First day on P.E.I

Today I went exploring. After my 2 hour drive around looking for the campground, I thought I had seen most of the island, but there is plenty more to see.

Interesting to see that, given the size of the island, there are in excess of 20 golf courses here.  It must rank 2 only to hockey in Canada.

Unlike Quebec, the churches here are all the same – white, wooden, pretty plain, smallish, with the same type of steeple – and again they are all on the sea-side of the road.

I saw some Amish/Mennonites walking and in buggies.  I was surprised, but it was kind of cool.

Reading that Charlottetown was the smallest capital in Canada, I was expecting a nice little village like Montpelier in Vermont.  Not so.  This is a city, complete with Walmart, Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, etc.  All they are missing is a Costco. Ha.

Charlottetown is named after the exotic consort of King George III.

The downtown, historic district is very commercial for the tourists with every storefront being a place to eat or buy souvenirs.  You can take a walking tour of the old buildings, which is nice.

I took a tour of the Beaconsfield Historic House.  It was built in 1877 by James Peake, Jr, a shipbuilder.  It was the most modern house of the time with gas lighting, running water and a form of central heating.  Five years later he lost the house to the bank due to financial problems and it was sold to Henry Jones Cundall, who lived there with his two sisters and eventually the house became a home for retired nurses.

 

Across the street is the Government House, which serves as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island.  They give tours of the house every day.  Can you imagine living in a house where people walk through it all the time?  Even after the tours stop for the day, people can walk through the grounds to see all the various gardens …  that would drive me nuts.  There are no guards and no purse searches.  I’m told since the island is so small, everyone knows everyone and they don’t think anything about it when they see the governor in the grocery store; they probably grew up with him.  The Prime Minister was in Charlottetown today shaking hands and taking selfies with anyone who asked … no guards, no entourage.

I also went to see St. Dunstan’s Basilica.  This Catholic Church of Charlottetown dates back to 1721 when two missionary priests came to minister to the spiritual needs of the early French settlers.  In 1990, the federal government designated it a National Historic Site of Canada citing it as one of the most elaborate churches in the Maritimes and a fine example of High Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.  When I came out kids were skateboarding on the front steps.  As we all know, if the thought comes in my head, it’s on my face.  A couple sitting on a bench nearby smiled and said they could read my thoughts!  It’s a different time.

 You see this sign occasionally, and I thought it was interesting.

Stopped for dinner at Water Street Corner Shop, recommended in my guide books.  There was a 2 hour wait for a table and in talking to another couple, they also came there because of the recommendation.  I took my dinner to go and sat at a table outside to eat.  The scallop burger was really very good.  I got a cup of chowder to go.  Later when I ate it, cold, it was excellent.  I may go back and try it hot!

After dinner, I drove along the shore heading west.  Of course, in my infinite wisdom, I chose this direction right about 6pm when the sun was shining bright --- right into my eyes. 

I did get to see one of the foxes on the island alongside the road watching me.  Lots of beautiful shoreline and some quaint villages.

I stopped at Cow Creamery for a factory tour and taste.  They are supposed to be Canada’s best ice cream.  Apparently, they are as famous for their T-shirts as they are for the ice cream.

Tomorrow I’m off to see the beach and maybe a lighthouse, or two.