So I'm off to Newfoundland!

19 posts / 0 new

Sat, 2009-11-21 13:59

oldgoat

Yup. I'm going to St. John's tomorrow for a week to take a course so I can train my colleagues on a particular suicide intervention model.

Regrettably, I don't think I'll get to see much of the place. I'll arrive close to midnight on Sunday, and my days will be filled with the course I'm taking, including some evening work. I fly out again early in the morning on the next Saturday. I've heard it's a lovely city, but I don't know if I'll get to see it in the daytime.

Anyone know of any particularly good eateries?

ETA: It's nice to be able to edit opening posts...

Sat, 2009-11-21 14:32

Ghislaine

Hey oldgoat!

Have an awesome time - St. John's is beautiful. Signal Hill is right in downtown St. John's and you could drive or walk up on a lunch break. The view from up there is absolutely spectacular and I highly recommend making time just for that :)

I haven't live there for a few years - but I really liked Nautical Nellies, which is downtown as well and the Classic Cafe, which is 24/7.

Sat, 2009-11-21 14:46

Slumberjack

oldgoat wrote:

Yup. I'm going to St. John's tomorrow for a week to take a course so I can train my colleagues on a particular suicide intervention model.

Regrettably, I don't think I'll get to see much of the place. I'll arrive close to midnight on Sunday, and my days will be filled with the course I'm taking, including some evening work. I fly out again early in the morning on the next Saturday. I've heard it's a lovely city, but I don't know if I'll get to see it in the daytime.

Anyone know of any particularly good eateries? ETA: It's nice to be able to edit opening posts...

George Street is a pedestrian haunt in the downtown area, basically a long street, no vehicles, with door to door pubs and restaurants. Some will have live entertainment depending on the time of evening. The prospects of bar hopping with the intent of taking in all the establishments there, while having only one pint or drink at each one, are slim to nil. It's broken many a sailor who tried.

Sat, 2009-11-21 15:38

Unionist

... and make sure you get screeched in. The Royal Order of Screechers is awaiting its next member.

Sun, 2009-11-22 23:49

oldgoat

7 #^##% hours on a Bombardier Q400 can make one cranky.

Here's what one looks like btw...

and I got in just after the bar closed. Good night.

Mon, 2009-11-23 04:01

ennir

Having a wonderful time in Newfoundland is easy, people are incredibly friendly and it is beautiful. Lucky you, enjoy.

We were there a few years ago and loved it, ate in a charming little cafe downtown that had great food but don't remember the name, sorry, I'm sure folks there will fill you in on great places to eat. If you can find some time to wander round the downtown area it is a great place to walk.

Mon, 2009-11-23 09:11

Michelle

I'd love to see Newfoundland. My stepmother is from there, so I hear lots about it, but I've never been. In fact, I've never been further east than Montreal.

Mon, 2009-11-23 10:20

radiorahim radiorahim's picture

The only part of Newfoundland I've seen is the inside of the airport terminal in Gander on an Aeroflot refueling stop (I was en route to Moscow).

It's one of my "airport towns"...places I've been to but never left the airport terminal ;)

Mon, 2009-11-23 10:34

Boom Boom

I've been to St. Anthony several times - it's a very small town, but with an awesome view of the ocean. Quite a historic place, with the Sir Wilfred Grenfell Mission Hospital and Museum. And you can always see plenty of moose on the road from the airport (I have photos). And I've driven the road beside the Labrador Straits several times from Blanc Sablon (Que) to Red Bay (Lab) to the Basque Whaling Museum there (and a restaurant that serves great hamburgers).

Mon, 2009-11-23 13:28

#10

Caissa

I have fond memories of visiting St. John's one February and almost being blown off Signal Hill. Have a blast Old Goat. As Slumberjack recommends, you can't go wrong with George St.

Mon, 2009-11-23 16:01

#11

oldgoat

Sadly, my schedule is turning out to be such that I won't see much more than the inside of the hotel I'm staying at, which is average in the extreme. It's like they worked incredibly hard to hit their two stars but not risk going one iota over.

Tonight I'm too flamed out from under-sleep. Tomorrow evening I should be good. Wed. and Thurs. I'm pretty much working 12 hour days. Friday I'm done at 4:30, and don't fly out until Sat at 9:00 AM. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I actually have elements of my regular duties that I was going to keep up on, but that's looking a bit unlikely.

Also, why can't everyone just use eastern standard time, like normal people.

Mon, 2009-11-23 16:25

#12

Boom Boom

Heh. Here on the Lower North Shore of Quebec we neither spring forward nor fall back. Why bother?

Tue, 2009-11-24 08:19

#13

Caissa

You'll learn to love half past the hour, oldgoat.

Fri, 2009-11-27 21:32

#14

oldgoat

So my course was over about 6 hours ago. I've been screeched in by none other than an RCMP Staff Sgt. from the Holyrood detachment who they brought in just to perform the ceremony on the few of us who were CFA's. (the screech isn't as awful as I thought it would be) One of the local people who did the course with me took us to dinner and a few places on George st. and Water st., then up to Middle Cove to throw rocks in the waves and sort of stumble about a bit.

These are the absolutely nicest and friendliest people I have ever met. Back to Toronto tomorrow.

btw, I talk funny now.

Fri, 2009-11-27 21:54

#15

Boom Boom

The Lower North Shore of Quebec, where I live, are mostly descendants of folks from Newfoundland, but also French Quebec and Innu. Jacques Cartier landed in Harrington Harbour - where I worked for seven years - on his travels down the coast. There's a plaque on the island commemorating this which I can post if requested. I love it here, folks are incredibly friendly, in a very rugged coastline. Besure to wave at us when you pass overhead, OG.

Fri, 2009-11-27 22:01

#16

oldgoat

I'll make a point not to flush

Fri, 2009-11-27 23:47

#17

Unionist

oldgoat wrote:

btw, I talk funny now.

How ya gettin' on?

Didja kiss the cod? Or was it just a mini-screech-in?

I love Newfoundland. Primarily Newfoundlanders. Read Baltimore's Mansion and Colony of Unrequited Dreams.

Sat, 2009-11-28 14:41

#18

Slumberjack

All this love of Newfoundlanders...this is all so sudden..and where the heck is the blushing emoticon when you need one. As difficult as it is, I'll try to not let it go to my head.

Sat, 2009-11-28 15:01

#19

Unionist