Prince Edward Island – Canada Day 86 – Monday, July 13 2015
By Mel
Anne of Green Gables fervour rises – today we head to Prince Edward Island.
Firstly a ferry journey. This ferry journey includes a stall selling local beer and offering free tastings of Nova Scotia beer … it was lunchtime!
Later we were to discover Uncle Leos was named one of the top breweries in Canada, Chris definitely agreed on the Vohs Weizenbier (named after a neighbour) he loved it. We felt it too early in the day to dip into the Smoked Porter but bought bottles of the others.
The ferry ride lent opportunity to sort out our free evening tonight. Firstly an invitation to go to the Pub which we accepted. Rudely we overheard Ruth and Steve talking to Ann about a music night at the PEI brewery. I also heard Ann remark that if she was free she would go hear this guy as he was excellent. So we invite ourselves to go along with Steve, Ruth and Mary and cancel our first date.
Anne rang through to organise tickets for us to hear Lenny Gallent. This turned into quite an entertainment as Anne discovered and commented on the lack of detail on the large brochure we had found on the ferry – no address, time, ticket price, booking information. There was a very circular discussion which from our end sounded like people not used to tourism with Anne’s frustration and our amusement growing.
For the afternoon another entertaining, local historian, and story-teller Boyd Beck spent time with us. Taking us on a guided walk of Charlottetown where meetings were held that led to the confederation of Canada.
These tours are enhanced by the use of our “ears”. Listening devices which worked well and enabled you to wander off (disturbingly, even to the toilet) and still hear. Boyd shared historical fact and some of the more colourful stories of the town.
Off to the PEI Brewery where we of course sampled the local brews and enjoyed the food on offer to accompany the beer before the show. On this night we agreed we had the best chips in the whole of Canada. A golden, crisp, hot delicious chip as opposed to the usual overbrown, limp offering.
A lovely time with Ruth, Steve and Mary. Then came the show . ‘Searching For Abegweit’. A history-musical-artistic story of Lennys life on PEI, which also meant a better understanding of Prince Edward Island life for us.
A large wall screen behind the stage showing mainly art by his sister Karen Gallent: haunting paintings that added to the feeling and meaning of the show. Art that reminded Mary of Chagall’s work.
Loved it so much we bought the book that included both the words of Lennie’s songs and Karen’s artwork.
