Sunday 5 July 2009

Uummannaq and Ukkusissat

Another perfect day in an Arctic wonderland. If this keeps up we're going to be running out of sun screen. Once again; blue skies and windless glass-calm seas. Of course we are not the only animals that love windless, warm sunny days... we might run out of mosquito repellant soon too. But that is hardly a complaint. Cameras were constantly clicking on our hike to Santa's hut and on our boat excursions to the desert.
The scenery here is big. It's stunning. The fjords are filled with icebergs of all shapes and sizes. The fjord cliff sides rise steeply out of the sea and are wonderful warm tones; browns, reds, and yellows punctuated with stripes of deeper browns and blacks. A day like today sends the serious photographers into spasms of ecstasy. But whether you are a photographer or not, it puts a smile on your face.
Around 20:30 many of the people from the village of Ukkusissat joined us on the Fram. It was a real treat to be entertained with their singing, square dancing and traditional drum playing. We also all admired the handiwork in their traditional clothing.
By 22:00 it was time to say goodbye to everyone from Ukkusissat and prepare for our next adventure. In the morning: Qullissat an abandoned coal mining town. And in the evening: The glaciar Eqip Sermia followed by a barbeque. Stay tuned!