Greenland

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Travel Tips

The Qaqortoq Museum - though small - is delightful, with a few Inuit costumes and a display demonstrating the construction of a qajaq'. When we were there, we also saw in a display case a small coat made entirely out of postage stamps - beautifully done! Your readers should be encouraged to explore beyond the ground floor; on the two upper floors (the highest reached by a steep ladder-type staircase) are examples of old painted furniture in red and blue. It is claimed that one of the two rooms at the very top was slept in by Charles Lindbergh in the 1930s while exploring the Arctic; the beds built into the walls are novel, each with a 45-degree wooden overhang.
Margaret Cund, UK (Sept 00)

Greenland phone numbers have changed. They are now all 6-digit numbers, with no area code. In many cases, the first digit of the old number has also changed. The following lists the new initial digits for each exchange - the remainder of the number stays the same.

• Nuuk - 3xxx
• Mobile Phones - 5 xxx
• Nanortalik - 61 xxx
• Narsaq (+Narsarsuaq) - 66 xxx
• Paamiut (+Arsuk) - 69 xxx
• Qaqortoq - 64 xxx
• Kangilinnguit - 69 xxx
• Manlitsoq - 81 xxx
• Kangerlussuaq - 84 xxx
• Sisimiut - 86 xxx
• Kangaatsiaq - 87 xxx
• Aasiaat - 89 xxx
• Qasigiannguit - 91 xxx
• Qeqertarsuaq - 92 xxx
• Ilulissat - 94 xxx
• Uummannaq - 95 xxx
• Upernavik - 96 xxx
• Qaanaaq (+Pituffik) - 97 xxx
• Tasiilaq (+Pituffik) - 97 xxx
• Tasiilaq (+Kulusuk) - 98 xxx
• Ittoqqortoormiit (+Nerlerit Inaat) - 99 xxx

Mobile phones coverage in Greenland is good around the coastal towns and Kangerlussuaq. Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat have GSM900 and everywhere has NMT900. Most international providers do not have roaming arrangments with Greenland, but it is possible to get a guest number on arrival.

Arctic Umiaq Ferries have their timetables posted on a Web site at http://www.greenland-guide.gl/aul/ - although I did find a few mistakes on it when I got to Greenland and the current timetables aren't always posted on time.

Larger towns have ATM's attached to the bank (or post office if it serves as a bank). These accept5 Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Maestro and Plus, and are generally only accessible during working hours. Foreign cards are now accepted.

Be aware that booking Greelandair tickets with an agent generally incurs a 10% commission fee. You may have no choiuce, but often it is possible to go to the airport or a heliport and book there.
Stuart Pattullo, UK (Oct 99)

Godhavn, on Disko Island, is worth a stopover and is easily within reach if you are in Jakobshavn. The area around Godhavn has spectacular scenery and is still an excellent place for whale spotting.

But first and foremost, Govhavn gives the cheapest and easiest opportunity to do the dog sledge-thing in high summer. You buy a ticket at the Tourist Information Office in Godhavn, walk 3-4 hours uphill along a well-trodden path to the Lyngmark Glacier, at the summit of Apostelfjeldet right behind the city. You go up, ride the sledge and either go down the same day or spend the night in a cabin (250 DKK) with views over Godhavn deep below. Price for the dog-sledge is 700 DKK per person for 1 1/2 hours - season ends by 1st September.
Peter Holm, Denmark

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