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Morocco – July 2025
We travelled to Nador in the Riff mountains in the north-east of Morocco to join Marc-André to meet our future daughter-in-law’s family. We transfered via Brussels and were able to take the train into town for a quick visit in between connection.
Jihane’s family live in a beautiful home and were very welcoming people!
They took us to the nearby beautiful boardwalk by the Mediterranean.
And we stopped at a nice café on the boardwalk with her sister, Sofia. They then took us to a seafood restaurant where we really enjoyed the food! Back home, her mother prepared an excellent couscous dish.
And they gifted ne a beautiful marocan dress!
The next day, we decided to visit Melilla – Spanish territory on Moroccan land besides Nador. Moroccan need visas to enter so we go only with Marc-Andre. We need to show our passport 4 times, it is quite the crossing.
On the other side, we start walking towards the beach but are surprised by the amount of garbage laying everywhere. Once at the beach it is pristine – europeann arrive by ferry, not via the passport control…..
It is really a stunning sandy beach with many Spanish cafe along the road.
We make our way to the fortress and take in the view.
The next day, we go to a local beautiful resort where we had booked a 2-night stay. We spend time on the beautiful beach and decide to walk the 8km there and back to make it to the centre of town and the Nador sign. We gave reserved a 2-night stay for Marc-André and Jihane as a mini honeymoon.
While Marc-André and Jihane continue all the procedure and paperwork to finalize their Moroccan mariage, we leave the family to go on our 5 day road trip. We first fly to Rabat where our driver will meet us for our drive west via Meknes, Volubilis, Fes and Ifrane.
We land early and start the day with the traditional eggs with Khlie (cured beef) in Rabat before meeting our guide.
He takes us to the compound where there is one of the kings palace, governement building and the guest house for leaders of other countries.
We walk by many many beautiful doors! I will learn that Morocco is the land of magnificent wood doors every where we go.
We also visit the mausoleum of Mohammed the V who is much beloved in the country as he liberated them from the French without a war. His grandson Mohammed the VI is now on the throne. Of note his mother was an Amazight – known as the native people – and he married a commoner. He is fighting to eliminate polygamy amongst other things by now requiring the consent of the first wife.
Rabat is beautiful with an amazing waterfront on the Atlantic. Miles and miles of sand beaches enjoyed by the locals.
We have dinner at a typical local Maroccan restaurant and of course again, Maroccan mint tea – we are addicted.
We take in the beautiful sunset along the beach watching the tides
Onwards to Meknes.
Algarve, Portugal March 2025
ALGARVE WEST – CARVOEIRO
We are spending a week in the Algarve and choose the lovely small town of Caveiro as our home base, located to the east of Faro. We opt to rent a car from Lisbon and drive down. Very easy drive on main highway. I found this small apartment on Airbnb that has a beautiful rooftop terrace facing west and overlooking the small beach.
On our first day, with the weather on our side, we book a boat tour of the coats right on the beach. We explore the coast from the water between Carvoeiro and Miranda – a must: caves, caves and more caves.
The Seven hanging Valley trail – 11km hike up and down cliffs and along the coast – tested Chuck’s fear of heights. Spectacular cliffs, so many stairs and dirt trails. From Miranda to Celiantes and back.
Silves: With the high winds and rain on and off, we decided to drive 20 minutes north to the city of Silves to visit the moorish castle ruins. It is a lovely town to stroll through with many narrow cobblestone street and cafe. First we visited the museum of archeology which did a great job at demonstrating the evolution of the area and reproducing some of the architecture from fragments they found.
Next we walked to the castle. The structure was very impressive and we could still walk along the higher palissades. Too high and narrow for Chuck’s liking 🙂
There was great views of the surrounding area.
We also visited the chapel which we built over a mosque. It was particular in the fact that there were very little gold adornments, which is unusual compared to all the churches we visited in Europe. The ceiling was very high but made of wood. The “chemin de la croix” was special in that each station was made of a ceramic display. Very lovely.
We had a lemonade at the Cafe Rosa at the main square, opposite a cute fountain and a building with rose tiles covering the walls.
The next day we finally hike the Carvoeiro boardwalk which is right out of our front door – more cliffs and beautiful rock formations.
