Today we start our relatively short trip to Newfoundland, Canada. While it was supposed to be about one week we extended it a few days when we noticed how many things there are to do and that the distances are much longer than we guessed by just looking at a map. The first few days will be spent in St John’s, the capital, but first we have to get there via Toronto. Because no food is offered on the flight we stuff ourselves with food from the lounge in Phoenix before boarding the flight.
Happily there are no surprises on the flights and there are no delays so we arrive on time in Saint John’s and after renting the car it is time to explore the city.
However a 15 min drive to the hotel takes about one hour because we simply cannot reach the hotel, all the access routes are closed as far as the GPS is leading us. Finally we find the only road that isn’t closed and arrive at the hotel. Luckily we find a parking place as it is quite full and then it is time to check in in the historic hotel.
Checking in is easy but finding the room is unexpectedly hard. There are multiple elevators leading to floors that are not connected as it is an old building. So we go up one way then go down another way and then up another way and then one more stairs and then right when we lose our bearings completely we find the room. It is a smaller than expected room given the price but we have chosen the hotel for the location mostly so soon we are out to visit the city before it gets dark.
The main street is right next to the hotel, Water Street and it is newly pedestrianized, if that is a word. That is why Google didn’t know the best way to the hotel as the road closures are either new or temporary so for this weekend at least we have to be careful how we access the hotel.
Next we explore the side streets looking for a place to eat and find our first colorful townhouses for which St John’s is famous for and lots of breweries but no interesting restaurant.
So we go even higher up and finally find something open that also has a good menu. Chinched has also good reviews and in we go and it is time to order something to eat as we are really hungry. The food is quite special and the good reviews are well deserved.
Given how good the mains are we also order dessert and the bread pudding is quite special and really full we are ready to explore the rest of the town.
We continue exploring the Jelly Beans Row houses, named after the vivid colors they are painted in. Initially we though it is a specific street or area that has them but in fact the whole neighborhood is full of them.
Next is an area full of churches, the first one we see is the Anglican Cathedral of St John which is right next to the beautiful Victoria Hall.
Close by is the Gower Street United Church which has some unique architectural features. And next to it is a huge building, the Benevolent Irish Society Building, which looks historical but surprisingly is for sale, wonder how much it would cost to buy it?
We continue going up towards The Rooms a major museum in St John’s which is closed at this time already. However at least we can get a glimpse of the size of the museum and find a cache before starting the descent towards the seashore and our hotel.
We find a few more historical buildings along the way, some quite castle-like like the Old Courthouse and the Old Provincial Museum the new museum is basically The Rooms.
After a short visit to our room we explore the downtown area a bit more, walking by the docks to look for birds and then on Water Street to see the nightlife for an hour before returning to the room and going to sleep as tomorrow we have a full day planned.
