Java-tastic Time in Newfoundland

EH Tourism at Philip's Cafe

In Placentia, Newfoundland we waited for our 3:30 PM sailing from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia. It was a 12 hour tour sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to our sailing we spent much of our time in a local coffee house named Philips’s Cafe.

The owners of the Cafe, Philip and Linda, were some amazing hosts. One of the luxuries of traveling and researching across Canada is that you get to meet some great people. Philip and Linda are two of those people.

The Coffee couple welcomed us into their establishment from the get go. We spent time working on our laptops and chatting with the couple. It felt like we were friends for years it was that welcoming. The relationship just clicked.

Philip was nice enough to share some pictures with us of the building before the renovations. The coffee house was a dilapidated building until the couple got their hands dirty and transformed what was once a write-off into one of the nicest buildings in the community of Placentia. Good on you guys!

Philip and Linda are some of the nicest and most interesting people we met in Newfoundland. Their coffee house is top notch and their service and hospitality is welcoming. Every traveler in the region should make some time to visit the coffee house for good food, good java and good company. Other coffee houses should take a page from the couple on how to meet and greet people.

EH Tourism at Ferry Terminal

After saying our good byes Bro and I left for one final research mission visiting the Castle Hill National Historic Site. At the historic site we walked the grounds visiting some of the armory and fighting posts of the past. Throughout the site were information signs detailing the past battles of the fort between the French and British.

The main fort on the site was called Fort Royale. From the main fort on the top of the hill we could see all of the community of Placentia and the harbour it once protected from invasion. Bro and I walked the old stone fort walls, pausing and reflecting on our Canadian heritage.

From the broken down stone fortification walls of Fort Royal we hiked the trails to the two armory posts (called redoubts) surrounding the forts. There were old canons, once fierce and battle weary now silenced by time. Again the views were spectacular.

At the ferry we took our spot in the line up and waited. It was a time to reflect on our west to east journey. We talked of some of our favorite adventures, our favorite communities and some of the amazing people we met along the way in Newfoundland.

Once on board the ferry vessel we raced to find some good seats for the long journey. We did not get sleeping cabins as the price was unrealistic. We decided we would sleep in some reclining chairs, like many of the other passengers on board.

Unfortunately, most of the voyage was during the night time hours so our sightseeing abilities were hampered. But we did have a lifetime of memories to reflect on while we waited to land in Nova Scotia.