Days 1 and 2
Leaving Svalbard in the late afternoon we woke the next morning to rain, snow and rough seas during our first day crossing the Fram strait towards Greenland. The Strait is up to 2600 meters deep and is a seemingly endless expanse of ocean. Even the seabirds have left us. The dining room is noticeably less populated than in the previous days – many people are sick and have stayed in their cabins. News Flash – take your sea meds every time you go into open ocean!!!! Today was a day of lectures – birds, geology, ecology – reading, sleeping and generally catching our breath following the hectic schedule of the week before.
The second day of the crossing greeted us with brilliant sunshine and little wind as we completed our journey to Greenland and entered the Greenland Sea. Our entourage of birds (gulls, Fulmers ) rejoined us as the highest mountains of Greenland appeared on the horizon when we were 50 km away. We all watched mesmerized as the coastline slowly emerged in the distance. Mountains and valleys framed by icebergs scattered over the sea. It was an amazing approach to Greenland, based on stories heard from other travellers about the weather here – which is often foggy and closed in. The ship skirted the northern pack ice and entered East Greenland National Park, the largest park on the world (972,000 sq km, created in 1974 by the Danish govt) where we anchored to enjoy a spectacular Greenland sunset. I hope the photos tell something of the grandeur of this place.
Travels with Anne 