It's the beginning of day two here in the Maritimes. I promised to keep this blog updated while we were away. Since our arrival Saturday evening, it has been non-stop fun and adventure. However, I am getting ahead of myself, and should start at the beginning.
Saturday morning started off with excitement with a capital E. Nothing like being stopped at the airport security checkpoint, and having the kids searched, because of protractors and school scissors in their pencil cases and backpacks... Nevermind the metal shanks that are apparently in my 6 year old's new runners! Life with us is never dull...I can assure you. The rest of the trip was uneventful, but by the kids' standards, it was great. The last time they flew on an airplane was maybe 5 years ago, so they were all wide eyed with excitement the whole way. Getting them to bed that night was a feat in itself, because their "clocks" were still on Calgary time.
Sunday we did a bit of exploration, with "gram", Carm, and Uncle Chris, around the cottages where we're staying at. We are very close to the seashore...maybe a 10 minute walk down a beautifully wooded RED dirt road. I felt like Anne walking in the Haunted Forest...but again...I'm getting ahead of myself. We were amazed at the sand dunes, and the red sand. The geology on the East coast is far different, then of the West coast. The West Coast is rocky and rugged, whereas here, everything seems to be formed from sandstone.
We popped in for a quick visit with Dave's Aunt Barbara, and Uncle Wendal, who live maybe 2 blocks away form where we are staying. Afterwards, we went to 5:00 mass in Charlottetown, at Saint Dunstan's Basilica. I hope God will understand if we couldn't focus on the mass. This VERY ornate, and beautiful Gothic church, fueled all our senses. The word beautiful can't describe in full, the gilded gold cherubs, stained glass windows and carvings on the ceilings. We finished off the evening by attending a concert at a local community hall, listening to local fiddlers, and guitar players. Sophie, Christian and David, even had the opportunity to play spoons on stage!
Just as you think it couldn't get any better, yesterday was maybe the highlight of my trip. We did our pilgrimage to Anne of Green Gables. You'd think I was eleven again. Naturally I had to contain my excitement, so Dave and the kids didn't think I lost my marbles! Anne was actually based on a true experience which Lucy Maude Montgomery witnessed, however, the adventures were fictional. To read the stories is one experience in itself. Nevertheless, to be immersed in the culture and sights of Anne...at least to me, it is surreal. ( And I know...that there are a few avid Anne fans reading this blog, who can relate to what I'm writing about). I could go on, about our Anne experience...but that would be a whole 'nother blog :)
Just as a side note though...it was serendipity at it's best, we bumped in to our old neighbors , but still missed friends, from Calgary. They now live in Steinbach, but it was like Anne's spirit brought us together, to meet on the other side of our country. Our day was finished by a wonderful all you can eat lobster dinner. We were ready to be rolled out to the car, we ate so much. This might seem like the Reader's Digest version so far, but I'll be updating our week as we go along. Today we are heading into Charlottetown, for a history lesson...so stay tuned as I update my "off islander" diary.
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