Yes, B'y!

In March, Mike and I took off for a few days (sans rug rats) to check out St. John's, Newfoundland.  We have always wanted to see the other side of this great nation (Canada that is), and the time was finally right.  Well, to be honest, we were trying to decide what time of year to go -- summer being the best bet -- but I found out that Great Big Sea would be playing in their hometown in March...

"Honey, we're going in March!"

We mainly stayed in the St. John's, but we did take a road trip around part of Conception Bay.  The city and surrounding area is gorgeous, and every person we met was friendly and happy to chat with anyone "come from away". 

Every house in Downtown St, John's is brightly coloured and most of the houses are attached in rows.  Doesn't make it very safe if there's a big fire, but they are so amazing!  3 (sometimes 4) full levels of heritage details that take you back 100 years!  The hills are killer if you are out of shape... uh... like me.  The photo on the right is one of my faves!  I took it from an excellent vantage point on the harbour!

I arranged for a tour of St. John's, Quidi Vidi, Cape Spear & Petty Harbour.  It was well worth it!  Cape Spear is the eastern most point of North America.  We just wouldn't have been true Canadians if we didn't take our Timmy's with us!  It was so cold out, any drops of hot coffee/tea on the lid were frozen by the time we got back to the car!  Quidi Vidi is a village within St. John's.  Complete with a micro brewery with the same name, the village is really an entity of it's own.  It even has it's own harbour and passage to the Atlantic!  It was this village that really made Mike fall in love with St. John's. 

Brigus is a wee town nestled in a quiet harbour off Conception Bay.  If you're looking at a map of the Bay, Brigus is between Carbonear and Conception Bay South.  The place was very quiet while we were there.  So quiet in fact, it seemed like something out of a Hitchcock movie!  I liked the fact that the two churches in town, and their cemetaries, had some of the best real estate!  I call the photo on the right "A View For Eternity".

When we got back to our B&B, we asked the owner about the strange -- but beautiful -- town and he seemed unconcerned about the fact that we did not see one soul the whole time we were there! 

Bill: "Well, it's some cold out.  No reason to go outside today."

Me: "It seemed so strange!  I saw one dog barking though a living room window, but there was no other signs of life save for some laundry hanging on the line.  No lights on... nothing!"

Bill (with a chuckle): "It's still daytime.  I don't have the lights on either!" 

And as I looked around I realized he didn't!  It was getting dusky, but we could see just fine.  I guess it's a habit born into folk who were raised generation after generation to use what you need, waste nothing, and save pennies where you can.  I think westerners could learn a thing or two!

Me: "Do you think they knew we were there?  We walked aroung a bit taking pictures."

Bill: "Oh yes, I bet they knew.  They'll be talking about ya today and tomorrow.  'Did you see them?' they'll say!  You made their day! " 

Without a doubt, I'll be returning to Newfoundland.  I made great friends, and really felt at home there! 

PS: More on the Great Big Sea concert later!