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We are off to Newfoundland so tag-along with us.

Touring St. John's

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Today was moving day.  After breakfast we packed up and headed 5 kms down the road to try boondocking.  Well that lasted all of 5 minutes!  OMG I opened the door to the trailer to see how level we were and a gazillion black flies followed me in.  You gotta be kidding me.  We were not expecting to have black flies, we were not bothered by them at the Blue Fin.  We just looked at each other and said OK we’re outta here.  The black flies will have to feed on some other tourists.  Back we go to the Blue Fin…no black flies there! Oh boy are we turning into softies!!   One good thing about Elbroko, it so easy and quick to get setup.  After lunch we head into St. John’s to Costco to get the pictures printed for my cousins.  While we are there we might as well be tourists and check out downtown.  St. John’s is one of the oldest cities in North America and is closer to Europe than any other city in North America. 
We find a parking spot right by the Harbour and start walking along the Harbour.
There are several fishing boats docked, one large one from Baffin Island, and lots of containers being loaded on ships.  You have a good view of Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi from the Harbour. 
We walk along Water Street, which used to be the main shopping area until all the malls sprung up.  I thought it was actually doing well, considering most downtowns are pretty much deserted.  There are still lots of shops, restaurants and pubs to keep tourists busy.  Of course we have to go to George street which is pretty much pubs from end to end.  Unfortunately they are no longer the “Newfie” pubs, playing the Island music, not that we saw anyway.  We were hoping to sit and listen to some Newfoundland music and enjoy a refreshment or two. So I’m outta there, I leave Doug to rest while I head up and down the hills to explore the city. I haven’t been mountain climbing for a day or two.  St. John’s downtown is mostly all Saltbox style row houses that have been restored and colourfully painted. 












I love to see the old churches, and do find a couple that are still open as it is getting later in the afternoon.  St. Andrews United Church had a lovely large pipe organ surrounded by beautiful dark wood. 
The church was re-built in 1894 after the great fire destroyed the original one.

Down the street I came across St. John the Baptist Anglican Cathedral. A page meets you at the door and welcomes you to look around and take pictures.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Construction on this church began in 1847 and the cornerstone laid in 1849.  It was partially destroyed in the great fire of 1892, however what could be saved was restored including the 
sculptured arches.  That was really all I had time for, so I tried to find my way back to Doug.  He is quite happy sitting in the pub sipping on a couple of cold ones and apparently getting lots of tourist information from the waitress. I will definitely have to come back and check out a few more of the old buildings and go the “The Rooms” a museum which houses the provincial archives and artifacts.



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