Whether Mary had a little lamb, Hail Mary, or Along Comes Mary, this post has nothing to do with Mary – but everything to do with our cruise stops in Canada’s maritime provinces.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (population 35,000) is PEI’s largest city and provincial capital. It may be a city, but it sure as a small town feel. It’s also the setting of the novel Anne of Green Gables.
We walked around the residential neighbors with well-maintained homes and took the long walk to Victoria Park and beyond to the lighthouse. Interestingly, the rocks and sand are red, and even the shallow water near the shore had a red cast.
One of the many gorgeous old homes
The red in Charlottetown
The boardwalk along Victoria Park is a refreshing walk
Charlottetown is also the home to Cows Ice Cream, rated the world’s best ice cream by Tauck’s World Discovery. We tried it, it was good, but sorry Tauck, it’s no Graeter’s, which wasn’t listed! Nor was Viveka’s beloved Mövenpick!
After Charlottetown, we cruised north to Corner Brook on Newfoundland’s west coast. This will probably be the closest I’ll ever be to Kayjai (she’s on the east coast). On this day we were without a camera because of issues. Too bad because the fiord-like trip into Corner Brook was scenic.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland (pic from Wikipedia)
Halifax was our final maritime stop. Unlike the two previous stops, Halifax is definitely a city … and the amount of new construction surprised us. Interestingly, the fortress that guarded the city is atop a hill above city center.
Old Clock installed 1803 just below the Citadel
We didn’t realize the role that Halifax played in the Titanic disaster. With the nameless headstones, the trip into the cemetery with the most gravesites (121) from the ship was surreal.
The unidentified and the identified (amazingly, some were identified in 1992)
We also boarded a bus for a trip to Peggy’s Cove, a small, picturesque fishing village found among the glacial remnants. Tour buses flock to this village for its charm, scenery, and lighthouse.
Peggy’s Cove rocky shore
Hope you enjoyed your quick journey to the Canadian maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia.
A Frank Angle 
I’ve dreamed of visiting PEI! This was a fantastic way to travel there via your pictures and informative blog! What was the weather like and what season do you recommend going there? If I wanted to drive up there, who or where should I go to seek those answers? I know you have to take a boat to get to the island? A barge? 🙂
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Java,
Use Google Maps to see your driving directions and time – which will take you north to Maine and through New Brunswick to PEI. It appears a highway bridge gets travelers out there … Ferries also operate. http://www.tourismpei.com/getting-to-pei
I imagine it gets cold in the winter, so use the late spring to early fall window.
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Thanks so much for this beautiful tour! I love the Anne of Green Gables books.
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Brenda,
Given your love for the books, put Charlottetown PEI on your to-visit list!
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Already there!
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That a way!
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Ah!! Peggy Cove has the best gingerbread cake! Delicious (and very few calories especially with the mounds of ice cream on top!!)
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Clan,
Alright …. someone that has been there! We weren’t there very long, so didn’t get any treats as gingerbread cake and ice cream. Sounds wonderful!
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I’m impressed that the town covered all those unidentified graves.
Going to have to research that and see what happened…
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Guap,
Halifax played a big role in the search and rescue, so the guide had numerous stories. Very interesting.
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I had no clue that so many of the victims of the Titanic were buried in Halifax, either, Frank. I must admit I never put a nanosecond of thought into this until reading your post. That’s a very interesting factoid and the pictures of all those grave sites is another reminder of what an epic tragedy that was.
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Lame,
If memory serves me correctly, two other cemeteries have victims, but a much smaller number …. I believe one is a Jewish cemetery and the other Catholic.
White Star Line bought the smaller headstones, but families could upgrade. The guide’s stories were interesting!
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I’m sure those stories were interesting indeed Frank.
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There, in Nova Scotia, are buried three friends of mine… I was a Swissair Maître de Cabin until 1997… but I can’t forget what happened on sept. 2nd.1998: the flight SR111 crashed and still isn’t clear what really happened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swissair_Flight_111
Halifax had its victims… but still Nova Scotia is really a lovely place to rest for some time… or in peace.
Claudine
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Claudine,
Thanks for the reminder about Swiss Air 111. The crash site was and land memorial are near Peggy’s Cove. Our tour didn’t stop, but the guide mentioned the event and talked about the memorial as the bus passed it. Peace to you as you think about your friends!
