点评:I stumbled upon this open air fish market on my brief stop in Qaqortoq, Greenland. Catch of the day was whale. While I am morally opposed to hunting of whales I am also opposed to European conquerers meddling in the affairs of the indigenous peoples and I support the right of the Greeenlanders to continue this traditional way of life, where whale and seal are an important part of their diet. For what it’s worth mostly humpback is hunted here and apparently the local population is stable, for now. So after some consideration, rather than walk away in disgust like most of the tourists I lingered and asked questions.
The meat was laid out for inspection on a blood-streaked table. Apparently the locals liked what they saw because I witnessed several sales while I was there, people taking home large slabs in blue plastic bags. I don’t know Greenlandic of course but the owner knew enough English to tell me that it humpback and I was welcome to try a sample. So I set aside my moral convictions and hygienic concerns and tried a raw morsel of the beet-red flesh from the sample plate. I did not like it, but I did not expect to. Fishy, greasy, and meaty all at the same time. So that experience over with, I thanked the vendor and continued my walking tour of the town. Out of sight I discretely rinsed out my mouth with water and a breath mint. I’m happy to have tried it but this experience will not be repeated.
Later, back on the ship, another brave adventurer told me I should have tried the blubber instead,. Of the two things on the sample plate I tried the less distasteful-looking of the two. The other must have been the blubber. Oh well, next time.
翻译:我在格陵兰岛卡科尔托克短暂停留期间,偶然发现了这个露天鱼市。当天的渔获是鲸鱼。虽然我从道义上反对捕杀鲸鱼,但我也反对欧洲征服者干涉原住民的事务,我支持格陵兰人延续这种传统生活方式的权利,鲸鱼和海豹是他们饮食的重要组成部分。值得一提的是,这里主要捕杀座头鲸,目前当地鲸鱼的数量似乎比较稳定。所以,经过一番考虑,我没有像大多数游客那样厌恶地走开,而是在鱼市里逗留并询问了一些问题。
鱼肉摆放在一张沾满血迹的桌子上供人仔细查看。显然,当地人很喜欢他们所看到的鱼,因为我在那里目睹了好几次售卖,人们用蓝色塑料袋把大块的鱼带回家。我当然不懂格陵兰语,但店主懂一些英语,告诉我这是座头鲸,并欢迎我品尝。于是,我抛开道德信念和卫生顾虑,尝了一口试吃盘里甜菜红的肉。我并不喜欢,但也没指望会喜欢。鱼腥味、油腻味、肉味兼具。就这样,我谢过摊主,继续在镇上漫步。我悄悄地用水和薄荷糖漱了漱口。很高兴尝试了,但这种经历不会再有了。
后来,回到船上,另一个勇敢的冒险家告诉我,我应该试试鲸脂。试吃盘里的两样东西中,我点了看起来没那么难吃的。另一个肯定是鲸脂了。算了,下次吧。