Normally, I would agree. But when you have nourished for years a dream to travel to Canada's Maritime Provinces and you finally realize it, when you finally step out of the motorhome and onto the soil of New Brunswick for the very first time, you cannot help but look at each other and say "Hot damn! We're in the Maritimes! We're really here!"
And so we are. A dream come true, to be sure.
But we had hoped to be sharing this dream, this adventure, with our dear friends Di and Bob. Life, however, got in the way (as it is often wont to do), and so they needed to stay home. We miss them very much and think of them daily as we begin our exploration of these lands. And so this dream-come-true is going to do double-duty...it shall also serve as a scouting trip for when Di and Bob are ready to make this journey. Di, I've already started the "Best Places to Find Chocolate" list...and boy, do I have a restaurant for you! La Chocolatiere in Caraquet, New Brunswick. Ooh-la-la!
It occurs to me that a little geography lesson might be helpful (for me, especially) before we begin our journey through what I have now learned are the Atlantic Provinces, not merely the Maritime Provinces. I have been inadvertently doing a disservice to Newfoundland and Labrador. Here's why:
There are four Canadian provinces known as the Atlantic Provinces (or Atlantic Canada): New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (yep, it's one province). Art and I plan to explore as much of each of the four provinces as we can.
Here's a little map to help you (and me) out.
Now here is where it gets interesting. The Maritime Provinces are a subgroup of the Atlantic Provinces and consist of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island only. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is not included.
"Why not?" you might ask (me, too).
Turns out there are several reasons. One is because of the cultural similarities shared by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (which Art and I will be writing about as we travel through each province). Those cultural similarities exist, in part, because the Maritimes were and still are home to the native Mi'kmaq and Maliseet people. In addition, the Maritimes have an extensive shared history of both French and English settlement that dates back to the 1600s. Another reason is that even though the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is located on the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence physically separates it from the Maritimes. Finally, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador did not join Canada until 1949, roughly 80 years after the other three provinces.
But from what we gather, the good folks of Newfoundland and Labrador mind not a whit that they are not part of the Maritime Provinces. They take great pride in their own incredibly rich and unique culture, their vibrant traditions, and their colorful history, which includes a Viking settlement that predates Christopher Columbus by 500 years! You can bet that my own Viking is really looking forward to our time there.
So, Atlantic Provinces, here we come!
--- Barbara
Day 56 (currently in Saint Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick)
Total miles: 6,156
2 comments:
Dear Art and Barbara,
Thank you for the geography lesson -- we needed that. And we do appreciate your efforts as our advance team, and will take full advantage of all that you provide.
In fact, Di and I decided while (impatiently) waiting to make the Maritime trip ourselves, that the next best thing to actually going, is gazing into your gorgeous images, absorbing your captivating prose, and vicariously sharing each turn and thrill of your Great Maritime Adventure.
(In fact, what you have most likely thought is the damp humidity of the coastal clime is actually our virtual drool... but I digress.)
Thank you especially for the kind mention in your blog. We are honored, indeed.
Bob and Di
Assuming you check lifewithld regularly. LD owner from your area posted inviting visitors. They are from so cal too. kc
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