The capital of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s offers so much to see and experience. Walking around the old part of town a block or two back from the harbour gives an impression of how the city looked a century or more ago. Signal Hill, clearly visible from downtown, walking past the iconic colorful clapboard houses, is a steep and strenuous walk to the north, made even more strenuous but more enjoyable by the path that meanders along the north side of the harbour and up the steep hillside on the east. From the summit, a magnificent view is provided of the harbour, the old town, and the spreading suburbs.
The Rooms, as the Newfoundland Museum is now called, is west of the harbour. A fascinating Museum, there is a focus on local history encompassing the fishing industry and marine life. Current exhibits include: Feast & Famine, History of Aviation in Newfoundland and Labrador and Our Lives on Land and Sea.
The Rooms café emphasizes Newfoundland and Labrador food heritage with a focus on traditional fare using fresh ingredients and cooked from scratch. We indulged in the Fisherman’s Bake which was crammed with local salmon, cod, shrimp, scallops simmered in a white wine cream sauce accompanied by new potatoes and fresh vegetables. A traditional afternoon tea is also served daily from 3-5 that offers scones, cream and tea sandwiches. Lunching at the restaurant on site gave us a full view of the city below including a close look at our anchored ship, which we had reluctantly left for the last time.