Our morning arrival in Narsaq was under low clouds but they
promptly burned off during our stay and we had a very sunny and pleasant time
at the museum, shopping both in the stores and by conversing with the local
artisans who displayed their bead-work and other items at several locations
along the roadside. There are several varieties of precious gem-stones that are
found nearby and these are made into unique pendants and ear rings.
This is a town with a strong artistic community surrounded
by waters rich in fish and land that enables prosperous sheep farms. In this
town there is also new construction and the houses are brightly painted. All
this gives the impression of a town that is upward bound and not like a few towns
we have seen earlier, where the populations are declining as the people move to
Nuuk.
The settlement is a very large sheep farm, it is clear as we
walked by that there is much money invested in large tractors and irrigation
equipment. Again the word prosperous comes to mind. This site was known as Eric’s
fjord when it was settled by Eric the Red in the late 900’s. The climate was
warmer then and subsistence farming had sheep, cows and goats, in addition to
hunting and fishing. By the year 1000 Christianity had been introduced and the
first church in North America was constructed. This site is across from the
present church was clearly worth the visit. There are 2 wonderful
reconstructions nearby, one to resemble the first church and the second is a
replica of a turn walled Viking long house. This example is particularity
informative as the interior contains replica clothing and utensils.
Back on the FRAM our evening closed with our Greenlandic staff
members: Aka, Malena and Michael giving us an overview of the legends, games, songs
and dances handed down and treasured by the Greenlandic people.
