August 17, 2025 – Qaqortoq, Greenland – Foggy Overcast – Cold – 49F

August 17, 2025 – Qaqortoq, Greenland 

Almost zero visiblity from the ship.  This is our fourth time in this town - we visited here on the first cruise.

This morning, the Windows Cafe was not crowded (bumpy night, maybe).  While Having my usual, but tasty, breakfast, I was treated to a view of the HAL Zuiderdam partly shrouded in fog.  This ship has a total capacity of about 3000 (guests and crew) or about the same number of folks living in Qaqortoq, Greenland's fourth largest city.

Quest arrived in Qatqortoq at 1 AM in the morning to get the best anchorage as there were two other ships here today.  Oceania Sirena, that we have been sailing with over the last few days and HAL Zuiderdam, my breakfast companion, off our port bow..  The fog rolled in and was so thick that the Zuiderdam disappeared until later in the morning.  The Sirena was still in the clear air.

About 10 AM, we got the “Open Tender” notification on the PA System so we went down to the tender pontoon and after a bit of a wait, hopped on a tender.  The tender was bobbing up and down in the waves so I was surprised that the tenders were operating – crew members were helping people get on the tenders.  The visibility was still low – I am glad the tender pilots know where the other ships are because I couldn’t see anything out there.  When we got to the pier, I couldn’t see any of the three ships here today and they were very close to the shore.   It is colder here today that our last couple of visits – no doubt due to the fog later shrouding the town.  

 

Maybe, as a means to deal with the cold, there was a "rest hut" (my term) right near the pier that looked like a place people could get out of the wind, rain, and cold.  

We took a different road today in Qaqortoq and got some better pictures of the Church of our Saviour and the river, which officially has no name, that runs through the town.  

The Mindebronden (Memorial) fountain in the main square was actually working but the water was just a trickle.  The fountain, composed of sandstone and bronze and featuring three whale sculptures, was completed in 1932 and is the oldest fountain in Greenland. 

We also saw some of the “Stone and Man” stone carvings, located just off the road near the tender pier.  We had missed them the last three times we have been here but not today.

Today, we walked as far as the bridge over the river so we got the full impact of the river.  

 

Ellen is looking for Wi-Fi to download some books to her Kindle.  The clerk is the souvenir store told us that there was no Wi-Fi available.  I looked at the caps and found a nice cap that fit and had a nice logo on the front but it was red and I don’t have any red hats.  The prices are still high – the cap was $19.  Another cap in the shop seemed to make a political statement.

The Café was closed so I still haven’t gotten my Greenlandic cup of coffee.

It was a bit cool out there so we returned to the tender pier and went back to the ship.  Quest was in the fog when the tendered returned.

Lunch in the Window’s Café today for me consisted of a Beyond Burger – I like them but they just seem too heavy for me.  I don’t know why because I eat them at home and they are light and tasty.

The Living Room was our afternoon destination.  It was also a good place to watch the fog lift and by mid afternoon, the fog left the city and the Zuiderdam once again became visible.

The Sun came out and the speedboats started crisscrossing the Bay.  It didn’t get a lot warmer but it was a lot nicer to look at.

The Captain came on the PA in the late afternoon and said that weather conditions were not good in Prince Christian Sound so it was not safe to enter the Sound.  He said we would be at Sea all day tomorrow.  When we went to the room to change I got a call from Bernardo.  I told him he could schedule “Identifying our Fallen Heroes” for tomorrow (he said it would be at 3 PM). 

Tonight is “Destination Showcase” which highlights local talent and food.  The talent in this case was two members of an Greenlandic Rock Group – I only picked up on one name Miki. 

We listened to a couple of their sons and stories in the Cabaret Lounge at 5:30 PM and then went to Discoveries for dinner.  By the way, our special meal orders are now being handled mostly by one suit – Dinky (his real name I checked).

Tonight we are back on the Kosher Train; we pre-ordered the Stuffed Peppers once again along with the Turkey and Stuffing and a backup order of Spaghetti Bolognese.  The dishes are never as good as the first time but the food was good.

We pre-ordered for tomorrow (Taste of India Night) – I ordered Pasta Pesto and Ellen ordered a Lamb Dish. 

There is a special Showtime tonight – “Broadway Review”.  The billing said that this show was actually put together on this cruise for this group of passengers.  It involved all of the Signature Singers and Dancers and even included Martin.  The Musicals featured included Les Miserables, Grease, Chicago, 

Wicked, Shrek and Rent.  The vocals were excellent especially considering that they were performed with a background track.  Some highlights: 

Stephanie did “The Wizard and I” 

and “I Dreamed a Dream”; 

Martin sang the obligatory “Bring Him Home”;

 the whole cast joined in “Seasons of Love” 

and “One Day More”.  

It was an absolutely wonderful Show. If there had been two shows that night, I would have gone to both.

The Captain said it might a bumpy night and early morning.