St. John's - I kissed the cod!
My day started at The Rooms, the big museum about everything to do with Newfoundland. It was a great way to review & pull together all of the things I'd learned at museums & information boards around the province.
fishing lures as art
a giant squid & a carving in whale bone
voucher specimens - a new term to me
beautifully presented exhibits
Last site for today was the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Baptist.
Visitors can become a Newfoundlander by getting "screeched in". Each screech in ceremony is a bit different, but the basics include wearing a sou'wester rain hat, eating a piece of bologna, kissing a cod, reciting a good wish ("Long may your big jib draw." A jib is the sail on a boat.), & downing a shot of screech rum. Our host Natalie has done a ton of acting & really put so much into this by teaching us a bunch of local lingo, & even added a sing-along at the end - a total hoot!
I've eaten most of the traditional Newfoundland dishes, but hadn't had a jigs dinner until now. It's boiled salt beef (much like ham), cabbage, carrots, sweet potatoes, & white potatoes with a side of dressing & gravy. It's mostly eaten in the winter, as all of the veggies will keep in a root cellar. While not the most exciting dish, it would be a break from cod.
Comments
Post a Comment