Another day, another hike! We hiked the Ponte De deidade boardwalk in Lagos : spectacular views, cliffs and rock formations. Another 6.5km.
We experience many very windy days during our stay which precluded us using that beautiful terrace but we still enjoyed the weather.
Grand Beach Finale: Praia Felasia – absolutely spectacular! The combination of cliffs/beach/sea is really special. The cliffs are unlike the other ones we have seen, like sculptures. We can hike the top and down the long stairs and up at the other end. Just wow!!
I go on my own exploring the city which is very hilly.
Carvoeiro beach, view from our terrace and the wind!!
Final day, we drive back to Lisbon to spend a day there. It is one of my favorite city, beautiful city to stroll up and down staircases in the street and listening to outdoor singers.
A lovely lunch at Taberna which is reknowned for local food. No reservation and no coming inside until they have a table for you.
Madeira, Portual – the east coast and the mountains
MOUNTAINS
We have booked a group hike to Pico Areiro in the hope to hipe the stirway to heavens. We begin with a long hike to the top. We go by beautiful views.
We finally make it to the top and the beginning of stairway to heavens to almighty winds that closes down the Stairway to heaven path. While it is disappointing, we could not imagine hiking in those conditions.
The amazing levadas: 2200 km of levadas were built by hand over 100 years to irrigate this while island from the mountains. Very forward thinking. This is what created this amazing agriculture here.
EAST AND SOUTHEAST
The next day we join our small jeep tour to visit the east coast. We are paired with a couple from France near Versailles – he is italian and she is vietnamese. Both speak French but not english so I am the interpretor for this tour 🙂
Stunning view of the Nun’s Valley – remote village with little access to anything.
Santana, Faial and the baskets hike – gorgeous views. We also hike one of the amazing levadas: 2200 km of levadas were built by hand over 100 years to irrigate this while island from the mountains. Very forward thinking. This is what created this amazing agriculture here.
Miradour San Lorenzo – beautiful cliffs and rock formation. Why are people risking their lives for a photo??
And just like that we are off to the Algarve!
Madeira, Portugal March 2025
MADEIRA 2025 – short recap
We finally arrive in Madeira after many years having it on our bucket list. We decided to make Funchal our home base and book an apartment on the main street close to the water on airbnb and booked day trips with local organisations. Our first one was to the west and south west of the island with Nature connections which was a jeep tour with maximum of 4 people. That works well for us.
Our guide is great, local and very knowledgeable. We discover that this island was discovered and colonized by Portuguese. There were no people living here before.
We were very happy that we were not driving ourselves!
Cabo de Giroa – Camara de Lobo glass viewpoint. We had the bad luck to arrive at the same time as the buses from the cruises. The guide tells us that it is really becoming a problem here as they invade for a few hours but do not really spend here or contribute to the economy. Because we are on a small tour, we have the luxury to wait until they leave and then I convinced Chuck to walk on the glass floor. He is becoming very brave. The view is beautiful!
We then make our way through the forest basically on dirt road. It is very crazy!
to Seixal and the natural Pool and black sand beach – reminiscing of Maui’s black beach but much softer sand.
Off road in the forest with Ricardo and his antique 4×4 popemobile – the eucalyptus trees that are taking over the forest. Huge trees!
We also drive on small roads with a big cliff on one side and through waterfall!
We finally reach the magical and mystical Fanal forest where star wars was filmed. The fog is very dense and the trees really magical.
Porto Moniz and its natural pools – beautiful intricate rocks formation.
Ponta del sol: “coup de cœur” – beautiful small town with and arch bridge and a gorgeous beach and view to the sea.
His comments about how the cruises are negative to to the island were interesting. Massive boats come and takes over the island and do not contribute to the economy. They don’t eat or stay or spend anything other than on trinkets.
FUNCHAL
We enjoyed a nice dinner and Chuck chose those popular meet on stand up skewers.
The next day, we take the cable car up to the midway.
We visit the tropical garden with the history of important people told with tiles and walk by the Charles Murray’s fountain!
Then down the street in the wicker basket which recreates how people used to bring produces and materials up and down those big hills.
Walked 10km up and down hills in the town from Monde to the Lido promenade and treat ourselves to a nice lunch at The Ritz outdoor terrace.
