Monday, June 1, 2015

Back from Beautiful St. John's

Hi folks!  I'm back again from the land of colourful houses...


also known as St. John's, Newfoundland.  May is not the month one might normally choose to visit there, as evidenced by the number of sites and museums not open until the first week of June, but we had fantastic weather and a really, really good time.

Actually, it was pointed out to us more than once that it's possible to experience several seasons in just one day in Newfoundland and Labrador (and also, that if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.)  We certainly found this to be true, but in all conditions, it is gorgeous there. Besides which, who doesn't welcome a chance to get in a few bonus wears of one's handspun, handknit hat?

We stayed in a lovely historic cottage a few minutes north of St. John's in the village of Torbay - more on that and our resident iceberg another day - and drove all over the place to see as much as we could before we had to leave again.  But my first love was Signal Hill, and its spectacular view... mist or no mist.

Can you make out the iceberg up there in the waters beyond the lighthouse?
There are a lot of high points along the coast and I felt quite frightened at some of them, especially when strong winds were blowing and it was hard to keep your footing.  But Signal Hill just feels good.  I was so happy there, every time we visited.

I think part of the appeal was its pretty rocks...


I love rocks.  Rocks are just so (literally) full of history, they've been through so much, they offer protection and beauty, and sometimes they even grow things.


Other times they form a bowl where water can flood in and hold a deep pool of water.  On one visit I took a picture of the harbour at St. John's...


and on another I took one of a giant cruise ship leaving it amid the horns of all the other vessels that stayed behind.


That was pretty amazing too, but I bet you can imagine the thing I loved the very most about this holiday:

NO BOXES!!

Omigosh, the joy of not having to pack or unpack for eight whole days!!  Waking up every morning to an incredible sunrise over the ocean was just icing on the cake.  And speaking of which, later this week I have to show you pictures of what is arguably the most beautiful cake in the world.  But first, let's take just one more look at the pretty colour schemes on these houses:


With the lovely Signal Hill in the background, of course.

Okay, I have to go... I spent all weekend working hard in Box Land again and I am pretty sure I haven't even made a dent in the darned things.  This is what I get for leaving behind most of our storage furniture when we moved, I guess.

Hope you've had a happy week and I'll see you again tomorrow!


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