As a writer setting my stories in Newfoundland, I like to describe it as an exotic island in the North Atlantic. And in many ways, it is.
Po
rt aux Port would be a neat setting for a book. I'm thinking The Pirates of Terre Neuve, a swashbuckling, totally Newfoundlandia version that would stir the senses with heaving breasts, passionate kisses and all that good stuff... peppered with swigs of dark, molasses rum guaranteed to lower inhibitions for such antics as cliff diving in icy waters.
Take these Alpacas from the Port aux Port Peninsula. They are from Northern Peru but are doing quite well on this small farm. These lovely, gentle animals, according to Wikipedia, can even be house trained. Not that I would, you know, want one in my home. A rabbit named Babs and a dog called Judy are quite enough, thank you.
In next pic, you see the vivid blue Atlantic ocean where we watched whales and seabirds frolic. It takes a few hours to drive along this scenic route but it's great driving, especially in a sports car with the sun beating down and the freshness of the air and landscape captivating your heart and your attention. At one point the route turns inland over volcano swept highlands before reemerging on the coast.
Newfoundland's Port aux Port Peninsula has french origins from the days when french and Basque fisherman used the west coast for seasonal fishing. Today, it's the only officially bilingual district on the island which makes it culturally unique and adds a certain mystique to its rugged beauty.
I've always had a great interest in French, having learned it as a second language. My husband carries a French name "Musseau" from Port aux Basques, and my daughter, Sarah, is currently taking a semester at the University of Lyon in France. Both she and her sister, Jennifer, who is completing grade 12, have taken french immersion throughout school.
Moi? After completing university, I spent a year in a language program at Laval in Quebec and kicked off my PR career in New Brunswick (Canada's only officially bilingual province). I've had many occasions to integrate my french with work and travel. A visit to the only French region of our province seemed to me the perfect way to enjoy a summer weekend and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
Po
rt aux Port would be a neat setting for a book. I'm thinking The Pirates of Terre Neuve, a swashbuckling, totally Newfoundlandia version that would stir the senses with heaving breasts, passionate kisses and all that good stuff... peppered with swigs of dark, molasses rum guaranteed to lower inhibitions for such antics as cliff diving in icy waters.From my research though, I think most of the piracy in Newfoundland took place on the east coast but if anyone has information on piracy around the west coast of the island, I'd be interested. Until then, I'll let my imagination run wild and see what I can dream up.