We do a lot of walking in Funchal to discover the city and also visit the famous market where farmers and fishmonger sell their wares.
Galápagos island – Santa Cruz Island – Chapter 4
We are on a road trip this morning. We see tortoise all over the road. Here if you hit a tortoise with your car, you are fined $25,000 and will spend 2 years in prison. They are not nocturnal so there is no reason not to see them.
At the beach – Playa El Garrapatero, we are very privileged to see 4 flamingos feeding with a black-necked stilt. Isabella tells us that the pink colors comes from eating shrimps. The better fed they are the more pink!
This beach is beautiful with a lovely brick path leading to it. Brown pelicans are everywhere. While there are Pelicans in Florida, the browns one are native to Galapagos.
We make our way to El Trapiche ranch to learn more about the local cane sugar and coffee process. They process the sugar cane very much like we process maple syrup, ending up with sugar through evaporation. He also makes moonshine with it. Here Chuck is sampling the moonshine mixed with pure cane sugar.
Love the microphone flowers they grow which are not native.
The 3 stages of the cafe bean.
The coffee beans are excellent, we are invited to crunch some with a bit if sugar cane sugar and a small cacao bean. So good – my new favorite snack!
Adrianno owns the El Trapiche ranch, he arrived here in 1950 and is now 85 years old. Everything is harvested and processed by hand and 100% organic, with produces only sold at the ranch.
The Cacao beans which we are invited to taste prior to roasting. Tastes like a plum when you are close to the pit.
We see a field with cows and turtles and cow egrets eating side by side. It is interesting that cows, pigs and chickens were introduced by the Spaniards. Prior to that the ecudorian, similarly to the Incas, were mostly vegetarians and thriving.
If they are slowly crossing the road, we must wait. During the rainy season they start their 2-weeks, 17 km journey to the dry area because they do not like when ponds overflow and grass is swampy.
12- We visit a lava tunnel. There are several on the island.
13- Over to the tortoise ranch for lunch and to observe some of the biggest ones on the island. The male can grow to 500 pounds. While they like to lay in a pond to rest, their face never goes under water and they must touch the bottom. We were lucky to see so many as the rain season has started.
I was excited to catch one in movement. Most of them are eating and static.
14- The next day, we are on an expedition to Seymour island. We begin with a gentle hike around the island. It is full of land iguanas, here we catch a male eating which is rare. Usually they are like a statue.
15- There is a beautiful spot where the waves are crashing with many sea lions froliquing.
16- But mostly this island is known for being the breeding area for Frigatebird. When they were explaining that the male have this big red pouch to attract the female, I didn’t realize what they meant. They are puffing all right!! They stake their ground on a branch and do their best to attract the female. It is quite the show!
17- we also see cute 6-months old babies.
18- And more blue footed booby – normally they are mostly gone by now so we feel lucky to be able to see a few.
19- Off we go snorkeling again. Ricardo prepares us for seeing sharks. Here they are full of fishes and have no interest in humans. It is hard to wrap our heads around this. But sure enough, we come across a small black-tip shark and then….a group of probably 20 white-tips SHARKS swimming right there below us. Some up to 6feet long. I stay close to Ricardo. Chuck has had enough and gets out of the water.
It is really an unbelievable experience! I curse myself again for forgetting our underwater GoPro.
20- There are so many pristine and beautiful beaches here!
21- We walk to the other end of the Main Street to end the day with a lovely dinner at a restaurant overlooking the water. The setting is fantastic.
Tomorrow we leave for Isabella island and more adventures!
Galapagos – Santa Cruz Island, Chapter 3
In the afternoon, we are off to the Tortoise breeding center and the Darwin centre with Isabella, our local guide. I am very surprised with the sizes and number of prickly pears cactus, indigenous to the island.
It is so interesting to learn of their efforts to rebuild the turtle population that was depleted to 20,000 across all the Galapagos in 1960, due to pirates and fisherman that were using them for food and then for oil on the mainland. Due to their efforts with incubation and breeding, they now count more than 60,000 tortoise in the islands. There are 15 species but 4 are extinct.
On day 1- our travel agent reserves a table at Bahia Mar for our first day, a lovely restaurant with ocean view. It is delicious and we enjoy watching the many iguanas sunbathing and the red crabs that we will see very often.
