DAY 6 - Nuuk

Nuuk is the capital city of Greenland, and of the total 60,000 population, about 1/3 live here.

Various communities have settled here, starting with in 2200BC with the Paleo-Eskimo people, whose unhappy descendants still practice the paleo diet invented by their forbears.

Between 500 and 1000 AD, a short lived separate culture (the Dorset) also struggled with the diet before, at last, the Vikings rowed into town in the 10th Century.

The Inuit arrived shortly after the Vikings but there was little interaction between them.

The foundations of the city were set in stone by the Danish who built a castle there in 1728.

True to form, the Europeans caused untold misery for the indigenous people with disease and culture clashes. This conflict has left a legacy to this day.

Coming alongside with another Hurtigruten ship, the Fridtjof Nansen, stuck in port waiting for a new depth sonar before continuing on her way to Vancouver

The city has an air of functionality, with splashes of colour on the timber built dwellings.

The Kaassassuk sculpture depicts the myth of an orphan boy who was ostracised from his village, but for some reason people would lift him up by his nostrils when they met him. Anyway, he goes on a journey of discovery and is imbued with superpowers and nobody touched his nose ever again.

The "Inatsisartut" is the parliament with 31 members elected by proportional representation.

Greenland is classed as an autonomous territory within the Danish realm and sends two representatives to the Danish "Folketing" parliament. Quite why they need to be so rude, I don't know.

Dept of Health

The Cathedral of the diocese was hosting a wedding at the time of our visit.

The denomination is Lutheran following the Reformation in the 16th Century. Greenland, being part of Denmark at the time, followed suit and joined the Protestant exodus from the Catholic church.

Traditional dress is worn at weddings with the women displaying all the colours whilst the chaps keep things simple with a white parka and black trousers.

Sealskin covered kayaks

Vats, presses and tubs used for extracting oil from blubber

The oil (also known as train oil) was sold to Denmark and Europe and used for lighting, soap and lubricating oil. The industry stopped in 1963 as the use of vegetable oil increased.

A Greenlandic hunter received 5 Danish Rigsdaler for a tub of blubber which was sold for 35 Rigsdaler in Copenhagen.

Peps Log : Landed in Nuuk. Walking tour.

Rather underwhelming - very basic buildings but electric cars

Winter is Oct - May with coldest time Jan -20 to -30°C Waist high snow