Greenland Day Three: Nuuk: A Morning Walk And Then Icebergs And Glaciers On A Cruise Through The Fjord.

My recent adventure to Nuuk, Greenland was a last minute decision, made only a couple of weeks ago. So I had not done a lot of research about Nuuk and made no plans what I would do when I arrived. I arrived late Saturday and spent Sunday  exploring the quaint  town and outskirts of Nuuk. I learned a lot about the history of Nuuk and Greenland  at the Greenland National Museum.  When I returned to my hotel on Sunday  evening I booked two excursions,   a whale  cruise on Tuesday and a fjord cruise on Monday.  My fjord cruise was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Monday. It departed  from the Tide Water Steps at the Nuuk Cruise Terminal. It was about  one mile from my hotel. So, when I awoke  on Monday morning I decided  to walk to the Cruise Terminal to make sure I could find my departure location. It was a good thing I did.

It was cloudy and cooler when I left  the Hans Egede Hotel after a cup of coffee. A strong,  raw northeasterly breeze made the 43 degree temperature feel even colder. I walked south on Aqqusinersuaq the main street in Nuuk. It was Monday and there was a lot more traffic on the street, even at 6!30 a.m. There were a lot of commercial vehicles including thrash trucks. Monday must be thrash day. Still, it was much quieter than most capital cities. I walked along the street and came to some more cliffs. As I mentioned in my previous blog, there are cliffs, rocks and boulders everywhere in Nuuk, and,

no  trees not a single one. There were  a lot of the invasive wildflowers. Most ot the ones  I saw on  my Sunday hikes along the road, and also many  invasive bulbous buttercups,

and German chamomile flowers.

I came to a cemetery where most of the graves marked with wooden crosses. I love visiting cemeteries on my travels.  The cemetery  appeared to be  an older one with only a few recent burials. . It appeared that the deceased were interred above  the rocky ground.

This was a recent grave.  I am sure this is how all the graves in the cemetery looked in the past. The graves are now overgrown with vegetation.

I found a few stone grave markers  and it appeared most of the deceased where buried in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  I reflected on the life of this man, where was he born?, what did he do?, where did he travel?, did he have a family?, was he happy? did he ever see a tree, a polar bear or a whale? did he enjoy the northern lights? Every grave is a story with a life time of lost memories.

I left the cemetery and as  I walked along I noticed the many  housing units,

and new construction that is occurring everywhere in Nuuk.

I left the main road and  came to a steep staircase that took me down to the harbor where I thought my cruise would depart. .

I walked down the steep stair,  taking in the views of the harbor and the many boats moored there. I loved this remote  seaport on the far ends of our planet. It is why I love to travel.

 I saw a few of the most common birds in Nuuk, the common ravens. There are huge here and there loud calls can be heard all day  throughout the town.

I came to the bottom of the steps. I was glad I decided to take this hike. I found out I was on the wrong side of the harbor and had to walk back to the main road. If I had made this mistake in the afternoon I may have missed my cruise.

I walked down to the Cruise Terminal past the Hotel Soma. A lot of the folks I met on the plane and shuttle from the airport were staying here. It would be a more convenient location if you were taking a lot if excursions to the fjords and surrounding communities.

I walked   to the Cruise Terminal and found the dock for the Nuuk Water Taxi and  my departure point.  .

I then roamed the harbor,and  observed the many different ships there. They ranged from rows and rows of small private boats, to

large fishing trawlers and

Danish military ships.

I also observed some seagulls flying over the harbor. I am not  good at identifying them and my Merlin app gives me different results but I believe this is an Iceland gull. 

After reflecting on this remote northern harbor, I began my hike back to the hotel ,

and explored some side streets on the way.

There was a lot of traffic now both motor vehicle and pedestrian as I observed the homes,

and mailboxes of the residents of Nuuk.

I believe I came to some college housing here.

I returned to my hotel  after my  3 mile walk. Here is a link to a gallery on the web page for my blog with some more photos from my morning walk. Greenland Day Three. Nuuk. morning walk July 21 2025.

