20: Noodling around St. John's (10/3-10/5)

We're just hanging around St. John's, not doing anything particularly newsworthy, but just enjoying this and that, being in the community.  Over the past several days, we've done a few things of small note, so this isn't a very exciting blog post.

We spent a good part of one day at the GEO Center, a 30,000 sf N&L geology museum built underground into the rock.  Learned a lot, of course; this has been a good exercise of what little geology I can recall from Frostburg classes, and for Allen, an entirely new learning curve he's really embraced.

A 60 mph windy day, a good day to be in the cave-like geo center.  Across the street is the provincial tribute to its two dogs, the Newfoundland and the Labrador.

Just more incomparable St. John's views from Signal Hill...

We've had some wonderful meals, and some awfuls.  "Salt meat" is basically fried small-dice pork fat, absolutely delicious, flavors things so nicely, and totally heart attack material.  "Dressing" is a pile of bread crumbs.  We daren't try the "steak."

This is fish and chips with dressing and gravy and vegetables, in the "what not to order" department.

One of our faves is International Flavors, a hole-in-the-wall Indian place where the menu is basically take it or leave it.  We've taken it twice, and look forward to more.  It's been ID'd on TripAdvisor as stellar, no surprise.  We get outta there for $20 with a meat/rice/good veggie meal, naan, and veggie samosas for two, and our plates are spotless upon departure.

Deb and Phil alerted us as to a public lecture at the local Memorial University by Henry Glassie, renown vernacular and folk like architectural historian, prolific author, and NYT notable book of the year author three times.  His lecture was on Irish influence on housing styles.  We enjoyed the entire experience, sitting among 100 or so academic community members in a lecture hall, including some of the sorta preposterous things Glassie had to say.  I was glad I wore my Carolina jacket.  One of the students attending had grown up in Chapel Hill, and so spoke with us for a bit, something we always enjoy.  Bonus post-event reception was delish!  Mmmmm..salmon mousse thinggies.....

When we visited The Rooms museum, we noticed a poster advertising the museum's Friday night 1920's Flapper-style party with a jazz band and dance lessons, so decided to attend.  Held in the museum's atrium, the event was thrown in conjunction with a 1920's-era shoe exhibit.  No costume for us, of course, but it was nice to get dressed up in our nicest camping clothes (and I used the occasion as an excuse to get a heavenly manicure!).  

People were easy to talk to, something we're finding true all over St. John's.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the Louis Vuitton shoe suitcase for the traveling woman.  I need one of these.

Saturday morning brought a trip to the excellent St. John's farmer's market.  We enjoyed waffles with freshly made raspberry and blueberry sauces, bought jams, mittens for my MIL, fresh veggies and wonderful lamb sausage for our supper, and thoroughly enjoyed the folks who packed the place.  Honestly, when we travel, farmer's markets are usually about the best people-watching sites.

The market included an abundance of blueberries and lingonberries, here called "partridgeberries."

We moved to our second house rental, Bolger's Lane, Friday, so Saturday I set out into our new neighborhood.  Uh-oh.  We are RIGHT around the corner from the Newfoundland Chocolate Company.  I admire their car and building decor.