Posts Tagged ‘lighthouse’
A Province Fit For A Prince
Posted on: November 5, 2022
- In: Dreams | History | Travel
- 89 Comments
“We Prince Edward Islanders are a loyal race. In our secret soul, we believe that there is no place like the little Province that gave us birth.” – Lucy Maude Montgomery, The Alpine Path
On my recent trip to Canada, I fulfilled another long-time dream – to visit the province of Prince Edward Island. Ever since reading Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, I have longed to visit this island on the east coast of Canada. It was as charming and picturesque as I envisioned, with a rugged coastline, rich red earth, pastoral landscapes, alluring fishing villages and friendly down-to-earth folks.
Prince Edward Island was named after the son of King George III, Edward Duke of Kent, the commander of the British forces in North America. It is the smallest and most densely populated of Canada’s 10 provinces with a population of one hundred and sixty-four thousand. It covers 5,683.91 square kilometres (2,194.57 square miles).
As the plane descended, I had a clear view of Confederation Bridge. Built in 1997, the 8-mile (12.9-km) long bridge is the world’s longest bridge over waters that freeze over in winter and connects the island to the neighbouring province of New Brunswick.
The 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) of shoreline, features fantastic red sandstone cliffs and red sand beaches.
And of course, lighthouses!
Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station, built in 1881, is still operational. On April 14,1912 it received the first distress signal in Canada from the sinking Titanic.
I love lighthouses!!
A common site on the island is lobster traps piled up. PEI is well known for its delicious lobsters.
I was intrigued by the lobster trap and lobster buoy Christmas trees.
And the huge apple trees laden with fruit.
We came upon an errant Blue Heron who posed politely for us.
I loved the charming houses; this one belonged to a friend.
And the colourful sheds
Interesting sculptures depicting marine life.
The Garden of the Gulf Museum, the oldest museum on the island, is housed in the former post office in the town of Montague and is full of interesting things from the past.
The island’s capital, Charlottetown, was named after the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte. It is known as the Birthplace of Confederation after the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference which led to the Confederation of Canada in 1867.
Rich in history and culture, it’s a perfect place to wander the streets lined with Victorian buildings still intact, and take in the ambience of a former time. There are many places to enjoy a delicious seafood meal as well.
There are amazing old churches in downtown Charlottetown including St. Dunstan’s Basilica, built in 1916, and designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Parliamentarians debating the state of the world in front of a cathedral. It could be 1867 instead of 2022.
I loved my trip to this remarkable maritime province. Next time I’ll tell you about my visit to Green Gables House.
Have you been to Prince Edward Island?
Isla de Tabarca
Posted on: September 7, 2015
- In: Spain | Travel
- 34 Comments
I love islands and enjoyed a day visit to a small island with a couple of friends recently. The pleasant boat ride, forty minutes from Torrevieja, took us to Isla de Tabarca. I fell in love with this place the minute we docked in front of the old church and stone walls. This charming island with a watch tower, a lighthouse and the remaining walls of the old fort, has a number of ocean view restaurants, a beach and shallow coves for swimming and snorkelling. We discovered a small museum, closed when we arrived but opened an hour before we were to return, giving us an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history of this island which is also a protected marine reserve.
Our transport to the island
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul and walls of the fort greet us as we arrive.
The beach
Portal into the village
Tabarca is the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain with approximately 68 inhabitants and was the refuge for Barbary pirates up to the end of the eighteenth century. It was settled in the mid 1700s when a group of shipwrecked Genoese sailors needed a home and protection. King Carlos III of Spain allowed them to live on the island where he built a church, fort, watchtower and lighthouse, in exchange for them to warn him of any threatening marauders.
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, completed in 1775, was undergoing renovations so we were unable to go inside.
Unique and colourful houses
Clear turquoise waters in the many coves
Stunning scenery was everywhere we looked! The east end of the island is completely different from the west end. We walked along an arid path to the lighthouse at the end, passing through a graveyard of giant cactus.
Not only did the lighthouse provide protection to the sailors and fisherman from the island´s rocky coastline, it was also a school for lighthouse keepers.
Nou Collonet, the restaurant were we enjoyed a delicious lunch with a fabulous view. Note the wall made of scallop shells.
The island is 1,750 m (5,741 ft) long, 300 m (984 ft) at the widest part and absolutely flat. We managed to walk around the entire island and have a leisurely lunch in the five hours we were there. It was a perfect day.
photo by Inke Piegsa
Everyone loves a pirate!!
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