Saint John’s
Newfoundland, September 17-19th, 2007.
The 2 PM Air Canada flight takes me into Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have just enough time to walk to my gate and board a second plane that will take me to Saint John’s – the oldest city in North America.
I get to the Delta Hotel at about 7 PM local time (1.5 hours ahead of Montreal). My buddies aren’t anywhere to be seen so I go up to my room and fire off some emails – it’ll be room service tonight. Later I drop down to the lounge for some beer with colleagues.
The next day is spent in meetings – it’s a shame because it is sunny and just beautiful outside. I go out at lunch and take a few shots, nothing fancy.
In the evening my Great Greek buddy Ike hijacks a Dodge 4 wheeler and we go for a mad photographic excursion. First we drive to Signal Hill – of Marconi fame – which has some great vistas and a castle like building (Cabot Tower).
Then we bomb through the streets of Saint John’s and finally into a lovely old fishing village (or it used to be). I thought it was called Kitty Witty – it actually was Quidi Vidi and is best described as idyllic. It appears to be Latin for “those which i saw” – didn’t know the Romans had come to the Rock.
After this enjoyable but rushed sightseeing tour, “Newfoundland in 1 hour with Ike”, we meet up with Sandra, Dan, and Mike (Michel) at Magnum and Stein’s for a quiet evening – an excellent meal in great company. (We dumped the Dodge in a tow zone just for fun).
I have a local beer from the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company with a Pork roast that must have weighed in at several pounds. Mike has us cracking up with his stories about drunken natives and chewing on Beaver Tail in Northern Quebec.
The next day, more meetings, then a direct flight back to Montreal. I promise Ike I’ll be back for a longer stay.
