Early in the morning National Geographic Explorer anchored near Qikiqtarjuaq, a small Inuit town in the southwestern corner of Baffin Island. It was a perfect beginning to the day, with blue skies and very little wind.
During breakfast Canadian immigration officers came aboard the ship. In less than two hours the formalities were completed, and we began our morning activities in town. Several local guides were waiting for us ashore, although the town itself was pretty much empty as today was a federal holiday and most inhabitants took advantage of the good weather to go hunting or fishing.
We explored the town and hiked a small mountain with a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape and our ship in the bay. Then all guests were invited into the community center where they could buy local crafts and sculptures and see a performance.
In the afternoon, the ship moved into a sheltered position among several islands as wind picked up. Here, a Zodiac cruise was offered to guests. Around the ship in the distance, several whimsically shaped icebergs were slowly moving southward surrounded by cliffs and steep rocky slopes of nearby islands.
After the as ever delicious dinner, guests were invited to watch the movie Angry Inuk in the lounge.