For example, they were successful in bringing the only remaining 13 female and 2 males from on if the islands many years ago and breed them to 2000 eggs the first years. They then reintroduce them in the wild once they are 5 years old because at that age, their shells are hard and they no longer have predators. Tortoises reach puberty at 25 years old. At the centre, they only feed the babies 3 times a week so that they continue to find their own food the other days to be better prepared to go back.
We see small 1 years old babies to 50 years old adults that are here to breed and then go back. We learn about the many small lizards that are critical for the cycle of life here as everything eats them as well as the difference between the shapes of the shells of the tortoise depending if they are marine, low feeding or high feeding (with long neck that do not retract into their shells).
A small local beach near our hotel teeming with life – the iguana leading the way.
Same type of iguana but a male showing off its colors to attract a female.
Isabella points out many vegetation including the glorious red and yellow Flamboyant that originates from South Africa but is not invasive. There are beautiful native yellow hibiscus also and the tree that is used to make Panama hats (which are really ecudorian). This tree only grows here. She tells us that the only indigenous flowers here are either yellow or white.
Getting ready for our day trip to Bartolomé and Santiago (hoping to see penguins!)
We board a nice yatch with a small group, including 5 ladies from Iceland who have knows each other for 40 years and have started travelling together. How cool!!
It is a 2 hours cruise and our first stop is bypassing another uninhabitate island to learn about the local sea birds. Here we catch a Frigatebird in flight (known to be able to fly at sea for 2 months). On the way we see many dolphins swimming very near the board as well as turtles, sea lions and one shark. The sea is full of life here.
Arriving at Bartolomé, we disembark and must dislodge a large sea lion sunbathing on the steps. He isn’t happy to be disturbed from his siesta 
Filipe explains that the difference between seals and sea lions is that the sea lions swim but moving their front limbs and using their back shoulder which requires a lot of energy, whereas the seals use their tail which is easier. Therefore sea lions are always exhausted 
which is why they are always lounging.
Our guide is super interesting and knowledgeable. I will capture a bit of the info he shares here.
We make our way up to the summit on a path built of wood with flat sections and stairs. Along the way our guide Filipe, tells us about the formation of Volcanoes, and more specifically the Galápagos Islands. We learn that St-Ferdinand is the youngest one at 500,000 years and is the one sitting right on top of the magma chamber. The oldest ones is in straight line to the east at 5 millions years old. In between, we have Isabella where we will go towards the end of the week and Santa Cruz where we are staying now. We learn about “tuff” which is the packed lava we see everywhere and the lava cactus. This cactus is about 100 years old because of its small size but there is a large one on St-Ferdinand that they estimate is 800 years old and is 6 feet wide. As their branch die and decompose on the ground, they create the condition for more vegetation to come.
The view at the top is very spectacular, with turquoise water surrounding us and the iconic Bartolomé Pointy rock.
We come back down and discover a lava heron nestled in a hole in the rocks besides the stairs of the dock.
Our sea lion is there swimming around waiting for those darn human to leave so he can get his spot back. As soon as there are only a few left, he makes his way up and there is nothing Filipe can do!
Onwards to the local small penguin resting spot and the white beach in Santiago for snorkelling. on the way we find a blue footed Booby handing out with 2 playing full sea lions.
Once organized with our snorkeling equipment in the water, we are treated to a rainbow of colors – the fishes we see are amazing! Many “Nemo” orange fish as well as blue, yellow, red, purple, green etc…, my favorite being the bluechin parrotfish both make and female. Also urchins and then all of sudden, a PENGUIN swimming right besides us. Maybe 2 arms length from me! So cute and again so oblivious to humans. The one swimming near me with is more brown than black identifying him as a juvenile. What a treat!!
Back in town we walk to an excellent restaurant and Chuck orders a meal of « deep fish sticks ». It is sooo delicious and huge!
Fabulous first days in Galapagos. Can’t wait for the rest of the week!
Trip to Sacred Valley, Peru – 1st chapter
January 5th 2024
Our trip to Sacred Valley in Peru – 1st chapter
1- Chuck and I boarding in Lima
2- Chuck having his first typical local meal – basically all kinds of meat with a fat corn pancake and the best Andean cheese ever!
