Mid-Term Break Has Arrived!

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Today was day one of a five day weekend - how sweet it is to be back in university! Although I have a fair bit of work to do during this mid-winter break, I decided to take today off and play tourist. The day started off with a hike through Bowring Park. Located just off Topsail Road (about a ten minute drive from MUN), Bowring Park is one of the most scenic parks in St. John's. This was my first time visiting the park, and was surprised to see the number of people out and enjoying the early spring weather - running, walking their dogs, and tobogganing. The park features a garden, playground, bronze statues, some bridges, and an amphitheatre used for special summer events. I will have to come back in the summer since the park also has tennis courts, waterslides, and picnic spots.

From the parking lot, there is a paved walkway that leads down into the park. In the park are many streams and rivers that flow through the valley and into a pond. Today, the pond was full of very friendly ducks. Here are some pictures from Bowring Park...


Walking into Bowring Park.


Panoramic of the duck pond.


Immediately after crouching down to take this picture, all of the ducks started to waddle over expecting to be fed. The pigeons decided to fly overhead - one was even captured in the top left corner of the picture.


I was able to get really close to the ducks. Hmmm... I wonder if this guy knows about the ducks at Burtons Pond?

So after exploring Bowring Park, I decided to head downtown for a walking tour. I realize that this is incredibly nerdy, but I picked up a few free walking brochures at the tourist office, one of which retraced the perimeter of the great fire of 1892. Map in had, I set out for a two hour walk around town. I "saw" pretty much everything. Unfortunately because most everything on the tour was burned to the ground because of the fire, there really wasn't a lot to see. During the tour, I went down to the harbour to check out the action. Today there were two large boats along with a few smaller fishing boats. One of the smaller boats had just come back from a fishing trip and was unloading their haul (not sure if it was shrimp, scallops, or cod) into a truck. Here are some picture from the harbour...


Not warp speed but wharf speed!


The Dorsch and Tuvaq tankers.


One of the smaller boats unloading their haul with Signal Hill and Cabot Tower in the background.


Brightly coloured houses against the dreary grey February skies.


While on the walking tour, I passed by St. Thomas' Anglican Church - the oldest church in St. John's having actually survived the the great fires of 1846 and 1892.


The Roman Catholic Basilica of St. John the Baptist.


Another shot of the Basilica as snow was starting to fall.