This weekend Ayreonaut and I dusted off our passports and visited the beautiful archipelago of St-Pierre et Miquelon, France.
This last remnant of France's once vast North American territories is approximately 3.5 hours drive southwest of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador - plus a short ferry ride.
The archipelago includes three main islands: St-Pierre, Langlade, and Grand Miquelon, the latter two of which are linked by a famous (or, if you're a sailor, infamous) sandbar. Here you can see the islands, as well as their proximity to Newfoundland to their right:
Here is their location in relation to the rest of North America:
The islands have a combined population of 6,080 (2011), of which almost 80% are locals (either Saint-Pierrais or Miquelonnais) and the remainder are relatively recent immigrants born in France.
Less than 1% of the population is what locals call "people from outside", meaning non-French. Most of those, in turn, are Newfoundlanders who have married locals and emigrated to the French islands.
The vast majority of the inhabitants live in the surprisingly urban town of St-Pierre (seriously, I can't stress enough how impressive this place is with such a small population - it feels like a few blocks of a larger city, not a town) with only a small number residing elsewhere, primarily in the dense farming village of Miquelon at the island's northern tip.
Accents and cultures from the Basque country, Normandy, and Brittany are present, with the Basque identity being the dominant one shared by most inhabitants. However, especially in the village of Miquelon, Acadian refugees from mainland Canada have also made their mark on the local sense of identity.
The proximity to North America has also had an impact with locals regularly visiting St. John's, Halifax, and Montreal for healthcare, shopping, and university. As one woman put it: "When I go to France, I think... wow, I am really North American. But then I go to Quebec and it's like... no, no, no, wow, I am sssooo French!"
And the islands, of course, follow the rules of the rest of their republic - stores are only open from around 9:30-noon and again from 2-5 p.m. on Monday-Friday. There are quirks - for example, they LOVE hockey, especially Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.
I've been many times, but it was Ayreonaut's first so we did the main island and town in style - covering every square inch, more or less. Join us on our tour!
Now, I took about 1,000 pictures on this trip so I'm editing over the next couple of days. I'll do it in four posts, all in this thread. First is getting there, then Day 1 in St-Pierre, Day 2 in St-Pierre, and finally the voyage home.
So, here is Part 1 - getting to St-Pierre et Miquelon.
• Video Link
We left St. John's at sunrise, so early in the morning.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
About 2 hours from St. John's we enter the Burin peninsula.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Marystown is the largest community and the regional center for the peninsula, but it is also a mostly modern community that doesn't have the old architecture and romance of its smaller neighbours.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The town, like most communities on this part of Newfoundland, was founded by the French who were driven out centuries ago. The harbour around which Marystown is built is actually still today called Baie de Mortier (Bay of Death) as a result of what happened to the original French settlers.
There is still the giant statue of the Virgin Mary on a hill towering above the town.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next door, in some ways part of Marystown, is the town of Burin, for which the entire peninsula is named.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
From Burin we passed again through Marystown to catch the shortest highway further south to the ferry to St-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
From there I took Ayreonaut to Garnish and Frenchman's Cove, two poor towns off the tourist trail that are representative of the lesser-seen Newfoundland.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next up was Grand Bank, which is probably the most interesting and historic community on the peninsula.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The Yugoslavia pavilion from the Montreal Expo is found here as the provincial Seamen's Museum.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Grand Bank features many heritage homes including the widow's walk on the roof, where the women would stand and watch to ensure their husbands returned safely from fishing. Every house has its legends about those unfortunate few whose husbands did not.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
And then it was on to the immediately adjacent Fortune, which is the town from which the ferry departs for St-Pierre. It's a small town and is only used for this purpose because it is the closest significant settlement to the French islands.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The terminal is run down but also quite busy with Newfoundlanders and other tourists visiting the islands, and Saint-Pierrais and Miquelonnais coming to Newfoundland to shop.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
That's France on the horizon.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next up is arrival and day 1 in St-Pierre.
Day 1
Inside the terminal on the Newfoundland side, the crowd was pretty evenly split between anglophone tourists and French citizens returning home. We met people from here, Quebec, New Brunswick, France, Minnesota, and a few other places.
The only ferry option for tourists is Le Cabestan, which takes approximately 55 minutes to cross from Fortune to St-Pierre - not including the time change. Despite being much farther west, St-Pierre is 30 minutes ahead of Newfoundland Time.
Once we arrived the first thing we wanted to do was check into our hotel and then hike to the top of the nearest hill to get an overview of the town. It's hard to convey in pictures (I'll share a couple of videos at the end) because I'm too shy most of the time to stick a camera in people's faces and wait until the coast is clear - but the place is so busy. There's so much life, people on the go all the time, and so on.
• Video Link
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
These cute porches are also present in St. John's but the effect of having them right up against the street in St-Pierre made me fall in love with them.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
There is not a single traffic light on the entire island - everything is controlled with roundabouts for major intersections and mirrors to view around corners within the town itself:
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
There's probably an even mix of European and North American vehicles. The government offers plates of both shapes depending on the model.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The island in the distance dotted with buildings is Isle-aux-Marins, a living museum. No one lives there permanently anymore so the entire place is a blend of museum and summer cottages.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Traditional Basque sports are still very popular, but hockey and soccer rule.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
For dinner we went for sushi.
