before President-elect Trump Greenland shined, and was already on the radar of the cruise ship industry with many ships choosing picturesque Greenlandic towns as their ports of call.
Cruise ship passengers take photos of the fjords in Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)
One port is Qaqortoq, the largest city in southern Greenland.
Qaqortok means “white” in Greenlandic. (Danuta Hamlin)
The ship sailed from Iceland and followed in the footsteps of Erik the Red, a Norseman who settled in this region in 982. When Erik was banished from Iceland, he made his home here and named it Greenland.
About 80% of the island is covered in ice cover and the remaining parts don't look very green either.
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Greenland's majestic beaches (Danuta Hamlin)
According to some historians, Eric the Red came up with the name only for promotional purposes.
He set out to attract more Settlers from Iceland The island was declared a green land. Some experts say Greenland could have been warmer at that time, but starting in the 15th century it experienced what is known as the “Little Ice Age.”
Children in Nanortalik, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Life in Greenland became too harsh for Europeans. But the island's indigenous people found ways to persevere.
The Julianhap River runs through central Qaqortoq, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Located in the middle of a scenic fjord system, with a stream flowing through the town, and snow covering the mountain peaks even in spring, Qaqortoq is a wonderful place to explore.
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Qaqortoq is the fourth largest city in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Building highways in Greenland is expensive, so Qaqortoq is not connected by road to any other town or village. However, when the weather is warmer, the area offers ample opportunities for nature hiking, kayaking and fishing.
Greenland ice sheet (Danuta Hamlin)
The city was founded in 1775 as a trading colony by Norwegian explorer Anders Olsen. With a population of just over 3,000, it offers a glimpse into Greenlandic life, Viking history and Nordic-inspired architecture.
The hills are filled with colorful houses, creating a cheerful contrast with the sheer peaks of the surrounding fjords.
Street sign in Greenland. Greenlandic is an Eskimo-Aleut language spoken by about 57,000 people. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark, but the official language is Greenlandic. It is a polysynthetic language which means that technically, there is no limit to the length of a Greenlandic word.
Deciphering local signs can be fun and challenging at the same time.
Stone and Man, an outdoor art project in Qaqortoq, Greenland, featuring rock carvings and sculptures (Danuta Hamlin)
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Although the trees are not easy to find, the area is full of all kinds of rocks and boulders. Some of them were turned into sculptures of whale faces, in a tribute called “Stone and Man.” This outdoor exhibition is the work of local Qaqortoq artist Aka Høegh.
The Mindebrønden Fountain is the oldest of the only two public fountains in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Qaqortok houses the country's oldest fountain – Mindebrunden – Memorial Fountain. The fountain was completed in 1932 and is turned off during the winter months.
Fish market in Qaqartouq. Seal meat is a main ingredient in Greenland's national dish, swasat. (Danuta Hamlin)
The city's fish market sells everything caught on a given day by local fishermen. It could be a fish, or it could be whale meat, or maybe a seal.
Qaqortoq, after all, is a fishermen's town and seafood plays a vital role in the Greenlandic diet.
Nanortalik is a village on Nanortalik Island, with a population of approximately 1,072 people. (Danuta Hamlin)
responsible Greenlandic religion She is an Evangelical Lutheran. In another port, a village called Nanortalik, members of the local community welcomed the tourists with a musical performance.
Nanortalik choir sings outdoors in Greenland in 2018. (Danuta Hamlin)
Nanortalik means “place of polar bears”. However, no bears were spotted loitering around the village.
Nanortalik's old colonial port area is an open-air museum. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is the largest island in the world – and it's a treat for any tourist adventurous enough to venture there.
A scenic cruise along the Greenland fjords. Cruise ships dock in Greenland during transatlantic cruises between North America and Europe. (Danuta Hamlin)
