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This program will transport you back in time -
whether that is to 1744 daily life in a French
stronghold, the early Viking settlement days,
John Cabot's landfall in 1497, or historic
events in Atlantic Canada's fisheries
including outport life, the Labrador Schooner
Fishery or the 16th Century Basque Whalers.
Relish in the glorious natural history of
Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador -
the unaltered rugged coastline, the Tablelands
of Gros Morne National Park telling the story
of plate tectonics, beckoning steep-sided
fjords and expanses of pure empty nature.
Onboard we always watch for seabirds, whales
and dolphins and maybe even a straggler
iceberg. A pure delight that strikes a chord
in every visitor's soul is the warm and
genuine hospitality that we receive at the
various communities.. This experience is
further expanded by the local music and
entertainment that is a part of most every
day. From our starting point in St. John's
Newfoundland, we set our course day-by day
finishing in Halifax steeped in history, rich
in culture and refreshingly cosmopolitan.
Day 1: St. John's
Embark M/V Polar Star in vibrant St
John’s, North America’s oldest city. It is
here at Signal Hill that Guglielmo Marconi
sent the first wireless transatlantic signal
to England in 1901. Late afternoon, we set
sail from the city’s beautiful naturally
sheltered harbour to begin our journey “around
the rugged rock”.
Day 2: Bonavista
We visit historic Bonavista, where Italian
explorer Giovanni (John) Cabot made landfall
in 1497 after crossing the Atlantic from
Bristol. While here, we take a tour of the
replica of Cabot’s ship, the Matthew and visit
the Ryan Premises, a restored Merchant’s
premises that tells the story of the 500 year
old fishing industry in Newfoundland. Also at
Bonavista, is the unique and historic
lighthouse at Cape Bonavista.
Day 3: St.
Anthony, L'Anse Aux Meadows & Norstead
At the northern tip of Newfoundland is St.
Anthony, home to Sir Wilfred Grenfell, a
philanthropic physician and missionary. In the
afternoon, we visit L’Anse aux Meadows, a
UNESCO world heritage site and only
authenticated Viking settlement in North
America as well as the reconstructed Viking
village site of Norstead. It is an excellent
insight into the early life of Viking
explorers.
Day 4: Battle
Harbour & Red Bay
Today we make two excursions along the
coast of Labrador. The preserved community of
Battle Harbour is an insight into the bygone
days of the Labrador Schooner Fishery. The
16th Century Basque Whalers settled Red Bay
which today houses an excellent interpretive
centre.
Day 5: Gros Morne
National Park
This park is both beautiful and
geologically significant. Beyond the natural
scenery and fantastic hiking, it is most noted
for the Tablelands, a 600-meter high plateau
that forms one of the world’s best examples of
ancient rock exposed from the earth’s
interior. The park is also home to 239 species
of birds as well as mammals including Moose,
Caribou, Black Bear and Arctic Hare.
Day 6: Codroy
River Valley
This beautiful river valley is our site
for a wonderful Zodiac cruise up river to
visit the local community. We also plan to
visit a local wildlife taxidermist and his
private museum.
Day 7: Grey River
& Francois
IIn the morning we explore Grey River Fjord
that separates into three river systems. It is
noted for its breathtaking scenery with lush
forests, rugged mountains and sandy beaches as
well as the possibility to see moose and
caribou. Next, we visit the tiny outport
village of Francois at the head of a dramatic
fjord surrounded by dramatic rock strewn
cliffs. There is time for a stroll or a hike
before we gather to enjoy a traditional
“kitchen party”.
Day 8: St. Pierre,
France
St Pierre is a tiny piece of Europe and this
is a unique opportunity to visit this nugget
of French culture. While here, explore the
charming community and perhaps sample some
French specialties. If time permits, we will
Zodiac across the bay to explore a
reconstructed early settlers’ community.
Day 9: Louisbourg
We visit the Fortress of Louisbourg
National Historic Site, the largest historical
reconstruction in Canada. The French began
building the fortress in 1719 to serve as the
first line of defence against the British in
their struggle for North America. Although the
fortress walls were destroyed in battle in
1758, today the reconstructed fortress allows
us to step back in time and watch the
re-enactment of everyday life and work from
centuries ago.
Day 10: Halifax
Our exploration of these special areas of
the Atlantic coastline shrouded in autumn
colours comes to a close. Disembark in
charming historic Halifax – a perfect blend of
cosmopolitan amenities and small community
friendliness. |
