Memorial Day

People actually got hyped up about Memorial Day here -- who knew it wasn't just an excuse to watch movies all day.  All week long there were storytelling events.  People were "Belly up to the bar," as one patron described it, listening to stories about The Great War and World War II mostly, some more recent events too. There were, of course, some sad stories and ballads, but there were also stories about pranksters and mishaps.  It culminated in this ceremony at the end of the parade.  Moya and I walked down and couldn't see a thing.  But we made lots of friends because Moya currently has red toenails.  Everyone thought she was a diva.  I didn't tell them that they are her soft paws used to keep her from scratching the hell out of wood floors.

Garbage Day

Yes, in St. John's they use fishing nets instead of bins!

Newfoundland Winter Rule #1: spikes and chains will solve most problems

Heritage Houses in Carbonear, Newfoundland

I took a field trip the Vernacular Architecture class to check out some really cool heritage houses in Harbour Grace and Carbonear (which is  north and west).  The day started cool, then got rainy, then got cold, then got snowy, then got sunny and ended in hail.  I decided that I need some wool socks and rubber boots.  Most of these houses are from the 1800's.  A lot of them were abandoned in the early 1900's, furniture, wallpaper, stuff-in-cupboard: all in-tact (pretty cool, a little creepy).  I also got to taste cod tongues, which is exactly what it sounds like.  All-in-all a very Newfoundland (which I was taught to pronounce with this little rhyme: underSTAND it's newfoundLAND) sort of day.