New York City

Our bodies are in New York, but our spirits are still on the Maasdam sailing into Charlottetown, PEI.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

We have an early morning shore excursion today, so we enjoy breakfast in our suite before heading down the gangway to the waiting buses.  It is overcast and cool, but we are thankful for no rain as we head out to explore the “Lighthouses of Prince Edward Island.”  We enjoy a short ride through the historical residential district of Charlottetown, which is the smallest provincial capital in Canada, as Prince Edward Island is the smallest province.

We then head east to the first lighthouse visit, where we learn the difference between range lights, set apart from each other so ships at sea can calculate their distance from shore, and single lighthouses, which provide navigation guidance.  The lighthouses are no longer in operation and can be purchased from the provincial government and opened to the public if the new owner promises to keep them in appropriate condition and working order.  Two of the lighthouses we visit are square, while the third is the more traditional conical shape.  The square ones have living quarters attached and tourists can wander through the small rooms and then up the stairs to the light room itself.  In the conical lighthouse, there are vertiginous spiral staircases to reach the top.  Although the room is cramped and the sky is gray, the views over the coastline show the wild nature of the sea as well as the deep red soil for which PEI is famous.

The most well-known thing about the island, however, is the story of “Anne of Green Gables,” beloved by young girls everywhere.  We decide to skip all the tourists attractions associated with the novel and its author, but still manage to get the red dirt all over our shoes.  PEI is also famous for its seafood; PEI scallops are known around the world. What might not be as well known is the fact that over 80 varieties of potatoes are grown on Prince Edward Island.

Since it is getting cold and blustery we head back to the ship after the lighthouse tour rather than wandering around the town.