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Published: June 13th 2017
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Geo: 46.2365, -63.1282
Day 5
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Oh, Canada!
Who knew Prince Edward Island was the birthplace of the Confederation? Certainly not I. More about that in a bit.
We departed New Brunswick and traversed the Confederation Bridge that spans Northumberland Strait, linking Prince Edward Island to NB. The bridge is 8 miles long, making it the longest bridge in the world that crosses over water that freezes. It cost C$1.3 billion and opened in 1997.
As the Canadian saying goes, "Eight months of winter, and four months of construction." It takes a while to build things here.
Along the way, Allison took time to remind us of the Gander, Newfoundland story when 9/11 occurred. The town of 10,000 people took in almost 7000 airliner passengers who literally “dropped in” on them that fateful day.
Here's a link for those who might want to know more:
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/09/amazing-story-from-a-flight-attendant-on-delta-flight-15-on-9-11-2767218.html
She also gave us some facts about PEI, the smallest of Canada's Provinces, in terms of land area and population.
It is known as the "Garden of the Gulf" referring to its pastoral scenery. Primary industries are much like those of the other Maritime Provinces: farming (potatoes), fishing (mussels and oysters) and tourism. Mussels and oysters are both farmed. The mussels are suspended in stockings in select locations, so they don't touch the ocean's floor and get sandy.
PEI has 140,000 residents. It consists of the main island and 231 minor islands. The main island is slightly larger than Delaware. Residents refer to themselves as “islanders”; others refer to them as “spuds”.
When we arrived PEI, we stopped at Cavendish Figurines, home to the Anne of Green Gables statue. Anne is a world famous fictional character that made Prince Edward Island her home. Virginia Chong and I got in touch with our fictional selves by donning Anne costumes/wigs, and getting our pictures taken. Many of us bought the pretty Anne porcelain figurine Christmas ornament.
Local guide Josh hopped on board and gave us a tour of Charlottetown. He mentioned that some of the beautiful Victorian homes were built by folks who made their money in shipbuilding and in silver fox farming, both dead industries today. We passed the biggest home on the island, residence of the Irving Energy family.
PEI is also known as the "Birthplace of the Confederation", referring to the Charlottetown Conference when founding fathers set the stage for Canada to become a united confederation. In 1864, PEI, Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick met to discuss the possibility of a Maritime Union. But when the Province of Canada (present-day Ontario and Quebec) asked to attend, the Maritime Union discussion became secondary to the issue of forming a nation. Though further deliberation was required at other conferences, the matter was settled in PEI – the concept of Confederation was approved.
We were on our own for lunch. Phillip and Virginia Chong (the OTHER Anne of Green Gables) and we went to lunch at Terre Rouge (red land, named after the rich red soil PEI is famous for). I had PEI mussels.
We checked into the Delta Prince Edward, sister hotel of the one we just left in Moncton. We settled in, then I went back out to shop a little but it was quite brisk and windy and I hadn't brought my coat along, so I bagged the concept, except that I stopped by Cows to try Canada's famous ice cream. Gooey-Mooey. Yum.
For dinner we joined the three single ladies on the tour: Julie Johnson (GA), Carolyn Marlowe (KY) and Connie Ambler (NC). We felt at home since we are so used to traveling with lots of lovely ladies. Julie, a retired University of Georgia
professor of Spanish Literature, has been on 29 (!!) Tauck trips.
Tauck had us dining at Water's Edge, Delta's high-end restaurant. We sampled lots of the island's specialties.
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Peggy
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We loved PEI. Were there about eight years ago with three couples (one Canadian) -- played golf, visited Anne of Green Gables, toured around, heard Celtic music, ate well.