I took a small group out for a tour of the city and Cape Spear yesterday. It was a last minute booking and despite the amount of work on my desk I was especially appreciative for the excuse to step away from the office as I knew it promised to be a most spectacular day on the coast. Of course, I was also curious to meet the people who would be interested in a January tour of Newfoundland. I was well rewarded on both fronts.
I picked the trio up at the Delta Hotel and soon discovered they were American military personnel whose plane developed some mechanical trouble enroute to Europe. While they waited for parts to arrive they decided to avail of the opportunity to discover this new found land. With this in mind I decided to start the tour on the south side of the harbor where I was best able to explain the unique relationship Newfoundland shares with the American people – starting with our age old trade relations in the fishing industry, the seasonal migration of Newfoundlanders to the ‘Boston States’ to find work as construction labourers, our partnership during WW2 and the ‘Cold War’ years and finally, the hospitality Newfoundland extended to the Americans who were stranded here during the tragic events of 911.
Despite their youth they were more than intrigued by the stories and as might be predicted by their age – were in awe of the waves and the sheer force of the ocean’s raging at Cape Spear. They took many pictures and asked as many questions about everything from whale watching to moose hunting and fly fishing for Atlantic salmon. They shared some of their own military stories as they related to the island – most particularly comparing the discomforts of the barracks at Cape Spear to their time in Afghanistan. They oohed and they awed at the beauty of Petty Harbour and were shocked by the wind at Signal Hill. They were most curious about the brewery at Quidi Vidi and were terribly impressed with the old American Military base at Fort Pepperell.
But as we continued on through the Government House grounds and made the drop down from the Basilica with one last view of the harbor, one of the lads made perhaps the most profound comment I’ve ever heard about Newfoundland. Gazing upon the spectacular evening sky, the dancing clouds and the starkly contrasting mix of snow cover on the roof tops and South Side Hills he mumbled to himself – and then repeated for my confirmation in a slow southern drawl;
“This place is pretty enough for the weather.”
Thanks to all for reading. Happy New Year to all!
Andrew
