Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – Photo of the Day – St. John’s Newfoundland

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND
North America’s oldest and most historically engaging places.
Colorful, white-trimmed buildings splash a haze of bright beauty across the spectacular Newfoundland coastline of St. John’s. Picturesque, steep streets roll down to the seafront, and the charming architecture contrasts beautifully against the wild and rugged shoreline, with redolent pine forests spreading out behind. The province’s capital, St. John’s, is a lively outpost – and one of North America’s oldest and most historically engaging places.

A rich trading history of haggling and hawking has played out on these animated, historic streets, especially Water Street, which is one of North America’s oldest. St. John’s boasts an incredible history, as the launch point for daring transatlantic voyages, and a leap of human ingenuity is celebrated on Signal Hill. It was here that the first transatlantic transmission was received in 1901. Rise to obtain stunning views of the Atlantic and the city spreading around the harbor from the fortified Cabot Tower. Rugged hiking trails and puffin-nesting cliffs add extra character to this remarkable island.

The twin bell towers of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist are St. John’s landmark, and a National Historic Site dedicated to the city’s namesake saint. The Quidi Vidi fishing village is an arresting stop, inhabited by busy artisans and local craft brewers, who produce characterful beers befitting this exuberant city of bold colors.

George Street is the perfect spot to try a glass or two – the street is said to have the most bars per person anywhere in Canada.

SIGHTS

• Signal Hill
• Jellybean Row
• The Rooms
• St. John’s Harbour
• Cape Spear Lighthouse

CUISINE
St. John’s, Newfoundland, boasts a unique cuisine shaped by its coastal location and cultural heritage. Traditional dishes like fish and brewis (salted cod, scrunchions, and hard bread) and Jiggs dinner (boiled salt beef, cabbage, carrots, turnips, and potatoes) are staples. Fresh seafood, particularly mussels and cod, is prominently featured, while bakeapple pie, made with cloudberries native to the region, is a sweet treat. The province’s maritime history and cultural influences have crafted a distinct culinary
identity that’s both hearty and flavorful.

Today’s Activities Included:

10:15 Enrichment Lecture with Elliott Kalb: Olympic Tales, and Why It Brings The World Together

Writing and producing Olympic shows for NBC since 1992—both summer and winter—Kalb discusses the Olympic games and what Olympic stories have brought him to tears.

11:15 What Lies Beneath?
The title of this lecture has a double meaning: what physically lies beneath the ocean’s surface as we sail (ship wrecks, marine life, Russian flag), and also what is the dark side of ocean activity (from myths about sea monsters, to the real practice of piracy and smuggling)

Today’s Excursion – Signal Hill & St. John’s Highlights
St. John’s, North America’s oldest European-settled city, is the capital of Newfoundland, Canada’s youngest province, and
Britain’s oldest overseas colony. For hundreds of years, it has played host to explorers and conquerors, marauding pirates and
merchant adventurers.

Signal Hill
Our tour features historic Signal Hill, where the Italian inventor Marconi received the first wireless transatlantic signal in 1901.
Life Magazine tells us that this site gave birth to the Information Age. Enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the city
and rugged coastline while viewing the continent’s most easterly point in the distance and perhaps an iceberg or two! View the
numerous storyboards and learn about the site’s 18th-century battles and 20th-century aviation wonders. Cabot Tower, built to
commemorate both Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage to the New World,
sits high atop Signal Hill and is an excellent backdrop for that special photo to remember your time spent here.

Quidi VidI Village
Travel to the picturesque village of Quidi Vidi. Enjoy a walk through this quaint village located at the east end of St. John’s that
will take you back to a different time, reminiscent of Newfoundland and Labrador island outports.

St. John’s National Historic District
Next, a drive through the New World’s first downtown and the St. John’s National Historic Ecclesiastical District, composed mainly of 19th- and 20th-century buildings and landscape features valued for their historical associations with religion and education in Newfoundland and Labrador. The four denominations represented in the district made considerable contributions to society’s spiritual, educational, charitable, and political fabric. We will see numerous historic buildings, including two National Historic churches, and the colourful Victorian wooden housing characteristic of St. John’s. We make brief stops to point out the birthplace of the British Empire and the Government House, which was built the same year as the White House but at a higher cost.

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant