Another house in Trinity town. Outside it sits a disused well with a little hand written sign saying “Dangerous, Not in Use” It’s nice to see that in some places common sense still rules. There is no need to wrap things in yellow safety tape and plaster warning signs all over them. Instead they railed off the well with twine, put a sign up and reasoned that it’s in their  front garden so if you respect their property and stay out and you wont get hurt.

Ferryland lighthouse in the Irish Loop outside St Johns, Newfoundland. Build in 1870 it was automated in 1970 and eventually  the dwelling area was abandoned and fell into disrepair for 20 years. It 2004 it was renovated and became a restaurant. Today you can go the lighthouse, visit the museum, order a picnic and get the blanket and a basket packed with home made sandwiches, deserts and lemonade. Then go sit on the edge of a cliff and watch whales swim by.

Another photo from just outside Trinity East. I’m not sure how the dock works, so high above the water and surrounded by rocks also the supports holding the shed up don’t look the strongest. This is not the only building I came across built above the water when building on land would seem easier.

A short drive from St Johns, the capital of Newfoundland is the Terra Nova national part. The park is full of little communities, towns and cabins where many locals spend their weekends. Charlottetown is one of those small communities with lots of boats and docks. Fishing seemed to still be popular and most of the docks were covered in discarded fish. Despite that the area is lovely, the little communities may not make the guide books but they do add to the experience.

I mentioned the town of Trinity in Newfoundland previously, a lovely old community but a little touristy. On the other side of the bay lies Trinity East. Another old community but less polished and fewer tourists. I prefer Trinity East, it feels more like a genuine community. Fishing was the basis of the Newfoundland economy for decades and boating still seem to be a popular hobby.

No, we are not talking about The Shipping News where every Newfoundlander is supposed to have some instinctive love of boats. Instead we have a country where water is every where from the Atlantic to numerous lakes. Old boats and old boat houses are all over the old communities and they are lovely. Docks and jetties that look as is someone cut down trees and used the branches and trunk to build them 50 years ago. If you ever visit Newfoundland go to Trinity then head East, you will appreciate it.

I have already posted about the Customs House a beautiful neoclassical 18th century building. Close by and on the left of this picture stands Liberty Hall. A 16 story dessicated husk of a 1960’s building. It was designed to be an aesthetically pleasing tower of light with clear glass windows allowing passersby to see into and through the building. A bomb is the 1970s but pay to that and the clear glass was replaced with shatter proof reflective glass which blocks the view and is now covered in peeling plastic.

Liberty Hall is owned by one of Irelands largest trade unions SIPTU who have applied for planning permission to tear down and rebuild the tower. The Customs House, almost 200 years older, is better designed, better maintained and will likely last far longer than the current tower or its replacement.