3/8 Sunday, trip out on board!
A small group of passengers, composed of the three “old” ladies, three men and Piero who carries a very heavy backpack and the rifle, sets off for the walk on the hills to the glacier. Estimated walking hours 7, actual hours 9.
A light drizzle is falling and so the clothing of us ladies doubles. To the normal onion equipment we add the rain jacket.
The young Tomas, Lionel and Mr. Jacob have their simple and normal clothing, identical to the other days.
Sandwich and water in the backpack. We cheerfully say goodbye to those who remain on board who envy us a little. Piero was adamant: “only those who don’t slow down the group”. Clearly I shouldn’t have been there but my two super sporty vegetarian Amazons didn’t accept my hesitation: “you have to come, the trio can’t be split up”. Worried, I set off.
After the short and steep climb the jackets disappear into the backpacks, which get heavier. The sun has decided to accompany our effort.
We trot behind Piero who is holding his rifle. Tomas, like a policeman, brings up the rear. Agile and elegant as a deer, he gives up taking pictures in order to be faithful to his task of reassuring the last ones.
The spaces are so wide that they do not allow us to predefine the distances. We continue to advance on long climbs and short valleys that follow one another but the summit moves further and further away. Flowers, colors, rocks of different constitutions, lakes with pure water attract and ask to be photographed. The march towards the goal continues.
Suddenly a musk ox (be careful, it is a sheep and not a bovine) stops, observes us and, a little annoyed, turns and hides without allowing us to photograph it.
Piero runs forward to locate its hiding place, the ravine where it disappeared but nothing. And yet it is very big!. He decides to immediately warn the ship of this presence along the coast, giving the coordinates. The Opal, in the Captain’s voice, replies: “I obey, the zodiac will start searching immediately”.
Very disappointed, we continue the climb and here are two long white ears vibrating in the distance. We thus approach a white hare that is looking at us. It stops for a few more minutes, allowing itself to be photographed like a famous actress, then runs away hopping on its hind legs. Elegant and agile, delicate and shy, it makes us forget the disappointment of the musk ox.
We move forward and discover other friendly hares that are eating peacefully. The desire to caress their white fur is great.
The peak that we have to reach seems to get further and further away, we pass hills but it is always there, inviting and elusive.
Around midday, here is a panoramic point perfect for a picnic lunch. Gabriella had a bottle of Sauvignon brought and so we toast to our effort that allows us to enjoy these wonderful views, these infinite spaces, these colors with a thousand shades both in the green and in the rocks.
Who knows if the first adventurous explorers had this divine nectar with them!
The break ends, the glacier awaits us beyond that highest peak, we continue our journey photographing some distant musk ox and we are happy.
Here we are, Piero is already seated but he does not warn us of the wonderful scenery that awaits us, he wants us to discover it with our own eyes, he wants the surprise to amplify the splendor of the ice, the water, the valley.
A magnificent and imposing glacier is down there, full of cobalt blue lakes, all rippled by a thousand waves of ice.
In the water five blocks of ice act as a bridge between the two banks almost as if to mark the long stride of a giant.
Tomas walks away for a selfie that captures his joy framed by the splendor of light, snow, ice. You can see he is young!
We have to go back, the road to the sea is long so we set off on a different path, along the stream that flows at the bottom of the valley.
The descent requires running through a tiring bush. Only now do we realize how far we have come! Like a mirage, the bank where the sailing ship is moored moves away with every step. Is it tiredness? Piero is sure we will make it. Up and down, in the stream, over the boulders, on the rock like goats or in the green like oxen but the bank moves away.
Suddenly Tomas invites us to be silent and as in a movie a very young musk ox appears. He stops, looks at us and wonders: are those bipeds dangerous? It seems he wants to attack us, even in his youth he is a beautiful powerful beast. Then, shrewd, he takes cover between two rocks and waits motionless. His mother has taught him well and so he applies the advice he received. Curiosity is good but it is better to hide.
We remain motionless and in silence we gather around Piero. We know that his mother will arrive soon. Piero loads the rifle, a round in the barrel ready to fire into the air. He waits still and confident. As in Bambi the mighty father appears in danger, here a beautiful mother stands out on top of the hill, looks at us and advances decisively towards us. She is mighty and wonders what we have done wrong to her little one, a few seconds in which to evaluate and make decisions. She snorts loudly and advances worriedly, but suddenly a relief is written on her face, she has seen where her cub is hidden and like every mother forgives him, she forgets about us and runs to him. She approaches him, comes alongside him and protecting him they move away with a firm step but without running.
