Tuesday 27 July 2010

North America's Oldest City

Travellin' light?
Mission impossible with baby Isaac!
Playpen, car seat, folding baby chair, stroller, favourite cuddly toys, clothes, diaper bag, insulated bag for baby food.... and maybe some room left for some of mummy and daddy's own clothes.

We're back from a week in Newfoundland. A week is never enough, is it? St John's claims to be the oldest city in North America. The earliest reference is to São João on a Portuguese map in 1519.

The Cabot Tower stands as a sentinel on Signal Hill, overlooking The Narrows, the entrance to St John's sheltered harbour. The main downtown street is Water Street, calling itself the oldest street in North America, bustling with shops and restaurants.

Water Street and Duckworth Street are two of the few level streets in the downtown area. The city is built on steep hilly land and walking up and down the the maze of residential streets will certainly keep your legs in good shape.

St John's houses are typically painted in bright colours... think of your favourite colour and I guarantee that there's a house painted to match!





More to come.... keep checking in!

17 comments:

  1. Lucky YOU! I would very much like to visit Newfoundland. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Newfoundland is so wonderful. I’ll never forget the two weeks we spent there. I heard that if you have been to Newfoundland you will leave a part of your heart there, and I believe it.

    Thanks for the comment on my blog. Yes the cyclist wonder from Victoria came 7th overall in the Tour de France which is great for such a young rider. During the 3rd stage I thought he would win the stage. I watched several of his interviews. He shows a lot of promise and Canada should be very proud of him.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOVE all those very colorful houses....Your pictures are WONDERFUL...They give me such a feeling about this amazing city...And to think it is the oldest city in North America.
    I can't wait to see MORE....!

    Love the picture of the luggage...lol!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You DO travel light but yes, with the babies, there will be a lot of extras.

    Newfoundland looks beautiful. I should take a trip up to Canada one of these days.

    And yes, Bangor Daily Photo is back, at least on a semi-regular basis.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hallo other Fennie! Thanks for dropping by my blog. Only visitied the airport at St Johns, where everyone was very friendly. Been enjoying some of your previous posts.
    Love all those coloured houses. Reminds me of the South Wales Valleys where strings of terraces cling to the hillside in just that fashion.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the houses in Newfoundland so colourful.

    Glad you have a great time.

    Gill

    ReplyDelete
  7. He he, that luggage is just funny! The joys of travelling with children.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the colours! And tell me about travelling with children!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the brightly colored houses alright, but the steep angles on those streets!! It hurts my knees just LOOKING at the steep angles!

    Traveling light is definitely the way to go, especially if you're walking.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow that's a ton of luggage! I have heard a lot about Newfoundland from a Canadian friend. Btw, beautiful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, what a way to make me homesick ... My home was on Barnes Road near Rawlins Cross ... you would have taken these pictures very near there. Where these taken on Victoria Street? My husband's moms birth house was actually on Victoria Street as well. The most amazing thing to do (other than summer)is to see Handel's Messiah at the Basilica during Christmas. Both of us still have brothers and sisters there.
    Absolutely great photos! Did you happen to get to the Nfld Weavery?
    and I truly hope that you had a great trip!
    Best wishes,
    Barbara
    PS Thanks so very much for your comments ... I like this thing of watercolour on muslin.

    ReplyDelete
  12. St Johns is without doubt a very charming town, which in many ways reminds me of small towns in northern Europe.
    Your photos is eminent - really a pleasure to look upon. The colourful houses in this climate and nature are just fascinating.

    But the oldest town in North America? St. Johns?
    Then they are more than 1500 years too late (Mesoamerica). Unless limited to post colombian and European settlements.
    With other words: The oldest "European" Town in North America.

    btw. Thanks for all your nice comments. I really appreciate.

    hugs
    Toraa
    Norway.

    btw. Regarding old North American Towns:
    http://toraamusic.blogspot.com/2010/07/abc3-n-og-o-sannelig-ikke-lett-finne.html
    Just look at the Photos, and you will have a clue

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amazing colors of the homes. I love the brightness of them.
    Newfoundland sounds fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm so glad you've taken me on this visual holiday because I have a feeling I may never make it up to St. John's in Newfoundland. Though I never thought I'd find mysel in PEI or New Brunswick, so I should never say never!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the colours. I've been to Newfounland but not past Cornerbrook. I remember the houses in Port aux Basque painted this way too. It's so cheery. Welcome back. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have actually been to St. John's, Sham, but I really don't remember it. What a shame. To go back would be like seeing it for the first time. You've just whetted my appetite!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow! Those houses are absolutely gorgeous! Old places, but lovingly kept up - that's the best!

    ReplyDelete

All comments welcome.... unless your name is Anonymous..