The Northern Isles Day 9
The Northern Isles
Day 09 - Friday, July 18, 2003 - ms Rotterdam - At Sea & Prince Christian Sound, Greenland
The alarm went off at 7:30 and we got up at 8:30 - we are becoming real slackers! We stepped outside in our veranda and it was a cold morning. Around 45 degrees and lifting fog.
After a shower we went up to the Lido and had a typical breakfast for us. Juice, fruit, coffee, oatmeal, and yogurt. As we ate we saw the natural beauty of Greenland. The ship made a “shortcut” through the different channels to get to the east. We saw steep granite mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and icebergs.
Gennie sorted laundry and placed all of our dirty clothes in one bag. What a magician. Holland America has a special where they will wash all of our things that we can fit in one of their laundry bags. We left it on the bed for our room steward to take.
We checked the internet and it was still down. So are the international channels and CNN. We also did not receive our copy of the New York Times that they have provided us every day this trip. Their comment was that their satellite communication has been down since last night. Gennie walked a bit while I worked on our logs.
We attended the “Chat with the Cruise Staff” and it was 4 of us and three members of Holland America. We were able to ask a few questions, but two ladies had their own agenda, some gritching, so we found an opportunity to leave and went out.
We went to take pictures on different decks but when we saw Bob, he recommended we go to the front. It was a much broader view but the wind was biting.
The sun came out and suddenly everyone was on deck taking their photos and video shots. The ship entered the short channel and went by the small settlement of Aappilattoq.
A gentleman next to me kept arguing the buildings were toy houses!!! I told him that I could see people through the zoom lens of my camera. Then the ship stopped, did a full 180 degrees on the same spot and went by the village again.
There were about 50 buildings and people on the rocks waving to us as we passed by. Just after we passed it the ship turned east (left) and entered the magnificent Prince Christian Sound - Prins Christian Sund.
This sound was created by glaciation during the Ice Age. The depth of the fjords is over 1500 feet deep and less than 1 mile wide. The steep granite mountains that rise on both sides go from 4 to 6,000 feet. These are usually ice packed with glaciers, waterfalls, and many icebergs.
We had a buffet lunch with large cold shrimp. Very good. At 1 PM we decided to sit in the theater and watch “The Recruit” with Al Pacino. It was a nice diversion for us.
As we left the theater we went outside and saw more sights - high mountains and icebergs. We passed the southern most point of the Greenland Ice Cap and then we were close to the open sea.
Just at the entrance (our exit) from the Sound, there is a small settlement with a weather station on the starboard side. There two people stay all year round. We finally exit the Sound (after sailing 66 miles) and enter the open sea. There were some immense icebergs on the south side of the mouth.
Once out to sea we went inside to the ice cream bar. Then, feeling a little guilty, we chose to do a couple of miles on the Promenade Deck (3) so we did seven laps.
We returned to our room at 5 PM to get ourselves ready for the formal dinner tonight. At 7:15 we met Bob and Susan at the Crows Nest and had a glass of wine. The staff (Haidee, Angel, Jesus) recognize us and called us Sir Vic and Sir Bob. As soon as we arrive they bring us peanuts and plates of appetizers.
We went down to dinner and tonight, unlike last night, the meal was very light. We enjoyed the pleasant two hours as we watched the dusk approach. When we left the dining room at just a bit after 10 PM the sun was still high in the sky.
As we approach midnight it is just going behind the clouds in the horizon. The evening will be short but one of stars. We have not had many clear nights. The air temperature is 52 degrees and the sea is at 46.
The ship’s satellite system is still down and many people are concerned as they cannot communicate with others and they cannot get the Dow or NASDAQ quotes. We never did get the Times today.
We will lose another hour tonight. One more day at sea until we get to Iceland and then a day to get to Oban and we will sail at night and see the country during the day after we arrive in Scotland on July 22nd.
ms Rotterdam
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