Blogs from Saint Anthony, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, North America - page 2

Setting off early from Rocky Harbour, I began my northward journey along the Viking Trail (more prosaically known as Route 430). The stunning weather - clear, blue skies and a warm sun - was a fitting backdrop to the stunning scenery. So stunning that I couldn’t help but stop frequently to take in each postcard worthy view. I had hardly set out before I pulled over to see the lighthouse at Lobster Cove, and then I kept braking to take in the panorama of flat top mountains or the drama of the Labrador Straight (even, toward the end, spotting a few distant icebergs). Sometimes I stopped in the little fishing villages, a reminder that people do live here. As I drove further north, the pine trees began to give way more and more to tundra-esque open ... read more

The winds of Newfoundland are strong. The only other option would be, no wind and biting black flies. I’ll take the wind, thank you. L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site was once a full fledged Norse Village for Vikings serving as a sailing base for explorations throughout the area, about 1000 AD. Hedge-Ingestad, a Norwegian scholar-explorer and Anne Stine Ingstad, an archeologist, came to this area in the 1960’s. Digs uncovered eight complexes of rudimentary houses, workshops with fireplaces and a trove of artifacts all of which verified the Norse presence. A path leads to recreated buildings, overlooking the Bay. Here costumed interpreters re-enact the roles and work of the Norse (Viking) captain, his wife and four crewmen. It was fascinating going into the sod houses seeing artifacts and “Vikings” going about their life of years ... read more