18 August 2013 Charlottetown

Today we visited Charlottetown, driving 15 miles south of our RV park into the city of about 32,000 people, the capitol city of Prince Edward Island. Peake's Wharf is at the southern end of the city--lots of eateries, shops and a boat launch--one of the major tourist areas of Charlottetown.

The most popular place on the wharf is the original "Cows" ice cream shop. Cows, Prince Edward Island is said to be the world's Number One place to eat ice cream; "Hot Licks" in Fairbanks, Alaska, is Number 7; and Ben and Jerry's in Vermont is Number 10. Having 16 per cent butter fat is a good reason, besides the wonderful flavors, that it tastes so good. Of course, we had to have some, at this location, at the upper town location, and also at the Cavendish location a few times. Cows also sells T-shirts, cheese, chocolates, and all kinds of cow-related souvenirs. Black-and-white cows. Holstein cows. Couldn't resist, the place is so much fun.

Marge, Jerry, and I visited the Province House National Historic Site while Patrice did some shopping. This facility was built in 1847 and was the first site where details of the Canadian Confederation were hammered out in 1864. PEI legislators began meeting in the Legislative Assembly in 1847 and still meet there today.

Province House

Erected to commemorate "The Great War"

World War II and the Korean War carved into the base 

 Legislative Assembly in Province House

27 Members

Mace in Legislative Assembly

The Mace is a symbol of authority for the Speaker

Site of Confederation Meeting

  

Next we visited the ornate and beautiful St. Dunstan's Basilica. It is a prime example of the high Victorian gothic style of architecture, built between 1897 and 1907, severely damaged by fire in 1913, rebuilt, and consecrated in 1929.

St. Dunstan's Basilica

  

We all met up again, looked at some art and craft shops on Victoria Street, ate some more ice cream at the uptown Cows, did some grocery shopping at Sobeys, and returned home.

Marge and Jerry fixed us a spaghetti dinner, we drank some wine, watched the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and finished off the evening with some of that strawberry/rhubarb pie.