DAY 12---ST JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA

 

        We arrived here in St John's Newfoundland on schedule at 11am this morning.  Temperature at 1pm is 60F/15C.  Overcast skies but no rain.

ST JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND

        St John’s is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  It is the easternmost city in North America (excluding Greenland) with a population of 110,000.  The island of Newfoundland is bounded on the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Gulf of St Lawrence, where we will be cruising in a couple days.  The population of Newfoundland and Labrador is 550,000, as most cities are along the coastlines.  Inland is forested.

        St John’s was destroyed by fires five times during the 1900’s.  Its economy is connected to its role as the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador and to the ocean.  As for the role of the ocean, it is now tied to what is beneath it, as opposed as to what swims in it or travels across it.  Oil & Gas!!!  ExxonMobil Canada is headquartered in St John’s and several other companies have major regional operations here, including Chevron.  Tourism is also a significant contributor to the province’s economy thanks to cruise ships.  I believe this is our first visit here.  

        I have flown over Newfoundland many times as an American Airlines captain flying from DFW Airport across the North Atlantic to European cities.  During some of these flights, as they were at night, I have seen the beautiful Northern Lights.

        I took this photo of Newfoundland off the tv during a lecture on the island.  The size of Newfoundland is about the same as the size of the state of Virginia.  It shows where St John's is located (lower right) and Corner Brook (middle left side of the island).  That will be our next port of call.

LAST EVENING

        We ran up to the Observation Lounge to grab a drink before heading back down to the theater for "Top Tier" party.  Gede is the bartender up there.  It was the first time we had gone to that lounge.

        Eddie, one of the Cruise Consultants, welcomed us and introduced the special performances by Linda and Isabel.

                                                  Linda Gentille was first to perform.

                                     Isabel Commandeur was up next.  Both are fantastic.

        I asked for the same wine I enjoyed last evening.  Criss Cross zinfandel.  Atharva (strange name) presenting the wine.

        Emmett and Keith joined us again for dinner and split a veal parmesan. I had this huge veal parmesan.  I could not eat half of it.

          I did not tough my side of spaghetti.  Rebecca had penne pasta with bolognese sauce.

        After a great dinner we headed down to the theater to get front row seats for Isabel Commandeur's second and last show.  She will be leaving the ship tomorrow.

           Another great show featuring Broadway and opera songs.  What a voice!!!!  Nice legs too!

TODAY

        I woke up this morning and received bad news via text from our neighbor who is getting our mail while we are away.  Connie said I received a jury summons in the mail yesterday and have 10 days to respond.  I have to go online to fill out the questionaire but need Connie to send me my "participant number" from the summons.  I can file for an exemption due to being over 75 but have to do it online.  Rebecca went through this a couple months ago.  There is not a participant number but rather a "Candidate" number and it does not fit on questionaire.  Not sure what I am to do.  Pisses me off!

                                The pilot showed up at 10am to guide us into the port.

                                                   Light house as we pull into the port.  

                                                                    Fishing boats

                                                                    Fishing boats 

                                                                     Police boat

                  Luigi and Pippa below our suite just outside of Coffee Connection.

     The much larger Norwegian Legend was already docked at the prime location by downtown.

                                                          Not sure what this boat is.

                                                                  Our dock today

        We turned in out tour tickets for today.  I will just take the shuttle into town.

        We went up to Prime 7 for lunch.  This is Vincent, our waiter.  There were very few people dining because they did not indicate the Prime 7 was open for lunch today in our daily newsletter.

        I had the chili and honey glazed salmon with fried rice and broccoli.  I asked for 2 fried shrimp on the side.  The salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked medium rare.

        After lunch I decided to take this shuttle bus into the downtown area.  Yes, all the tour buses here are school buses.  It was probably a mile and half ride to town and they let us off just by the Norwegian Legend ship.

                                                          Walking down Water Street.

                                    Sign said this was the Supreme Court building.

                                                          National War Memorial

                                                                Harborside Park

                                                              Colorful windows and doors

Above two photos are of the huge stockpile of salt.  Apparently they need it for the roads in winter.

        I asked the bus driver what kind of boats these were.  He said they were tender/supply boats for the offshore oil wells.

     Taken from deck 12, this is Signal Hill.  Our tour was to go up there today but canceled it.

        Don't ask where I got this photo of atop Signal Hill.  From 17th century until 1960 signal flags were hoisted to communicate between land and sea.

        I'm going down to meet with the internet manager at 4pm to see if he can help me open the jury summons bar code so I can do the questionaire.

        The Canadian Border Services Agency has some very strange regulations about the bars on board when docked in a Canadian port.  Only one bar per deck can be open.  As an example we are not sailing until 8pm.  So on deck 4 the Splendor Lounge can only be open from 5pm to 6:30 and open again after sailing at 8pm.  That's because wine and drinks will be served in Compass Rose when it opens at 6:30.

        I really did not understand the above so went up to the pool bar prior to docking and got a big glass of Grey Goose vodka.  The F&B and bar manager were there and tried to explain the rules to me. It does look like our go-to, Meridian Lounge, will open as usual at 6pm however.  

        Iceberg wedge salad and the roasted turkey with stuffing, potato, and peas.  Then there is the "Regent" idea of giblet gravy.  It is dark brown.  In the past I have brought a jar of Heinz turkey gravy from home but forgot it this time.

        The production cast has another show, Diamond Run", tonight at 9:30.  We have not seen it.  They say it is a kind of James Bond like show.

                                             This gull has sit on the light pole all day.

        We will sail again at 8pm (probably earlier as our Captain does if everyone is on board).  Tomorrow is a day at sea as we head around the southern coast of Newfoundland for Corner Brook.