aappilattoq.  They have given passengers a few days to donate clothing, school supplies, books or money and have provided a drop off spot by the guest services area.  All of the passengers we eager and anxious to see the tender make the trip over to the village which was about halfway through the sound.  The problem was that the captain stopped the ship at a location that didn’t allow for anyone to see the tender actually deliver the items.   It was rather disappointing but we all felt good knowing that in some small way we could help these people who live in such a barren remote area.  

The tender trip took about an hour and then we were back on our way to the end of the sound.  It seemed that many more growlers or iceberg chunks were in the water this time.  The big one we had seen before north of the sound was now in the midst of the sound. 

At dinner that night the captain told us everything was to be battened down as we were to have very uncomfortable seas with high waves and strong winds.  He was right!  It probably was the worst night we have spent on a ship.  Before we left the Lido there were plates and food flying off shelves.  They actually had to close up the Lido because it was too dangerous to keep the galley open.  We made sure everything in our room was secure before we went to bed.  The boat rocked hard back and forth and pitched up and down with those hard crashes but we got through it.  The next day the wait staff told us of all the damages that occurred in the shops and dining rooms.  They all had a very long night cleaning all of the broken glass and food mess up.  Our  next day in Qaqortoq was still a bit windy but nothing like what we had experienced.   The captain shared that he had to alter his course to avoid weather systems and no one could argue with that!  We took the tender off shortly after 9:30 and wandered around on our on in this fishing village.  There was a small souvenir shop, a museum, and many colorful houses.  The village is home to about 3000 people and is the largest town in southern Greenland.  The name means “white ” which is an accurate description of the white granite seen here.  The history dates back to Viking settlements but the present day town was founded by Danish and Norwegian colonists in 1775.  The Stone and Man project invites visitors to explore the town to find different chiseled designs made by the artists.

We spent several hours there and then back on the tender we went. All aboard was 4:30.

The big one was still making an impression in the sound. 

The little tender off to the left delivering donations to the villagers. 

Sunset that night before the storm .

Here’s where we were on the map after the Sound.

A map of the area and locations of various sites.

Green-land or Ice-land??!!  Ha ha

Walking paths are everywhere 

A small stream runs thru the village. 

All the crosses in the cemetery are the same. The small gold plaque bears the name and date of death.  Several had other small burial stones in the tall grass.  

Looking out from one of the higher areas of the village to the lake behind the village.