Day 194: Music and Beer

Day 194: Music and Beer, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Newfoundland is known for music and drink. A custom, of which we did not partake, is to kiss a cod and drink Newfoundland Screech (a strong rum). Barring that, beer is the next best thing (I didn't partake in that either – I'm more of a wine person). Newfoundland has several breweries; one microbrewery is featured in the background of this photograph. Music is a big part of Newfoundland with live artists in the pubs and bars. Buskers can be found on street corners, the young ones hoping this will be the start of a career, the older ones just hoping for some cash to keep going. Whether out on a boat, in a restaurant or pub, folk songs from Newfoundland's past (strongly influenced by Scottish and Irish music) and songs from current groups can be heard. And music is important to me – I bring one or two of my instruments when I travel and take time to play.

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Day 192: Quidi Vidi

Day 191: Quidi Vidi, originally uploaded by susanvg.

At one time there were several tiny coastal villages near St. John's – now they have morphed into one city of about 150,000. However, on the edges you can still find vestiges of what once was. This is on the edge of Quidi Vidi, a few fishing homes. Fishing has been curtailed in this area because of the decline in cod stocks, but it is still the way of life for many people here.

St. John's is part picturesque, part depressed, part new. In the centre of the city there are some brand new office buildings and some older ones that are boarded up or badly in need of repair. Just up from the main streets is a residential area with colourful homes. Each street looks different as the colours of the houses is so varied. No two neighbours have houses the same colour. St. John's is built on hills so you can see the coloured houses marching up. Lots of walking and lots of climbing – I'm getting in better shape.

Day 191: Looking Down

Day 191: Looking Down, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Signal Hill, known as the place Marconi received his first transatlantic wireless communication looks over St. John's and the ocean.

The view at the top was breathtaking – you could see the rocky coast, a series of coves and spits of land reaching out to the sea. We hiked down to St. John's on a path that led down (and up) many stairs, along rocky paths looking over the ocean, narrow paths that hugged cliffs (my heart was in my mouth). At one point the path is so narrow and the drop so steep, you have to hang on to chains as you walk. Each time we stopped to take in the views, we marvelled at the many varied sights –
wild flowers abounded – wild roses, buttercups, flowers I recognized from Laurentian walks but whose names I don't know and flowers I had never seen before
incredible sea vistas out to the ocean and in to the harbour, with sea birds squawking
cliffs reaching down to the water
rocky landings near the water, smoothed out by the waves with gulls sunning themselves before the next dive into the water for food

Sometimes you have to challenge yourself to do more than you thought you could – this hike was just that. But I did it!