Rambling around PEI


The next morning in Charlottetown it looked like we finally had some reliable sun, so we set off for the Greenwich National Park floating boardwalk, which crosses ponds and dunes and is supposed to be just gorgeous. While we were prepared with our mosquito spray this time, I hadn't realized how far the walk to where the boardwalk begins was--so we didn't end up doing the actual hike. Something to go back and enjoy the next time around! The scenery we did see was tranquil and beautiful, though.
 



The park also had a traditional Mi'kmaq home set up; the Mi'kmaq are indigenous people still living on PEI and who have lived in the territory for at least 12,000 years. 

 








Glam is her middle name! 


After our hike we still had some time to kill before lunch, so we ended up at the Souris Historic Lighthouse (built in 1880)--sea glass is a lot more interesting than I thought! I enjoyed seeing the collection of sea glass from all over the world and learning about it as a hobby, as well as which types of sea glass are the most rare and what sorts of bottles turn into the rainbow of smooth glass that washes onto the shore. 






Unfortunately, I have a real phobia of ladders, and that was the only way to get to the very top. I once got stuck at the top of a cathedral in Romania and was shaking so hard going down the ladder I thought I was going to plummet to my death--so I skipped climbing the ladder in the lighthouse. We still had a pretty good view though! 






Taylor and his little bestie having fun at store where local artists sell their various wares, from sea glass jewelry to quilts to paintings and more.


 
Given our outfits, we had to get a picture in front of the Lobster Shack! Next door was a little shop called the Sea Glass Shanty, where I bought a necklace with a teal seaglass pendant.

 

Lunch was at Breakwater 21, a restaurant in a beautiful house overlooking the water; they use local ingredients from the island to craft their menu. We had PEI nachos (potato chips with cheese, green onions, tomatoes, salsa, and goat cheese) and a candied bacon burger.

 



After lunch, we visited Covehead Beach, which due to a high silica content in the sand means the sand "sings" when you step. I couldn't hear any singing or squeaking though--with shoes, without shoes, stepping in different ways. Maybe it was too crowded and it needs to be quieter to hear? But the beach was lovely, and the water really was an unreal blue!







Men were jumping off the bridge into the rushing water below, despite the sign telling them not to--Canadian rebels!


 

Still hated the sand and was very angry to be on the beach. 

The last stop of the day was the East Point Lighthouse, which has an unpictured resident fox! This lighthouse is considered Canada's Confederation Lighthouse, as it was established in the same year as Canada (1867). It's 64 feet tall and has a ring of benches around its base, one for each of its lighthouse keepers. You can also see their portraits inside.


For dinner, we ate at Sea Rocket Oyster House back in Charlottetown, where I got the mushroom toastie with goat cheese cream, bacon wrapped chicken with whipped feta and garlic confit gnocchi, vanilla bean cheesecake with a coffee creme fraiche, and an ice cream sundae.

Enjoying more live music on Victoria Row, then taking in another gorgeous sunset.







 

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