Day 18 Paamiut, Greenland

Arriving into Paamiut this morning was beautiful.  There are noticeably more icebergs with their blueish hue and  hundred of rocky outcrops in the bay that we entered that I imagine made it very challenging for our captain to negotiate.  As the tide is receding we are seeing more and more of those rocky "islands"  that would have been submerged on our arrival.

It is cold.  The temperature will reach a high of 9℃ with a minimum of 7℃ today but intermittently the sun pokes its head out from behind the clouds.  We are tendering into Paamiut today and Philip and I commented that we haven't been on a tender for quite awhile.  Most ports these days have good docking facilities.  

Our guide Mickel, who incidentally is another 14 year old with impeccable english, was waiting for us as we alighted the tender and quickly gathered us together for our walk around Paamiut.  It is another picture postcard place with the Norwegian style colourful houses that line the hillsides.  The population is just 1,500 so it is not a large town to walk and I have read that there are lots of trails to follow around the town if you want to get a "Birds Eye view". Paamiut is not quite as mountainous as Nuuk but still has the same rocky granite outcrops. Mickel points out various landmarks as we begin our walk away from the harbour

Not unremarkably, there is no sign of any gardens anywhere, but I did notice that the blue house above has a glasshouse attached on the left side.

We stop at the beautifully preserved wooden church that was built in 1909 in the Norwegian style.  Its distinctive red exterior and lavish interior stands as a testament to the towns enduring heritage, considered one of Greenlands finest.

We stop briefly at a craft store where you can purchase some of the beadwork that are hand-made by the local women.  Some of the necklaces are gorgeous and I particularly liked this candle holder but didn't purchase…..

Next stop is a home for the disadvantaged of Paamiut.  It is warm and cosy inside and you are invited to purchase tea, coffee and cake for $5.  There is also a craft table set up inside and while we are browsing, our guide picked up the guitar and started to softly sing in the background.  He's very talented.

Mickel has a little trouble re-grouping us for the return walk to the dock as some stayed for tea and coffee and others were milling around outside, however as the dock is within sight most of us simply wandered back of their own accord.  I couldn't stop taking photos…..

Paamiut is an unforgettable place.  The people are warm and friendly and we managed, through hand gestures, to have a form of conversation, but we have found the most important words are universal and they are…... "thank you".