3 + 4 – the Maras salt mine – such an interesting place. These platform “mines” are very interesting in their ownership structure as well as the method to extract salt and the source of the salt water.
The salt water comes from pockets in the earth. Their origins is a source of many legends but we are far from the sea so it is very odd.
To extract the salt, they flood the platform twice a year for 3 months beginning in April. Each platform receives 30cm of water and the sun enables the evaporation. From time to time the family will move a salt layer that accumulates at the top to enable the rest to be evaporated. The end result is 3 layers of salt, the top white one is the best for domestic consumption (the flower of salt), the next layer is pink and is for domestic consumption as well. The next level is black-ish and is sold to companies and used for commercial purposes, one of which is ….. processed food 
.
The platforms are all owned by local families going back hundreds of years. Each family may own 5 to 30 platforms. They formed a cooperative that manages the process and takes care of sales. The families can only sell their platform to another family that lives within the surrounding area. They are now expanding the platform to the end of the valley and now those who live in those areas will own the new platform. The government protects this ownership structure and no large company can ever own the platforms.
5- we arrive in Ollantaytambo for a catholic celebration with parades, music and dances. This is a very safe city mostly populated by Inca descendants. Very fun party that will last 4 days.
6 – In that city, there are Incas and pre-Incas ruins. There is an intact pre-inca temple dedicated to water where a canal bring water from the nearby Andes mountain with a window above facing the sun.
We discuss these ancient civilizations include the very first one more than 5000 before JC named Caral (north of Lima) and we still see their signs “Chacana” carved in one of the stone, adopted by the Inca. Jose explain that the Incas method to conquer was to assimilate the other civilizations by their princes or kings marrying the princess from the conquered. These tribes also all believe in a creator of the world as well as many gods related to nature like the sun, the air, the water. The Incas incorporated the names used to refer to the creator in how they named him in their religious ceremony. So the name they used became a combination of all those names. They also always offer to exchange their knowledge for the knowledge of the conquered so that they could build on that.
While they also had big battles as there was in Europe, the difference is that they were not trying to annihilate the culture of those defeated but rather incorporate/assumilate it to build on it.
Peru also handles their native people – descendants of the Incas – much differently than Canada. They live side by side with the Europeans descendants called Metzi, while also there are mostly Inca town (like Ollantaytambo) who live and dress as Incas. This is welcomed and allowed. There are no “reserve” and no separate political structure/rulers. They are all governed by the local government who will be composed of all the communities. Discrimination does not seem prevalent here. Seems like a better way.
7- a beautiful alpaca in Pisac (not yet sheared)
8- high up in the mountains at 3500metres, the ruins of the village include pre-Inca (Wari) and Inca structure. It is again a hike up steep and higher than normal. We continue to look for our air but it is already better than yesterday. The view up there is spectacular! they believe that villages were built up high to avoid the massive flooding that would occur in the rain season in the valley.
The village up in the side of the mountain was abandoned in the time of colonization and a newer small village was built in the valley in the 15th century.
He also points out holes in the mountains which is a cemetery. Incas had buried their dead’s there in a fetal position – ready for the next life. Almost all have skull damage, indicating that there was a battle here to conquer the people. The holes are there because of grave robbers but there are many more dead’s buried there.
9- One observation as we leave the sacred valley. There are scores of dogs wandering around freely in all the rural area. More small dogs than big ones. They are obviously cared for and fed but loose. All are very calm, hang around together and I didn’t once see a reactive or aggressive dog. Very interesting.
Vietnam – part 1 Hanoi and surroundings
We arrive in Hanoi for the next part of our trip in Vietnam. We are greeting by our tour guide Tom who will be our guide for the next day.
After taking us to our hotel – Hotel Tirant – in the heart of the old quarter, we join a few other couples on a street food tour with Tom.
What a treat! We sample sticky rice with fried onion, mung paste and pate which was very tasty! Pork skewers, excellent spring rolls and baguette stuffed with vegetable and meat.
He then takes us passed the tourist beer pub to the local place – Bia Ba Ba – where sitting low on the little plastic stool, we sample the draught beer, brewed daily locally and with no preservatives so it is only good for the day.
