Got 'er scald

Gliding through The Narrows, the towering cliffs of Signal Hill looming on one side and the rugged slopes of South Side Hills on the other, we were excited about the ship's first stop in Canada, as St. John's, Newfoundland slowly came into view.

This historic harbor entrance, barely 200 meters wide at its narrowest point, has welcomed seafarers for centuries. Below is a poster showing the entrance to this protected harbor... and another that shows the beautiful view as we sailed out of the harbor early the following day.

As our ship emerged from the channel, the colorful "Jellybean Row" houses cascading down the hillsides burst into view, their bright hues a cheerful contrast to the often-moody North Atlantic skies. We were told that the sailors painted their boats in bright colors to improve their visibility during times of fog and that left over paint was used on their houses. "Moody" was a great description of the weather today as we experienced gray skies, some light mist, followed by periodic rain showers and gale-force winds. But, we made the best of it with a trip to Signal Hill, John Cabot's tower and the Johnson Geo Center.

Visiting Cabot Tower was a delightful experience. Built in 1898, this landmark commemorates the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland. While I had a vague recollection of learning about Cabot in a long-ago history lesson, climbing to the top of the tower was particularly enjoyable. Even more fascinating was learning about the area's connection to communication history. It was on this very spot, aptly named "Signal Hill," that Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless transmission.The view from Signal Hill was absolutely breathtaking!

It's amazing when I think about how far we've come since then .. where now, I can participate in a zoom class while on the ship, and as much as
19 years ago we received an email in the Mediterranean with the ultrasound image of our soon-to-be-born first grandchild. Wow, what would Marconi have thought about that?!?

Cut from the ancient rock of Signal Hill in St. John's, the Johnson Geo Centre took us deep underground to experience the story of planet Earth. We learned about Newfoundland's ancient volcanoes, admired the recent glaciers, and marveled at the rocks that shaped the ground beneath our feet ... and so much more. While there we were shown the Earth from the inside, out - and we learned about the formation of Newfoundland's landscape over billions of years, including the effects of glaciation and plate tectonics; as well as rock formations and rock types found there; plus Newfoundland's connection to the Titanic disaster, including their role in rescue efforts and iceberg monitoring. A really interesting exhibit was focused on the oil and gas industry, providing information about Newfoundland's offshore oil and gas industry, including how these resources are formed and extracted. Not to be missed was also a planetarium-style exhibit that explored various aspects of space science.

Ever since we did our fossil dig in Wyoming we've been very interested in what lies beneath the earth's surface. So with the help of their mineral displays, we could learn about minerals found in Newfoundland and their importance in the province's mining industry. Last, but not least, we were informed about the movement of the Earth's land masses over time and the structure of the Earth, including its core, mantle, and crust. All so very fascinating with the help of some really impressive exhibits.

Upon stepping back on the coach to return to the ship, we were informed we'd be here overnight due to the risks of going through The Narrows with the persistent high winds. Well, after hurricane winds, lava flows, glaciers, and rough seas, what's so bad about spending a few more hours alongside the weathered docks of North America's easternmost city, steeped in maritime history, with its stunning natural beauty, along with the warmth of Newfoundland hospitality? "Got 'er scald"

Oh, by the way ... "Got 'er scald" is a Newfoundland slang phrase that means things are exactly as desired.