Nuuk to Halifax

In the bustling capital city of Greenland, you could be forgiven for forgetting you are in such a vast and isolated country. Nuuk is Greenland's economic and social hub, home to more than a third of Greenland's population, and although it feels like a world capital, scratch the surface, and a uniquely Greenlandic character can be found underneath. Nuuk Cathedral overlooks the gorgeous old Colonial Harbour district and the Greenland National Museum, resting place of the legendary Qilakitsoq mummies, the true highlight of the museum's archaeological collection. Above the Colonial Harbour sits downtown Nuuk, with lines of Scandistyle apartments, a bustling shopping district, the Greenlandic Parliament, Nuuk City Hall (which welcomes visitors to see its artwork) and even outdoor cafes selling locally produced food and beer. These nods to modernity compete for space with local artisan boutiques, the meat market selling the catch from Nuuk's vast fjord-lands, and the stunning Katuaq Cultural Centre, where blockbuster movies, as well as local and foreign performers entertain the people of Nuuk. Although Nuuk has long been a melting pot of Danish and Greenlandic ideas, this is a city where Greenland displays its sophistication, with the Country's only traffic lights, roundabouts and University. Most of all, expect to find a multitude of friendly people who are proud of who they are, and equally proud of the city they call home.

Sisimiut ('The People of the Fox Holes') is Greenland's second city, the largest Arctic City in North America, and a hub between the warmer South and the frozen North of the country. With a young, dynamic population, including students from all over the country, Sisimiut is one of the fastest growing cities in Greenland. Inhabited for more than four and a half thousand years, the Danish Colonial Era saw the rapid development of the city into a trade centre, and the old buildings and artefacts can be seen at Sisimiut Museum, a collection of beautifully restored buildings displaying everything from ancient turf houses to modern Inuit art. The local artisans are considered some of the best in Greenland, and often sell their wares direct from their communal workshop in the harbour, where they barter with hunters for raw materials. Today, modern industry focussed on processing sea food and shipping; KNI, the state-run chain of general stores operating in even the most remote settlements is based in Sisimiut. Most residents still live in the colourful wooden houses Greenland is so well known for. Sisimiut's vast back country offers excellent opportunities for hiking and fishing, and the locals often use sled dogs or snowmobiles to get around their vast mountainous playground during the long winters. In the summer, one can walk as far as Kangerlussuaq International Airport, a trail also used for the gruelling Polar Circle Marathon, one of the toughest endurance events in the world.

Lying in the heart of the Amazon, hundredsof miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is a busy port city surrounded bythe richest rainforest habitat on Earth. Placed strategically at the confluenceof two rivers, the town was founded as a fortress by the Portuguese Navy, butquickly became a trade hub for the surrounding area. By the late 19th Century,Manaus was the centre of Brazil's booming rubber industry, and grew rapidlyinto one of the largest cities in Brazil. During this period, many of Manaus' grandestbuildings were constructed by the city's 'Rubber Barons', including the PublicMarket, and the Amazon Theatre, a vast decadent opera house. Today, Manaus is a cultural melting pot,with a diverse population. A complex system of free trade rules has turnedManaus into one of the wealthiest cities in the Brazil, with heavy industrydeveloping alongside traditional livelihoods such as river fishing, andgathering the bounty of fruit, nuts and medicinal plants which the rainforestbestows. However, it is the surroundings which giveManaus its unique character. The famous Meeting of Waters, where tannin-richwater from the Rio Negro combines with milky water from the Rio Solimões toform the Amazon, can be seen just outside town, and the jungle beckons visitorsto explore and discover. Excluding Manaus, the state of Amazonas is extremelysparsely populated, and in the largest rainforest on Earth, it is easy toforget the hustle and bustle of the city and simply enjoy the wonders ofnature.

Lying in the heart of the Amazon, hundredsof miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is a busy port city surrounded bythe richest rainforest habitat on Earth. Placed strategically at the confluenceof two rivers, the town was founded as a fortress by the Portuguese Navy, butquickly became a trade hub for the surrounding area. By the late 19th Century,Manaus was the centre of Brazil's booming rubber industry, and grew rapidlyinto one of the largest cities in Brazil. During this period, many of Manaus' grandestbuildings were constructed by the city's 'Rubber Barons', including the PublicMarket, and the Amazon Theatre, a vast decadent opera house. Today, Manaus is a cultural melting pot,with a diverse population. A complex system of free trade rules has turnedManaus into one of the wealthiest cities in the Brazil, with heavy industrydeveloping alongside traditional livelihoods such as river fishing, andgathering the bounty of fruit, nuts and medicinal plants which the rainforestbestows. However, it is the surroundings which giveManaus its unique character. The famous Meeting of Waters, where tannin-richwater from the Rio Negro combines with milky water from the Rio Solimões toform the Amazon, can be seen just outside town, and the jungle beckons visitorsto explore and discover. Excluding Manaus, the state of Amazonas is extremelysparsely populated, and in the largest rainforest on Earth, it is easy toforget the hustle and bustle of the city and simply enjoy the wonders ofnature.

Acclaimed for its unearthly landscape Woody Point is probably as close to Mars as you will ever get in this lifetime. Situated on the west coast of the island the Tablelands behind Woody Point in the Gros Morne National Park are composed of peridotite — like much of the surface of Mars — and  NASA the Canadian Space Agency plus others are studying this unique land form searching for insights into possible bacterial life on the red planet. The story of the Tablelands earned Gros Morne its World Heritage Site status from UNESCO in 2010 and the area remains a geological wonder showcasing a time when the continents of Africa and North America collided. When the plates struck 485 million years ago the peridotite was pushed to the surface and remained above sea level. The rock lacks the nutrients to sustain plant life thus giving the Tablelands a barren isolated appearance. As the name suggests the flat topped mountains dwarf the tiny village (population 281!) yet Woody Point has retained its character and the historic houses and buildings dating from 1870 have been beautifully maintained.

A city that thrives on a diet of music, outdoor events and ocean-faring history, Nova Scotia's capital - and Atlantic Canada's largest conurbation - oozes salt-licked charm. The star-shaped fortress of Halifax Citadel sits above the city, while down below, Halifax revolves around its bustling harbour. Here, jet-skis skid across the water and heritage ships jaunt out to scenic offshore islands. Music carries on the waterfront's breeze as summer’s events play out, while a hefty population of pubs and restaurants provides all the space required for sitting back and relaxing. The shorefront boardwalk invites you on a gentle stroll along the waves, wandering back through Halifax's history. The Canadian Museum of Immigration waits at Pier 21 and was the doorway to a country of opportunity for so many - with over a million immigrants taking their first footsteps into Canada here. The pier's wooden boards are dotted with cafes, craft shops and artist studios. Sail deeper into seafaring heritage at the maritime museum. As the closest city to the sinking of the Titanic, recovered victims were transported to - and many were buried - in Halifax. The story, and items from the doomed vessel, are displayed in the museum's collection. Peggy's Cove lighthouse is nearby, and this immaculate little lighthouse is one of Canada's favourite, watching out stoically over the Atlantic's waves. With rich pickings available from its coastal location, the fruits of the sea are served up in the fryers of Halifax's varied restaurants - try seared scallops and juicy mussels. Round off any meal with a buttery blueberry grunt dessert – delicious when served up warm with a dollop of melting vanilla ice cream.