Tom is full of stories and knowledge as he is born and raised himself in the old quarter. It tells us that it is $35,000USD per square feet in that area and he lives in 400 square feet house with his parents, grandmother and brother and his family of 4. They each have their corner!
In the evening, we have a drink at the spectacular rooftop of our hotel.
The next day we are off the Ninh Bihm and the caves of Tac Oc.
We first stop at the temple for the emperor Ding who had established the capital there because it is protected at the back with mountains at the front by a river. His successor will move the capital to Hanoi because it is becoming too crowded.
Next, we go to the river where local rice farmer row boats to show the caves to tourists….with their feet!
She is the first person that I meet who speaks a bit of French. The landscape is beautiful and the caves very low!
On our way back, Tom takes us to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum but to get there, we must fight Hanoi’s traffic. It is hard to describe the chaos but Tom has to actually give us lessons on how to cross the street. There are no rules or respect for lights. Everyone – especially scooters – go in every direction. You must not hesitate, never back up or run and show confidence. Make eye contact with the drive. It is CRAZY!
We get into the gouvernement compound and Tom points the Canadian embassy which is one of the few that is in the compound.
The mausoleum is spectacular and chuck and Tom exchange on facts about the war and the history of the country. The government building is across the street. Tom is a fantastic guide!
Our day with Tom is great and we really appreciated him as our guide for those two tours.
The next day we are off the Halong Bay – one of the highlights of the trip for me.
We drive a few hours to board our Sean cruise with another exceptional guide – Sunday.
It is a very beautiful and picturesque landscape with its 1969 islands.
The room is lovely and roomy with a small balcony to enjoy the view. There is only 32 passengers and a beautiful sun deck and two dining rooms.
We take the opportunity to dive into the Ha long bay and the East Sea (otherwise knows as the South China Sea) and enjoy a short kayaking tour around an island.
The food is truly exceptional as is the service. Our perfect waitress, Loeung – runs to serve us ! Always with a beautiful smile!
In the evening, Sunday treats us to a small concert of monocorde – a traditional Vietnamese instrument. It is really lovely.
Back on land, we drive back to Hanoi for our flight to Da Nang and the next step of our Vietnamese adventure….more to come!
North Thailand – Chang Mai and the elephants
Chiang Mai is in the North and consider the mountain region.
On our first night, we took a tuk tuk to discover the city and the group had dinner at a restaurant near the river.
It was Rick’s birthday and some of us got up to dance. Was so nice!!
The golf here was very picturesque and …. Full of water and sand trap….ughh !
Nonetheless, we had 3 beautiful golf round with great golf foursomes. What a fun group of golf enthusiasts!
On Sunday, we went to the night market, it was a zoo! Chris and I bought matching Ankelet and cheap sunglasses….i can’t believe I don’t have a picture of that!!
13 of us from the group visited the Hug Elephant Sanctuary. What an amazing experience! I have so many pictures it is hard to choose!
We began by “making friends” with them by feeding them banana and sugar cane. They love that but we are told that if they eat too much or only that they could develop diabetes so it is important that they also forage and eat plants.
We met 4 female elephants. There are no males in sanctuary as they can be aggressive and hard to control. Not much different from the human species 🤣
It is an amazing experience!
We then walked along a path to the mud bath and river.
Chuck got right in there but I wasn’t sure about it. I’m glad I changed my mind. Their skin is very rough and it was great! Dee for right in there and was completely covered!
We then moved to the river to bathe them but only 3 came in. The young 4years old orphan was trained to spray people. Hilarious! I loved the one that just laid down and waited for us to throw water on it
We had a lovely lunch afterwords and I bought two Black Elephants sculpture for obvious reasons 🎬
Chuck and I also spent time at the Wat Uppacoot temple where I lit a candle.
And discovered the Wat Buppharam temple on our walk. There are no shortage of temples everywhere.
We finished our day at the Chef’s Together by the river. Chris joined us and then we walked back to the hotel where I FINALLY got my strawberry ice cream in a waffle cone! Yummy!
The next night, after saying good bye to Heather and Steve on their way to Pukhet, we went back with some of our new best friend – Trent and Chris. What a good time!
Finished the night at a jazz bar called Noir with Derek and his gang. Unfortunately it was almost done when we arrived….oh well.