And after that we went out drinking. The bars here close at 5 a.m.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next up, day 2!
O.K., new plan. I'm struggling to cut out pictures as duplicates or uninteresting because I found the whole town fascinating - so I'll break it apart into a few more posts than planned.
So here
Day 2 - Morning.
We got up and strolled around the city until the bakeries opened at noon. This post ends just before we reached the town's famous cemetery.
• Video Link
A lot of the modern architecture is quite lovely, even if technically hideous. Perhaps it's the small scale, but they seem to have a nice blend of old and new from a variety of eras.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Basically everyone who was strikingly overweight was a tourist. The locals can be quite unfit in their old age, but they still pass for North American 40-year-olds at 60-plus.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Isle-aux-Marins is almost like their Signal Hill - you can see it from just about everywhere.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
There was a lot of religious artifacts around the town, including giant memorials. And the churchbells on Sunday morning rang forever, with no song - just dozens of loud bells ringing all at once.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The locals are very, very friendly. They call out "Bonjour!" even from inside their homes as you pass by on the street.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
There are lots of English words around, quite a striking difference from Quebec - but it's natural given the Saint-Pierrais don't feel their language is threatened at home.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The flags of France and St-Pierre et Miquelon (behind) are the most common, but there are hundreds of Basque flags fluttering around the town as well.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This lighthouse offers a spectacular view of the old core.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Although I do appreciate this building, it does make me sad to know their gorgeous, old Palais de Justice - which was probably the grandest building in the city, their equivalent of our Supreme Court, burned down.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
All of the buildings, even offices, have windows that can open completely without screens. That was really nice, especially passing larger apartment buildings.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Orange and purple are very popular colours here.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
We stopped for some coconut cake and capuccino muffins.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Some of the streets are quite steep. I love their concrete poles with the stone ladder inside for workers to climb.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This is a game we don't have in Newfoundland. The two girls were rolling around, including rolling downhill, on the sidewalk and street.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This is just one of many statues and memorials peppered throughout the town, all with generally expansive grounds (relatively speaking) surrounding, often obviously divided up for sports I don't know.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
And, from here, we turned down toward the cemetery at the far west end of the town.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next up - afternoon of day 2.
O.K., next round. This gets us to supper time.
So, we visited the cemetery and then hiked up the main highway out of town. We found our way back down through the peat bogs and bone-dry moorlands and toured the hilariously North American-yet-still-somehow-different suburbs at the west end of the town (for one thing, every other house had a pet horse or two in the back yard).
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
• Video Link
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Memorial University of Newfoundland bases part of its French language program here.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The island's main museum is quite Japanese-looking.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
I assume it's the jail.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The highway has cute drainage.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The residents have summer cottages that are about a 20-minute walk from their houses.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The airport is served by Air St-Pierre which has regular flights to St. John's, Moncton, Halifax, and Montreal, I believe.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Le Cabestan returning from Newfoundland (on the horizon).
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The 'burbs.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The giant supermarket in the west end of town has a wide selection of local French products such as fois gras, etc. They're having trouble selling it legally in Newfoundland because the standards for preservatives and all of that are different.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
More memorials.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Next up... rest of that day and a beautiful night,
And the remaining little bit of day 2.
Another angle of the museum:
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This is definitely a town where the old joke of a runaway baby carriage could be real.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Everyone loves a forge, apparently.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
For supper we had escargot, French onion soup, and the best creme brulee ever.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
That night we spent at a different bar, something quieter. I noticed Saint-Pierrais appear to kiss only twice and both times on the same cheek.
One more day left. This time we explored the east end of town, which it turns out is actually almost as "urban" as the core, far more than the west end in any event. A lot of my favourite views and buildings were in that end.
And now, the best for last - the older east end of St-Pierre and a final goodbye to the core.
• Video Link
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
In addition to RONA, they also have Home Hardware. I suppose it was easier to bring over North American brands rather than attract European equivalents.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
There are a couple of roundabouts in the town larger than this one, but most are around this size.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Newfoundland in the distance.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
I love the guardrails - they're pretty compared to the ones we use.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
I think this is an assisted living complex as there were very old women peeking out the windows.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
I love how the sports facilities are nestled into the neighbourhoods.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The message at the lower right is hilarious, assuming I understand it ("Don't be idiots and give yourselves and other youth a bad name", basically).
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
The Town Hall is quite nice.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
And the tourism promotion outside indicates they get as much snow in winter as we do.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This little gallery was adorable.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
St-Pierre had about the town's entire population out marching during the Je Suis Charlie protests, enough that Newfoundland media went there to cover it.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
All of the clothing on display is so small. I couldn't get a leg in one of those dresses.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Then it was time to go to the bakery for some eclairs and other treats.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
This cracked me up. It reminded me of that joke, "You know you're Slavic when you chop up some onions and then ponder what to cook for dinner." I imagine, since the porch is a given, they've kept it and will just design the new house with it still there.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Love the front step.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
For our last meal, we decided to go all out and dine at one of the finer restaurants in town.
I had raspberry cod back with fois gras.
Ayreonaut had the duck.
And then it was time to leave...
And we stopped once across to admire St-Pierre one last time.
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr
A la prochaine!
Terre Neuve et St-Pierre et Miquelon by
R C, on Flickr