Sighting Nuuk from the sea for the first time, it is hard to know what to think.

There is a confusing combination of old and new…

…with a surprising dose of ugly thrown into the equation. After years of thinking about Greenland, we are excited with this new landfall.

We are rafted to an old steel barge, along with an Australian expedition charter yacht and Swedish cruiser.

If the berthing facilities are crowded, they are certainly picturesque. And the Greenlanders – local and Danish alike -exceptionally friendly, wanting to assist in any way possible.

Our barge is tied to the end of this timber pier, about a quarter mile from here.

Flat property is scarce, so dock (and many buildings) are constructed on raised foundations.

There are 198 steps from the dock up this staircase to the main road into town. Across the harbor is one of the many small craft marinas in Nuuk. We were told that on a per capita basis, Greenland has the highest percentage of boat ownership in the world.

A mile from here is modern, if compact central shopping district. This part of town is relatively new, serving as the capital of Greenland, as well as the commercial center. Fifteen thousand of this country’s 55,000 citizens live here. (Greenland is the largest island in the world.)

A modest walk from town center and you are in the historic district.

Most of the homes are still in use.

For us, Nuuk is a place to stock up on groceries (a wonderful selection at prices which you would expect in the Caribbean), and fill our fuel tanks (very inexpensive diesel). It is also a chance to get a feel for the country, and perhaps meet a few locals.