Good bye Chiang Mai and the fabulous golf group!
Twillingate and Iceberg Alley
The drive to Twillingate from Trinity is a good 3h30 parle along the coast, some ponds and thick forest. Our first stop is the Beothuk interpretation centre. The kilometre and half trail to the remnants of the indigenous village is punctuated with interpretive signs detailing the life of the Beothuk in the area more than 100 years ago.
We come upon the beautiful statue of Shanamdithit, the last known Beothuk, sculpted by local artist Gerald Squires. This was the impetus for the creation of this centre following excavation by archeologists in 1981. She was very detailed and striking.
Once at the end of the trail we lookout on some indentations, revealing the location of housing from that time, as well as Boyd’s cove. As we look up, we see a large bird with huge wind span….a juvenile eagle lands at the top of a nearby tree! What a sight!!
Back at the interpretive centre, we learn more about the way of life of the Beothuk as well as their extinction with the death in 1829 of Shanawdithit.
Onwards to Twillingate as we have an iceberg boat cruise with the “iceberg man” in the afternoon.
We arrive at Iceberg Alley Inn and meet our lovely, chatty host Thelma. We are also greeted by their friendly golden retriever…I get my fix!
After checking into a large, well appointed room, she directs us to Canvas Cove bistro for lunch. Excellent mussels and soup. Off we go to the cruise, all bundled up with multiple layers, hats and mittens, and thank god we have those!
The sun is shining and the winds are strong and cold. We are safely sitting on the front of the boat where Iceberg Man takes us to smaller “bergs” to explain the origin of the notch which are from the iceberg flipping in the water and that the ones we will see today, would have left Greenland 3-5 years ago!
We then approach a larger one and we circle multiple times to take pictures from all the different angles that are stunningly different.
He brings up to another site where we can see an iceberg that has split up the day before.
We then start cruising up to the coast to a cove where a third iceberg is located. A cold and windy 25 minutes, Chuck makes his way to the back for shelter but I choose to stay at the front to take the magnificent views.
Back to the original iceberg where the sun is now lower and reflect beautifully on the iceberg and the water. We are told that we are lucky this year, as last year there was only one iceberg all season and it only stayed for a week.
We opt to go to nearby Annie’s for dinner where the fare is ordinary. Back home for an early night as we must be off at 6AM the next morning to catch the ferry to Fogo Island.
Thelma prepares us a nice bagged breakfast with yummy baked oatmeal and off we go for the one hour trip to the ferry to make sure we will make it in the 8:30 crossing as it is the dangerous good trip so less spots. Thelma is on top of this!
Once a across we drive to Fogo island Inn for our tour of the Inn and our lunch. There really isn’t much to do so we sit in the library to wait as we are early.
The Inn is underwhelming for all the press and write ups. I find the structure not very appealing but the tour gives us a nice perspective on the vision of the founder,……she made her money in fibre optics in Toronto and chose to return home and invest her $42MM in her social entreprise dream. Everything is sourced on the island as much as possible as well as with the environment in mind. They seem very proud of their locally designed wall paper but I much prefer the quilts and the needlepoint bench cushions.
Over at the dining hall, we are impressed with the rope chandelier and the views are truly magnificent. Lunch is lovely with all ingredients organic and from farm to table as much as possible. I am surprised that there are no vegetarian option on the main but the salad bar is excellent!
We leave quickly to catch the 2PM ferry to avoid waiting for the 4:30 one and make it!
On the causeway, we pass the sea ice and notice a seal sunbathing.
Back in the lovely commons room at the inns. There are more quotes on those walls than anywhere I have seen!
I take the opportunity to phone mom and take care of some work issues which Chuck attempts a nap prior to our lobster dinner. Thelma sends us to Samsone for dinner where their live lobster pool will assure us of a “lobster fresh as a daisy”.
The 15 minute drive is well worth it. The staff is very friendly and the view is awesome. I pick my lobster and and am transported back immediately to my youth having lobster with my mom. It all comes back very easily and Chuck and I share a delicious local lobster.
Chuck leftover “squid rings” are fed to the local seagull who rules their patio. She is certainly well fed!
Back to our room to watch the Raptors win game 1 of the NBA finals…woohoo!!
Martine's food and places 