66*33`00`` N - Qaasuitsup Killeqarfia Avannarleq

It was 10.29 a.m.when we crossed the Artic Circle, a short time before we arrived Sisimiut. It is the second largest "city" in Greenland, with 5.350 inhabitants.

The Artic Circle, the Polar Circle and the Dog Equator are all different names for the same line.The Dog Equator got its name because in Greenland true Greenlandic sled dogs are only found north of the Dog Equator!

Today we learned that Sisimut is the southernmost town in Greenland with true sleed dogs. Sisimiut is today a modern town. Many people from smaller villages moved to Sisimiut years ago, because at the benefits of living in a larger  community - a lots also abandoning their old houses. The surrounding scenery is impressive with steep rocky cliffs rising straight up from the sea.

There were lots things do in town such as visiting the excellent museum and spending our money in the various shops including the excellent craft workshops by the harbourside. But the weather was also excellent for our hiking tours. So many of us joined the historical walking tour to Tele Island.

Then the hike to Priesters Mountain near Sisimiut was undoubtedly the hardest hike of this fantastic cruise. The view after two hours of steep hiking was breathtaking and we had a beautiful view towards the alpine fog. It was a proud group returning to the ship after almost five hours in the Greenlandic mountainlandscape.

A very interesting excursion was the boat trip to the abandoned village Assaqutaq. This place was established in the 1920`s but in the 1960`s the population began to decrease. The village officially closed in 1969. Now  it is a ghost town. Today the settlement is used as summer camp or the local public schools and is in June a busy place where the inhabitants from Sisimiut go fishing for the capelin.

Some of our guests used the possibility in Sisimiut to get a little impression of Grenlandic food. The excellent kitchen in the "Hotel Sisimiut" prepared a very special buffet for the passengers. Everybody enjoyed all the specialities like rendeer, muskox, lamb, dried cod and catfish, shrimps, crabs,scallobs

and even more.

Just before departing the key we were treated to an extraordinary display of kayaking prowess. We all shivered as we watched Elias and Emaanooraq roll the kayaks gain and again in the frigid polar waters of Sisimiut harbour.

It was a real interesting day and final ending was the amazing ice and fruit carving by members of the kitchen in the Observation Lounge.

IN THE FOOTSTEEP OF THE VIKING EIRIK THE RED

During the night the FRAM made a short cut from Julianehåbsfjord in the direction of Eiriksfjord (Tunugdliarfik). Around 5 a.m., some guests were already on deck so early just to view the beautiful glacial icebergs in the golden morning sun. Calm weather, no wind at all. Specially on starboard side, we could spot sheepfarms in green gras surroundings close to the shore side. The FRAM passed the entrance of the Qooroq Icefjord, which produces most of the icebergs in the fjord. The Eiriksfjord was home of one of the most well known viking, Eirik the Red.

In 985 he settled with his family at Brattahlid (Qassiarsuk). Later the whole area became the center of the Eastern Settlement containing a collection of about 200 icelandic viking farmsteads and supporting facilities. When you see the green gras on the hill sides today, you certainly understand why Eirik and his people had choosen this place for farming.

After reaching Brattahlid, the excursions started from the landing side. Seven local boats brought the passengers to the icebergs at Qooroq Icefjord.

Two groups of guests made the Eirik the Red-Settlement walk together with superb local guides. Others went privat in the nice weather to the historical sites of Brattahlid. There are reconstructions of Eiriks farm and the first Christian church.

At 12 o`clock we set sail back through the Eiriksfjord towards the open sea. In the meanwhile the wind had turned and drifted the glacier ice and sea ice into the fjord systems. For the passengers it was just wonderful! So much ice, not very much space for your beautiful strong ship to go through. The Captain and Officiers did a great work pushing the ship in many hours safely through the very tight glacier ice and later through the sea ice belt. What a lovely day today!

Amazing, there was also time for listening to a hole bunch of lectures in the afternoon. For many on board a welcome break of the colder outside-ice-watch possitions. Ice is nice but too much ice is...(difficult).