We are ecstatic, we have experienced a “short”. We are excited who knows if the photographs will be able to reproduce the spirit of this vision.
The descent resumes, long and tiring, but it no longer weighs on us. What we have seen moves our hearts.
Finally we arrive, the mirage becomes reality. We call Opal to come and get us.
The day reserves a new emotion for us, a seal swims alongside our zodiac.
We go back on the sailing ship where the beautiful Norwegian awaits us with rosé sparkling wine. Everyone gathers around us, complimenting us on our feat. We toast happily and a new cherry is offered to us: we can freely take a shower, the other passengers have been advised that the hot water is all available to the ladies. Dinner will not be served until we are ready.
After dinner, chocolate dessert on the deck.
4/8 More emotions.
Quiet day of sailing. The fjord narrows and a new scenario presents itself: the mountains change appearance and color. Like cliffs they fall into the water where they reflect their majesty. They are spectacular, they inspire respect and impose a amazed silence on us.
We go down with the dinghy to immortalize the Opal in its beauty. It is moored to two hooks in the rock. The sound responds to the echo. Everything is magical.
Suddenly we no longer have to turn our gaze only towards the peaks of the high sheer walls because a very small seal, on a very small iceberg, is dozing and forces us to photograph it.
The captain makes wide circles, with the sailing ship, around it to allow us to admire it ever closer. It raises its little head and indifferently continues to complete its tan in the sun. Someone has the idea of ​​giving it the bone of the excellent fish caught the day before. She, frightened, quickly dives into the icy waters and disappears. A little saddened, we resume reading, photography and a nap in the sun.
After dinner, a walk on dry land. The attack of the hungry fly gnats forces us to retreat and so we leave a meadow covered in moss and flowers.
The captain has to burn some garbage. We need to find the right place. It should be a small iceberg but Piero’s survey of each side is negative and so the ladies are brought back to the ship, the men continue their search and complete their mission.
First, the captain and Philip positioned the nets, fresh fish tomorrow too.
5/8 Full sail
Early in the morning, Erik, the cook, is already in action cleaning beautiful fish, the sashimi at midday is wonderful (he puts a small plate in the fridge to offer me for breakfast the next morning). The crew is fantastic, they pay a thousand attentions to all of us, they don’t hold back. They are few but active.
In the afternoon the wind picks up, the sea gets rough and my stomach starts to feel sick.
The captain calls for a rally, the sails must be raised. All the sails and sailing.
The deck shakes joyfully but we don’t know how to position ourselves to film every maneuver, the sails are very high. No one feels the freezing wind anymore. All noses up.
Tomas positions himself on the net at the bow like a leopard, he climbs and unties, with sweat from his brow and muscle strength, the sails.
All excited, we photograph him in every movement.
The crew and the young people, under the watchful eye of the captain, move according to the instructions and finally all the sails are hoisted.
Our sailing ship is beautiful and runs softly and silently on the waves. Fantastic emotion.
But our journey is coming to an end, we arrive near the airport and the next day we will disembark.
It’s late, no one has noticed the time, everyone is busy admiring the sailing.
Piero thanks the crew on behalf of everyone, he perfectly interprets the feelings of our heart.
6/8 Airport
We witness the incredible air movement that is concentrated in this non-existent airport: small planes unload and load passengers with their guides, helicopters take off with their guests.
We meet the Inuit of the narwhal hunt and discover that he is a guide with clients. This is how he tells us about that restless night.
The check in is fantastic: a girl asks us our name, ticks it off, writes down our nationality, weighs our luggage. The formalities are completed.
We arrive in Reykjavik where a real, clean bed and a super shower await us.
The shopping frenzy takes over us. Up and down the two streets full of tourists and unique shops, artisans of all kinds: ceramics, clothes, jewelry.
We buy unique things, will we use them later in the city? But we like them and we have to fill the day. This is also part of the game and we play. Then we discover that there is a VAT refund, and so off to the expenses and then in line for the refund. We are given money back in local currency and so what? Off to other expenses, it is a vicious circle that is started.
The dinner in the restaurant is of excellent quality and we appreciate it. Then at the airport in search of the office for the last VAT refund.
Let’s be honest, we had fun, we were excited. Amazed we kept quiet, took hundreds of photos, enjoyed spectacular scenery. Like new explorers we sailed in a unique fjord, set foot on pristine beaches and hills, drank water from the source, ate delicious fish. What more could you ask for?
Before leaving I had no idea what wonders awaited me!