Visiting The Colourful Houses Of St John’s, Newfoundland

Returning to the vibrant city of St John’s after an afternoon filled with wildlife experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador, we returned the car at our hotel and proceeded to wander through the city on foot.

The charm of cities such as St John’s lies in their walkability; despite being a full-fledged city, its intimate layout creates a genuine feel of closeness.

The abundance of colorful houses in St John’s is captivating, encouraging us to metaphorically discard the map and immerse ourselves in its vibrant streets.

I am drawn to color, and St John’s certainly knows how to provide a stunning palette.

Wandering through numerous streets, we embraced the opportunity to explore, spontaneously deciding to get lost among the hues.

The experience was truly gratifying.

Newfoundlanders are notably hospitable, and soon enough, we were engaged in meaningful conversations with local residents, who were eager to share insights to maximize our time in the city.

The dinner that evening led us back to Chinched, and I felt no shame in revisiting. Although I could explore other dining options, the cuisine was exceptional, coupled with the fact that it was conveniently within walking distance.

The subsequent morning marked our final day of the trip, leading us to a meeting with Lori from Cod Sounds. Our itinerary included an engaging food foraging activity before we enjoyed a leisurely lunch, eventually heading to the airport.

In full transparency, I must admit that foraging isn’t my preferred activity due to my tendency to lose interest quickly. Contrastingly, Lloyd is deeply fascinated by it.

Yet, under Lori’s skillful guidance, I found immense enjoyment in the foraging experience!

Lori’s methodology was commendable. She focused on essential information and her instructions were purposeful and engaging. It felt like we were “shopping” in nature for our lunch, a concept I thoroughly appreciated. When she deemed it necessary, she explained the selection process for certain items, striking the ideal balance of information and action.

Furthermore, she contextualized everything based on her family’s long-standing practices as well as the traditions of European settlers, particularly from Ireland. This transformed what could have been a mundane afternoon into an enriching insight into local customs, traditions, and survival techniques.

Upon completing our foraging adventure, we visited Lori’s lakeside residence, which she is renovating herself. Two women from the community awaited our arrival to join us for lunch.

The lunch was exquisite!

We savored dishes including smoked fish, mushrooms, wild cabbage, stewed cod, and even grilled moose—most of which were prepared in our presence (except for items such as smoked fish, which clearly requires extensive preparation time).

We even enjoyed a dessert made from wild berries and jams crafted from the same berries.

One of the most delightful aspects of the afternoon was the engaging conversations.

Connecting with locals proved to be a privilege, allowing deeper insights into Newfoundland and Labrador. I recognized that engaging discussions with locals is one of my favorite travel pursuits.

Understanding their practices, which may share similarities or differ significantly from our own, enriches my worldview. I find such exchanges to foster tolerance and wisdom, something I greatly value.

As we prepared to leave, Lori gifted us with mixed wild spices, ground with sea salt, allowing us to recreate our meals back home!

She assembled these, and we had the opportunity to grind them, thus I fully claim credit for the creation process, even though I wouldn’t have the knowledge of their components.

And just like that, it was time to head home.

Our week-long journey through Atlantic Canada felt surprisingly brief, likely due to the numerous locations we explored. It has ignited a desire in me to return for a longer stay, to relish more experiences and rediscover the allure of this region.