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This is beautiful travel dear Frank, the titanic cemetery was interesting, especially identified in 1992!!! Thank you for sharing with us, and especially these beautiful photographs 🙂 One of my photographer friends, dear Glen he is living in Newfounland, in a house, its age almost one hundred or more of his house… He invited me with his wife and daughter but it is a long journey for me… Thank you, love, nia
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Nia,
The Titanic stories from the guide were very interesting. Hope you get to meet Glen some time.
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Clearly the best ice cream of all is made by Paolo in Fornoli.
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Debra,
Something to look forward to the next time I’m in the area. 🙂
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I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s still on my list. And I keep meaning to read Anne of Green Gables. Seen the miniseries, but haven’t read the books.
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TBM,
My wife read it before the trip, but other than seeing references in stores, we didn’t go outside of town for the actual house of green gables.
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I did enjoy it Frank… but how can someone rank ice cream without tasting them all..?? (I would volunteer for the job)… the cemetery was interesting, gonna have to google that… I liked peggy’s cove but wondered why you never took a photo of the light house… went to the link and it does look beautiful…
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Bulldog,
We took photos of the lighthouse, but I (much like you do) try to limit the number of photos. The beautiful lighthouse indeed, but the rocks captured my attention the most. Search Peggy’s Cove on Google Images for more.
The guide’s stories about the Titanic were fascinating. One grave was for J Dawson …. and when the last movie was out, local teens that it was Jack Dawson played by Leonardo DiCaprio … so the crushed teens at camped vigils at the gravesite. Interestingly, this J was Joseph.
Meanwhile, great point about the ice cream … you’re hired to be on the team!
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Had to LAUGH at your first sentence–HARD–TOO FUNNY. But goodness, that place is gorgeous! Admittedly, I’ve always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island–surely something to do with childhood reading.
Wonderful post, Frank.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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Kathy,
Hooray for laughs! 🙂 … PEI was one a pleasant surprise. Besides, we had no idea what to expect! Ecuador to PEI – now that’s a long drive!
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As always you are a font of information and beautiful pictures from your travels. Loved the beautiful home!
I am a great lover of cemetaries, always find them fascinating for some reason. Your factoid made this one doubly so.
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Val,
There are so many stories in cemeteries! Meanwhile, probably because of our fascination with Titanic, the sight and the stories were interesting! Glad you enjoyed my brief tour.
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glad you enjoyed a bit of Canada–I would like to see the rest of my country–but your pics will just have to do–I have a pic of my sister Peggy at Peggy’s Cove
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LouAnn,
That’s cool! I have a sister Peggy as well, so I should sent her a pic.
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🙂
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Really nice photos, Frank. I think my trips to Canada have been my favorite. I’d like to go and explore more often. Thanks for sharing!
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Maddie,
I’ve had good trip to Canada as well …. and I look forward to some visiting the Canadian Rockies.
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Nice photos, Frank… thanks for sharing!
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Tom,
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by.
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Halifax has a long nautical tradition. The harbour was departure for many World War 1 and 2 convoys. If I recall correctly, there was a large explosion during WW2, similar to the Port Chicago disaster here in the US, that destroyed a lot of the waterfront and killed a lot of people. Matter of fact, I do believe there’s a few German U-boats in permanent residence there, too, though they are firmly planted on the sea floor.
Nice tour, Frank!
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John,
We saw pics of the explosion’s results. Devastating! I’m think 1917 and 1,800 killed and 9,000 injured … but not sure. … and I can image the city’s importance in the world wars! Thanks for pitching in with info.
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John, the big explosion was in 1917 – WW I.
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Read Frank’s response FIRST, then refrain from saying the same thing. Sorry! 😦
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That’s OK Archon … occasionally he needs to be told more than once. 😉
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Halifax played a big role on 9/11, too, as they greeted dozens of intercontinental planes filled with unexpected visitors. The guests stayed several days, until clearance to fly again.
Nova Scotia is on my list, as many MacNeils still live there. They emigrated from Barra in the early 1800s.
