Day 21 St. John's NL

 Sep 24 - St.John's NL

This was to be our first day in St. John's but we came in a day earlier than planned and did the Irish Loop yesterday.

We are taking things easy and not rushing to get out. Today's plan was Jellybean Row.

The weather was wonderful but windy, very windy. Hurricane Fiona truly passed over us and totally devastated Port aux Basques where we catch the ferry on the 29th.

The colourful rows of houses in downtown St. John's are often referred to as Jellybean Row, there isn't a specific address (although we used 234 Duckworth) as you will find these brightly painted houses throughout the city.

It is widely thought that this practice is traditional, to help fishermen in foggy weather. In truth this "tradition" began in the 1970s as a way to inject new life in a declining downtown. Whatever, it is delightful.

This guy was loaded down!

The National War Memorial in Downtown St. John's is the most elaborate of all the post World War I monuments in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was erected at King's Beach on Water Street where, in 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England.

Next stop - Signal Hill.

AND IT IS WINDY! 

St. John's most popular landmark - Signal Hill recalls the town’s historic past and communications triumph, against sweeping views overlooking the Atlantic. Signal Hill was the site of St. John’s harbour defences from the 17th century to the Second World War and where Guglielmo Marconi received the world’s first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.

What a view!! That is the Ambiance in port.

Some more jellybean houses.

On June 27, 1762, during the Seven Year’s War, St. John’s found itself under attack by French forces under the command of the Comte d’Haussonville. After successfully capturing St. John’s, d’Haussonville based his forces around Signal Hill. To retake the settlement, English forces under William Amherst landed at Torbay on September 13.

The Battle of Signal Hill took place on the morning of September 15 when the 200 English soldiers climbed Signal Hill, attacking 295 French infantry. The attack, which caught the French by surprise, resulted in the French forces retreating and surrendering three days later.

The Battle of Signal Hill was the final battle of the Seven Year’s War in North America, which secured Great Britain as the prominent European power in North America.

Begun in 1898, to commemorate both Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's (Giovanni Caboto) voyage to the New World, Cabot Tower was completed in 1900 and has been a part of a number of historic events. Although now one of the most recognizable symbols of St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador, its construction was not well supported in the town. Most of St. John's burned to the ground in 1892 and the banks in Newfoundland crashed in 1894. When Judge D.W. Prowse, a prominent local man, suggested building Cabot Tower, one person said in a local paper that "it's like putting a silk hat on the head of a man who can't afford to buy a pair of boots." 

Back into town for lunch.