Thursday, August 12, 2010

ST. JOHN’S AVALON PENINSULA NL

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ST. JOHN’S-Gower St. is a delightful array of colorful row houses. We had our map and GPS but the streets are unbelievably hard to navigate.

It seems as there was no plan for the city it just grew every which way. St. John’s  is the largest city in Newfoundland. 

But we were on a mission. Looking for the Brewery!

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QUIDI VIDI-(pronounced kitty videe) is tucked into a very small corner of St. Johns. It was the first fishing

village here and the building the Brewery is in was a fish processing plant. We had a good time on the tour,

sampled 5 beers and received a free bottle of our choice at the end.

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Next morning we visited the MUM’S Botanical Gardens. A 110-acre nature reserve and garden featuring flower gardens,

nature trails, and display room. 

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DOWNTOWN ST. JOHN’S-This weekend is The Annual Downtown Busker Festival. We saw The Dan

Show, he literally dislocates both his shoulders. Ouch it was  painful to watch. Then the Puppet Tamer.

Very entertaining, shows are scheduled every 30 minutes in several locations throughout town.

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CAPE SPEAR-The most Easterly point in North America.This is a National Historic Site. The Lighthouse

is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province. It’s a bit foggy today.

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BLACKHEAD-Small town just outside of St. John’s. This is a one room schoolhouse, 1879.

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ST. JOHN’S-view from Signal Hill National Historic Site. Another fortification site to protect the town and harbour in the

1800’s. The British and French fought long and hard over occupation.

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Cabot Tower on top of Signal Hill.

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Basilica Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist, a beautiful Romanesque Cathedral,1855.

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The Happy Newlyweds!! Having their pictures taken in the street as we drove by.

So we snapped one.

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Commissariat House a Provincial Historic Site. This is where the British Commissariat supplied the city’s garrison.

Built in 1818. It was very modern with an indoor water pump. The commode was cleverly hidden in this

beautiful cabinet.

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We also visited the Lt. Governor’s home. This is the back yard.

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Diane with Newfoundland dog and Labrador dog at the

Johnson Geo Park. We hiked around here and ate wild

blueberries.

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We’re NEWFIES!!! Went to the Jighouse and got screeched in. We are now

honorary Newfies. This was done by kissing a puffin’s butt, well a stuffed

puffin, traditionally one kisses a cod. So I think we lucked out. Then you

repeat some Newfie phrases, which we can’t even remember. I do recall

quit a bit of laughing going on. Then you drink a shot of Screech, a rum.

And you get a certificate stated you have been officially screeched in.

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After spending four days in St. John’s we now headed north. Found this nice

look out in Middle Cove to boondock at.  To our delight there were whales in the cove that we

watched until the sun went down.

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