I’ve lived in many places throughout Canada, and even Germany: I was a military brat with no hometown. Now in retirement, I realize that everywhere I’ve ever lived holds a little piece of me, a little calling, a tugging to return. I finally visited one former province, Newfoundland and Labrador, to see the capital city of St. John’s. I was eager – I left Goose Bay in 1970 as a 12-year-old! I will let most of this post speak with pictures; it was a wonderful whirlwind of a week!
Natural Scenery : What’s to say. Stunning. Better than advertised. St. John’s sits in the bay of ancient glaciated rocks and hills and ocean. Pictures cannot capture the immensity and feel of these windswept vistas. Yet take pictures we must; we can’t let this scenery ever escape our eyes and mind.
History : This kind of natural beauty and resources invites people, people who’ve carved out a history on the land. Sometimes a rough history : strategic importance is evident in forts and military heritage.
Music, food, culture. Museums, both natural and artistic. Words fail the fabulous variety of such an ancient land with such a long, diverse history.
People: Rough yet rich in resources: the people are also rough and rich. Friendly and inviting, yet fiercely protective of their own. It both warmed my heart to be “included”, (I was welcomed for a book signing of Camp Follower One Army Brat’s Story for its Goose Bay stories), yet stung with a military child’s chagrin at the constant questions of : “Where are you from? Who are your people?” The culture here was my own, a little bit, this trip, but I’m ever an outsider.
Weather : Tough, yes. But worth it.
Newfoundland and Labrador, I’ll be back. Maybe that means I am a little bit Newfoundlander. It always tugs for return of its own.
Stevie Szabad, Author 
Great post and fantastic photos, would love to visit Newfoundland and take in the sights
Very hard to pick just a few photos. It is really an awesome destination!
I’ve also been back to places I lived as a military dependent. It’s surreal. You look very happy with your book (which I’ve read(!
Yes, I’ve been back almost everywhere but this was my first time to “the rock” itself. Plus Goose Bay is so remote, I still haven’t been back there. And if you read my book (thank you!) Then you know how I felt about Goose Bay🤗
As a military USAF, and half Newf, i never understood Labrador.’s connection. Growing up, it was just NFLD,. I was asked if i knew a y Eskimos as a kid.
Turns out, Labrador, the step child of history in Canada, was attached to Newfoundland in 1949 with Confederation. Officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador 2001.
Veterans i have spoken with have always said good things about Goose Bay and NFLD tours, in spite of the cold. They said the people were great.
We all had sealskin slippers from Hudson Bay. Stephenville had 2 stores, the other being Woolworths.
So many Newfoundlanders leave the Rock for work that there is an actual ” Come from Away” time for people to come visit friends and family.
We saw something similar last August, Kincarden, along Lake Huron, was advertising an Alumni weekend. Not necessarily the usual school meaning for alumni.
Your pictures are great. They show the hardscrabbleness of it all. I love many pictures posted, but some pros are too perfect.
It was used for many film locations over the years, usually desolate sites, surreal.
Again, a treat for your travels.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Cathy for your kind words. Yes, it was great living in Goose Bay, and now I can hardly wait for my next trip back to see the western coast and more of the Rock! The pictures hardly do justice to the grand scenery.🤗