Yesterday, travelers from many places and ages came together in Reykjavik, Iceland to board National Geographic Endurance. The ship is both our comfortable home and exploration tool for the next ten days. It will take us deep into the Arctic where extreme wilderness and complex cultural history intersect. In fine weather, we sailed west and north with views of Snæfellsjökull, the glacier and mountains made famous by Jules Verne as the gateway to the center of the Earth!
Today was spent at sea with a smooth crossing. As we approached the Greenland continental shelf, we found a blue whale cruising the waters. There were plenty of activities. We listened to important orientations and fascinating presentations, and we cleaned our field gear to avoid introducing exotic species to the areas we plan to visit. By evening, we were getting views of ice, seals, and the dramatic coastline of East Greenland.
