When the news broke of Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland from the Danes for strategic, mining and perhaps golf course development purposes, it was a perfectly timed affirmation of what had otherwise looked an eccentric choice of summer holiday destination — namely to spend three days last week exploring part of the island’s east coast.
When friends asked ‘Why Greenland?’ I explained that Iceland had served as the gateway drug. A fortuitous visit to Reykjavik a few years ago to advise on a new budget law had prompted return trips, not least for the food but also to explore the country’s fabled natural landscape. But it wasn’t enough. Surely you must have something else behind the counter, you know, a little harder…?
In this quest, last week my elder son and I flew two hours west from Reykjavik’s tiny city airport to Kulusuk, a small island flat enough for a runway, and then ten minutes further by helicopter to Tasiilaq, the largest town in the east, with around 2,000 inhabitants.
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