Newfoundland comfort food, this
is a good spot to try Cod Tongues
with scrunchions (fried pork bits)
with a side order of the best view
of the city.
8. For something slightly less
cerebral and the ultimate in
barhopping, head to George Street.
AKA “the biggest little street in the
world” George Street claims to have
more bars per square foot than any
street in North America. Every night
is party night here so pick a club,
any club, to try. It’s the pub version
of channel surfing--if you don’t like
the scene, flip over to the next one.
Some suggestions to get you started
are: Lotties Place, kind of a dive but
known for their cheap White
Russians, drinks on the patio at
Green Sleeves, or O’Reilly’s Irish
Newfoundland Pub which has some
of the best live music.
Pssst: If you want to get
“screeched-in” the best place
is said to be at Christian’s Bar.
The ceremony involves a shot of
screech (cheap rum), a sentimental
speech about what it means to be
a Newfoundlander and the kissing
of a cod.
9. There’s a good reason why Iceberg
Quest Ocean Tours has been firmly
entrenched in the #1 spot for
Tripadvisor’s activities in St John...
because it’s so freakin’ amazing!
Iceberg Quest is owned and operated
by Captain Barry Rogers and his
wildly enthusiastic wife, Carol Anne
Hayes. She capably handles all the
business transactions and everything
else “on land” while Barry is
responsible for everything “on sea”,
a job he was seemingly born to
having come from a long line of
Newfoundland fishermen. The
mission of this dynamic duo is
to do everything in their power
to ensure the most memorable
experience imaginable.
After a run of chilly grey days,
the sun shone brightly as I eagerly
boarded the M.V. Cetacean Quest.
I had seen a few icebergs the day
before, at Cape Spear, but they
looked like little white cotton balls
from that far away. I was invited to
join Capt. Barry in the wheelhouse
where I peppered him with iceberg
questions while he steered the ship
through “The Narrows”, past Cabot
Tower, en route to Cape Spear.
My anticipation grew ten-fold when
Captain Barry told me, “We’re having
the most phenomenal iceberg season.
There has to be hundreds of icebergs
around the island. This is the best
season I’ve ever experienced.”
I was completely blown away when
I saw my first majestic frozen beauty
sparkling white with neon bright
turquoise highlights.
I asked him if he thought it was as
big as our ship? He stifled a smile
and politely informed me, “It’s
actually much bigger. Only about
10 per cent of an iceberg is visible
while the rest is hiding below the
surface of the ocean. “ Ah ha, so
that’s where the expression “tip of
the iceberg” expression comes from.
Rogers told me, “These icebergs
have broken off of 12,000 year
old glaciers that cover much of
Greenland. It might take them up
to three years to float down here.”
We were lucky because that was
just the first of many bergs we saw
that afternoon. Each one had a
different shape, coloration and
personality. I thought they’d make
a wonderful cast for the next
animated Disney film.
Pssst: For more iceberg fun facts,
check out the Iceberg Finder map
at icebergfinder.com for updates
on the latest sightings.
* For more great itinerary ideas
check out: Newfoundland and
Labrador Tourism
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