Dan Will Travel

Last Stop, St. John’s

This is the oldest city in North America, settled in 1528! Also the most easterly. For instance, the flights to Toronto are 3+ hours, but Dublin is only 4 1/2 hours the other way. It is far out in the North Atlantic. It does not have the climate of San Francisco, but it sure has some of the same feeling. Steep streets, colorful row houses and tons of artsy bars and galleries.

No, my camera is not crooked. It is a very steep street.

View of St. John’s from Signal hill. The large structure upper center is the fabulous museum, “Rooms,” whose architecture captures the feeling of the classic stage houses of the coastal fishing villages. Inside, it houses a fine art gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador art as well as covering most all aspects of life and history here. It is considered one of the best museums in all of Canada.

As the guidebooks note, it is too bad they have all of the power lines but still so fun to view and photograph.

The Jelly Bean hoses were typically flat roofed. (weird in a way with the accumulated snow that they receive) The right one with the 3rd floor mansard roof is a sign of a growing family that added a 3rd floor.

This is about an hour outside of St. John’s. Needless to say, they have “interesting” souvenirs to sell. And a Brewery, the Dildo Brewery.

Posted: June 25, 2019 by admin

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One of the four corners of the earth. An island off an island.

I stole this marketing line from the Fogo Island Inn, one of the most exclusive and dramatic hotels anywhere. It seems that, when the cod fishing was shut down in 1991 plunging the island into deep economic depression, one family packed up everything, burned their boat and moved away. Well, a daughter ended up making many millions in a high tech company and invested 40 million in a charity for Fogo Island that included building this Inn. It is as striking as any structure you can see anywhere, particularly as you approach it from the tiny local town, Joe Batt’s Arm.

My brother sent me a link to this place about a year ago, part of my initial discovery of Newfoundland. Thank you Ron! Well, at over $1500 US per night, I decided to not stay, but did do an amazing dinner each of two nights.

It is such a great concept. Set up as a non-profit by the founder, all profits are channeled back into Fogo Island needs.

The Fogo Island Inn, rising out of the rocky shore. The wonderful dining room is at the far right corner.

I never take food shots. Until my dinner at the Inn.

Light fixtures in the dining area. Hand tied rope from buoy lines interspersed with Edison bulbs. Sorry the quick iPhone photo does not do these justice. They were exquisite.

Over the hill from my B&B. Artist’s work area built by the Fogo Inn charity. Only access is to walk in about 1/10 mile.

Fogo Island, although very close to Twillingate, is very different with glacially scoured rock and little vegetation anywhere on the island.

These are classic “stages.” Buildings to clean and prep the cod after returning from the day’s fishing. Right one only accessible at low tide.

My B&B in Tilting. Not quite the Fogo Island Inn, but nice. The owner, Tom (tommytuna) came to work at the Inn, fell in love with the island and purchased this 130 year old B&B.

The town of Tilting at dusk from my little room.

Posted: June 25, 2019 by admin

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Twillingate

Twillingate is one of the historical centers of fishing and sealing on Newfoundland. One of the many places to go to see icebergs and whales in each of their seasons.

Some of the shots below show a coastal scenery as good as anywhere in the world I think. What do you think?