I was just in time to enjoy another hearty breakfast before they stopped serving at 10:a.m.

After breakfast I  edited photos and worked on my blog until 12:30 p.m. when I walked back to the Cruise Terminal.It was sunny now and a warmer 52 degrees already as I walked through the streets of Nuuk again.

I saw a lot of buses drive past as I walked . I soon found out what. There was a large cruise ship docked in the terminal and hoards of passengers leaving the ship and entering the buses, cabs and cars.

I was a little early and so walked around the harbor in the bright sunshine,

and took some photos of the common ravens flying overhead,

and glaucous gulls swimming in the water.

I walked to the Water Taxi dock and soon boarded our cruise boat. There were 18 friendly tourists on our three hour cruise.

The oldest a woman who was in her 80’s and , the youngest,  a beautiful 1 year old girl with her adventurous parents.

We were soon leaving the harbor on the deep blue waters of the fjord.  The cabin of the boat was heated and tea, coffee and hot chocolate was provided but left the cabin and remained on the bow of the boat for the entire cruise. The sun was strong but I was glad I was dressed warm and had brought a hat and gloves. We  sailed into a strong and cold northerly wind.

We soon sailed past  old Nuuk and the now familiar landmarks, the colorful; homes and the statute of Hans Egede.

Our captain approached one of the large icebergs floating in the  fjord near the harbor.

It was beautiful, glistening in the sunshine. It was hard to believe this ice could still survive the almost 24 hours of sunlight in July.

A small flock of Iceland or glaucous gulls, were perched on the iceberg and watched us watching them.

We  cruised around the iceberg before sailing up long the rocky coast of the fjord. Here is a link to a gallery on the web page for my blog with some more photos from the first part of my three hour cruise. . Greenland Day Three. Nuuk. fjord cruise part one.  July 21 2025

We came to some cabins on the remote and rocky shore. Our informative and pleasant guide explained how these were Summer homes. She told us that the  occupants would raise flags when they were staying at the cabins. Almost the entire interior of Greenland is covered in an ice sheet and only the rocky shore are inhabited.

We then cruised past a ship wreck,

and toward large mountains in the distance.

It was a spectacular cruise. And it would get better.

We approached the large mountain and saw a series of waterfalls flowing down the cliffs.

It was a breathtaking experience.

Our captain brought the boat along the rocky base of the cliffs  and our guide climbed onto the shore and filled a pitcher of  water from the waterfalls. She told us the waterfalls come directly from a melting glacier. We all shared the pure and cold waters. It could be from rain and snow that fell hundreds of years ago.  It was an amazing experience.

We left the mountainside as as we traveled past we were able to see the glacier atop the mountain that create the waterfalls,

and our refreshing drink of water.

We began our voyage back to Nuuk

but stopped to inspect another beautiful iceberg on the way.

I watched the large mountains in the distance and we sailed back,  hoping to return someday and visit the vast icesheet that covers most of Greenland.

We soon were sailing past the colorful homes of Nuuk and departing our boat. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon under the arctic sun.   Here is a link to a gallery on the web page for my blog with some more photos from the end of my cruise . Greenland Day Three. Nuuk. fjord cruise part two  July 21 2025

It was around 4:00 p.m. when we returned to the Cruise Terminal. I walked back to the hotel and after showering and editing some phots had to find some food. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I was disappointed to find the seafood restaurant at the hotel was closed on Mondays. I decide to walk next store and eat at the Charoen Porn , an interesting name for a Thai restaurant. The food was delicious. I began with a bowl of Thai shrimp soup.

and then an amazing serving of a whole red fish in a delicious sauce served with rice. I was full and tired.  I was looking forward to the next morning and a cruise to look for whales in the fjords. I wanted to work on the many photos I took and my blog too. However I  hadn’t been sleeping much and dozed off while editing photos.   It was a long and exciting day.

As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can”   John Muir