Qaqortoq, Greenland
Overnight the Viking Sun arrived at the small fishing village of Qaqortoq, Greenland and anchored in the bay. At 8:55 AM we tendered ashore to visit this isolated community of 3,000 Inuits only accessible by boat or helicopter. (The local people prefer to be called Greenlanders or Inuits and find it insulting to be called Eskimos.) Colorful wooden houses are built on steep, rocky inclines against the coastal mountains. With only a few automobiles, walking is the preferred means of transportation. There are no roads connecting to other villages and the residents depend on a weekly ferry for supplies. Locally, they fish and hunt seals for meat. During our stop we visited a local Greenlander's home to learn about their lifestyle firsthand. While walking (uphill) to our host's home, we passed an apartment building occupied by senior citizens. Notice the clothes drying outside their windows. Now let me remind you that the ...