Our Day in St. John's

Today was our day alone in the city, before we board the ship for the circumnavigation. We slept in, and got up just when breakfast was ready. And what a sumptuous breakfast: French toast, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee...yum! And our host, Mary, came and regaled us with stories of the town and such. It was a real treat. And of course took longer than usual, as it should.

So we finally hit the street about ten in the morning, heading downhill towards the harbour. Down Prescott Street, along Duckworth, and then along Water Street.

There have been a lot of changes since I was here last. Going to Sobeys last night pretty well encapsulated all that had changed. When I was here 38 years ago, you couldn't find a head of lettuce anywhere on the island. Milk was scarce (there are few if any dairy cows on the island). Now they have all the dairy you could ask for, and several types of lettuce, along with couscous, lentils, and many exotic foods. And the wine store had a better selection than ours in Dundas. That's what happens when you go away for almost four decades!

So the downtown had also changed. There are now condos, both ones built inside old buildings, and new buildings as well. There are stores of many kinds along Duckworth, and along Water Street. The City has built parks and parkettes in many places, and has had the good sense to keep the old buildings where possible. And of course there are the houses.


Houses of many colours, and many vintages, along steeply-sloped streets. Most are clapboard, with some in stone. And the stores are the same.



And the murals along public spaces.



We did a lot of walking. Stopped in a pub called "the Ship", which is the home pub for a group we like called "the Once". A beer therre, then some more walking, and a lovely seafood dinner at "Olivers". On our way out, we noticed again that the moon was nicely placed over the harbour. Just behind Signal Hill.



Now up Prescott Street (and I do mean up), and back to Cantwell House. A very pleasant day. Tomorrow we get on the ship.

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Location:St. John's, NFLD