What was my first day like on this 2022 trip?
Truthfully speaking, it was full of excitement, anticipation, and exhaustion. I didn't sleep well on my trip to Copenhagen, and then I spent the day out with a friend. So again, I didn't sleep well the night before my flight to Greenland with a stop in Kangerlussuaq.
Once I see the scenes above, I'm happy. I know that I'm almost there. Not to Kangerlussuaq but to Ilulissat. The airport was a bit chaotic with so many tourists from non-EU countries. There were many from the states and Australia. All were people completing their trips that were supposed to be in 2020. In other words, all of us.
After some time in the airport and having gone through passport control, it wasn't a very long wait until I was boarding my long-awaited flight to Ilulissat which is only 40-50 minutes. I was so excited once I began seeing the icefjord. The same icefjord that draws me back to Greenland over and over again. You'd think it was my first time seeing it.
Once we landed, I got my bags and waited for the shuttle from the hotel. Once at the hotel, I was lucky that my room was already ready, so I didn't have to wait before being able to settle in. And once I was in the room, I did a quick walk-through which is what I always do. I like to check out the layout and also the view. I was on a lower floor, so I could see the hotel patio off the restaurant, but I could also see some ice in the fjord.
I was supposed to rest, but being me, I couldn't. I was too excited. So, I decided to go out to my favorite restaurant, Hong Kong Cafe, to have my favorite dish, vegetable fried rice. I couldn't help but laugh remembering how I was just there about a year ago.
Later, I was supposed to take a sail through the icefjord with a local guide I met last summer, but he had to cancel and suggested I take a trip with another operator. I decided to walk to the harbor. It was a good walk, but it was mostly downhill, so I didn't mind. I got to the harbor and boarded the Targa boat with a couple. We were the only 3 on that boat which was nice.
It was a wonderful evening. We saw whales, and beautiful mountain-like icebergs towering above us. Going out in the evening meant we got to see the icebergs in different light. At times they seemed to be almost glowing. It was quite magical.
The time out on the water ended with one of the most beautiful sunsets. I was happy, and I was excited about the coming days after such a wonderful start. I asked the captain to call a taxi for me because I was not about to walk back to the hotel. I was too tired.
Even though I was tired, I went out onto the patio to get one more shot of the amazing colors in the sky. Well, maybe I got more than one more. After that, I felt like I might actually be able to rest.
Commentaires