Many people took advantage of the sights and sounds here despite the threatening weather. A lady walked up from the point where the Cape is and I struck up a conversation with her. We were both waiting for someone to come down from the top. Her name was Lois and she was from Ontario. She said her husband had been stationed here during the War and it was her first trip to see it. She unfortunately had the all-too-frequent view of Newfoundlanders that many Ontarians do - that of the "goofy Newfie." I could not convince her otherwise and it was annoying me, so I politely ended the conversation and sat in the car for a bit, cooling off.
She could not understand why I've come back here so many times, but she hadn't bothered to explore anything but George Street - "I don't see why everyone says it's such a wonderful place!"
Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders are much more than what you find on George Street. It's a shame that George Street is what the town is famous for. There are just too many other things to do and see in St. John's than that. I wish they didn't play it up so much. I can't see why Newfoundland tourism should begin and end on George Street. But for many who come, that's all they know - drunk Newfoundlanders. No wonder the province's inhabitants get a bad rap! The province itself, however doesn't help by promoting George Street as much as they do. Sigh. |
