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June 9, 2011. After 38 hours on board the Carnival Glory cruise ship, riding along the east coast USA then into the Bay of Fundy, we arrived at Saint John. While on the ship, via interactive TV, we booked a tour with the Big Pink Siteseeing Tours. The positives of Big Pink were that they offered 3 different routes throughout the city and one could get on an off at various point at no additional cost.
There were 3 busses at the pier and we took the bus that went to the Reversing Falls. The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River where the rivers runs through a narrow gorge before empting into the Bay of Fundy. Every 12 hours the river flows in one direction, then it is calm and then it reverses and flows in the opposite direction. The change river height can vary up to 28 feet, depending on the cycle of the moon, which is the highest in the world.
Across the street from the Reversing Falls was the Wolastoq Park with its interesting statues of famous people of the period.
Our pretty tour guide was a wealth of knowledge of the area.
Another stop on this leg of the tour was the W. Franklin Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre. It had many artifacts of labor tools and described labor difficulties and successes over the years.
Fort Howe, once a major battle site, is located at the highest point in the area and is remembered by a small signal station and a small saluting battery.
Completing the Reversing Falls tour, we went back to town and entered the North Market Wharf.
We had an excellent lunch at the Cora restaurant and then crossed the street to visit Old City Market. Open year-round, Old City Market is the oldest continuing farmer's market in Canada, chartered in 1785. The unique roof structure resembles an inverted ship's keel because the market was build by unemployed ships carpenters of the day. The famous market offers fresh food as well as hand-made local crafts.
Also in the downtown area was a Fireman's Museum and an unnamed park with a double deck band shell. There are no permanent stairs to the upper deck, so a lift truck and stairs are temporarily put into place for concerts. In the park were monuments to famous Saint John people.
Down the street from the park was Radio Station 97.3 in operation street view. Next door to the station was a restaurant under construction. I wonder what the customers will look like?
Rounding the corner on our walking tour was this policeman in vintage uniform and his actual vintage police car. This gentleman was a former police officer and provided very interesting information about the history of Saint John's police department. Nearby was a police museum displaying vintage uniforms.
Across the street we couldn't help but notice these statues. Very interesting, real eye grabbers.
The famous Barbour's General Store is an authentic nineteenth-century country general store. Originally located 60 miles north, it was floated down the river in two pieces to be set up on King Street East in 1967.
Strolling to the Market Square at the harbor, we had an early dinner at an upscale pub. There were lots of light houses in the harbor and more interesting sculptures.
Saint John New Brunswick Canada was a most interesting and enjoyable place to visit.
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