1. Wonder if our initial observations of positions of power held by White Danes and not Greenlandic Indigenous people: on the boat, at the tour office, at the hotel restaurant, etc, will be borne out? 36 hours in, Indigenous people were in each case responsible for secondary jobs. P.S. Our initial impressions were sadly what we also observed throughout our trip.
2. Surprisingly large number of small cars considering the terrain and weather.
5. Women on the plumper side, though admittedly not politically correct to say.
6. Even small villages have a strong artistic presence, with a large number of impressive sculptures and murals, unlike similarly sized villages in the US or Canada.
9. A huge number of smokers, exponentially more than in Iceland, which we'd visited just before arriving in Greenland.
10. What we call 'jam' translates to 'marmalade' on English menus in Greenland!
11. Many homes are in dire need of repair, with what looked like tarpaper roofs.
12. Wonder what the average annual income is.
13. Even the smallest settlements have some access to medical care and a basic level of education.
14. However, we observed that dental care must be tough to come by.
14. Brightly colored buildings, most of which are color-coded. Red for churches and schools, yellow for hospitals, blue for power stations, green for contractors, black for police departments, white for municipal offices, etc. A big takeaway is that the colored wooden buildings are characteristic of the country.
15. Sled dogs are referred to as 'sledge dogs' in English.
16. Dated and dilapidated apartment buildings were the norm, not the exception.
18. Little emphasis is placed on the environment from what we saw and were told. There were no recycling containers, no signs asking not to trample the grass, etc., as we saw throughout Iceland. Discharge from the Great Greenland factory in Qaqortoq went directly into the fjord, etc.
19. Prams, not strollers, were used exclusively from what I observed.
20. You need a certain degree of fitness to navigate the multiple sets of stairs in any Greenland town!
21. Staircases were everywhere in the smaller settlements - none were private, either. Likewise, neither was the land under the homes.
22. Another takeaway from towns, especially in southern Greenland, was the preponderance of aboveground pipes.
23. Considering Greenland has a population of under 60,000 people, the number of monuments and statues throughout the country was 'monumental!'
24. You all know that Steven and I cannot in any way be confused with 'foodies.' However, some of the best meals we've had traveling to well over 100 countries and territories were in Greenland, a fact that surprised the heck out of us. I know I shall long remember the mouthwatering meal I had in the tiny town of Aasiaat and the equally delicious ones Steven and I both savored in the capital city of Nuuk.
25. If you're looking for a place off the beaten track that's not inundated with tourists everywhere you go, that has spectacular scenery in virtually every location, where ferry or boat travel is not just a means of transportation but an excuse to take in some unbelievable vistas, where you have a good chance of spotting whales and other animals, where you can feast on some great, albeit unusual dining options if you like to eat on the wild side, where there are remarkable opportunities for hiking and exploring the great outdoors, and/or you want to visit a country at the forefront of the news, AND you won't come unglued when, not if, the weather changes your itinerary, I say go to Greenland! Just be forewarned that, while the country will NOT make anyone's budget list, you'll have the time of your life.
Next post: Touring the Ottawa Valley with one of my brothers, the day after arriving in my hometown from Greenland via Reykjavik.
Posted on November 23rd, 2025, from our home in Denver, where Steven and I are excited that we will soon celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago with our four children and their families, each traveling from a different US time zone. It will be the first time we will all be together since our far-flung loved ones joined us at our home for Thanksgiving two years ago. Please make sure to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Answer to your observation #12. Median Personal Income: Approximately $34,167 in 2023.
ReplyDeleteAverage Income Per Resident: About $33,000.
Fascinating summary ; thank you. I am saddened to read your Points 1, 9 and especially 17. One would hope that the access to health care in the country would include mental health as well. xo Lina xo
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