And speaking of Mary, we saw a bathtub Mary yesterday on our way to Strawberry Point.
non-sequitors again… I actually can write cohesively and often do…
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Melanie,
Good point about 9/11 because the planes had to land somewhere.
is Barra part of Scotland?
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Yes, it’s the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides. Population in 2011 was 1,174. Primary features include Kisimul Castle, which is a castle on a rock in the bay; Mount Heaval, guarded by its own Mary, Our Lady of the Sea; and the landing strip beach on the north side of the island, only available when tides are out. The island is accessible from the mainland by ferry, though service can be sparse during the winter. Sheep, goats, and the long-haired red Highland cattle roam the land. Fishing and tourism are the main industries.
We enjoyed several days there in 1999 with our son, who was 10 at the time. It was a wonderful holiday and I am eager to go back.
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Sounds charming. Looked at some pics via Google Images, and it would seem to be a tad brisk as well. Even noticed a cruise ship in port!
Roots are important. This past late-January-into-February, I had a return trip to mine. Had many posts about it, but here’s the first … and can guide you to others if you are interested.
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I don’t find a link. Thanks.
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Maybe I forgot it. 😦
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I love the Anne of Green Gables books, and I’ve always thought I would love to se these same cities. What a wonderful trip. I didn’t have any idea of the role of Halifax in the Titanic disaster. What a fascinating cemetery. What a wonderful trip, Frank!
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Debra,
Charlottetown was a very pleasant surprise … and the Halifax connection to Titanic was fascinating … including the gravesite of J Dawson …. but the heartbroken teens who camped to pay homage to Jack and Leonardo, this J was a Joseph.
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What a beautiful place, I have been to Halifax a couple of times .. in those days it was a God forgotten place in my eyes. But I had deep fried ice cream for first and only time in my life there …. don’t think it was from Cow. This was in the 80’s. I wish you and your lady a pleasant weekend.
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Viveka,
Interesting how places can change over the years. Thanks for sharing … and gotta love deep fried ice cream … which is a good use for mediocre ice cream.
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Thanks, Frank so glad you enjoyed your trip to the Maritimes. Corner Brook is very picturesque and have lovely ski hills in the winter. My dad was a Nova Scotia fisherman and we have stories of how he lived on the coast and ate seaweed (eww) Historically, I believe the Titanic sank just off the coast of Newfoundland and the rescue mission was based out of Halifax but there were some who made it to our rocky shores as well. Lovely pics Frank and thanks for the highlight on our little corner of the world!
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Kayjai,
Beautiful area for sure … and we enjoyed our first trip to your little corner of the world!
Knowing you were hours away, I didn’t mention anything to you … besides, we were there on a Monday.
The guide in Halifax mentioned NF was closer, but Halifax was used because of its greater connection to the mainland.
Seaweed just doesn’t seem appealing to me!
Have a good weekend … and have a glass wine … or two or three or …
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Thanks for sharing ore from your trip.
The Titanic bit really surprised me. I had no idea how so many were buried unidentified. So sad.
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RoSy,
I just did a quick search and it seems that over 40 remain unidentified (consider that unofficial). One thing I didn’t mention is that the graves are aligned in a curve as a hull of a ship.
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Beautiful pictures, Frank! I love the older homes – so much charm and craftsmanship.
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Hood,
Many thanks … and we enjoyed seeing the homes in Charlottetown!
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some beautiful scenes here
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Thank you, Shimon!
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I am so envious of the trips you and the others can afford to take. You’re seeing more of my country than I am. In Corner Brook, you were just around the corner from Ted @ SightsNBytes, but he’s never bothered to visit you either.
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Archon,
I think I’ve been to SightsNBytes before – maybe I should try again. Thanks …. and glad I got to see new Canadian sights!
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I enjoyed this very much, Frank. You visited parts of the Maritimes that M and I didn’t have a chance to see when we were there. It was great to get a glimpse of them.
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Robin,
I recall your trip as you took me places I still haven’t been … so glad you enjoyed these ports.
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OK. So Canada and not New England. My geography’s terrible, so no, I had no idea about Halifax and the Titantic, and really can’t picture it as I sit here.
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Christine,
Look at a map to see how close PEI and Nova Scotia are to Maine! The Titanic info was fascinating!!!!
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