Today we headed in to Charlottetown to tour around. The forecast was calling for chance of rain, it turned out to be a slim chance as we ended up with sun for most of the day. Here is the view from Victoria Park.

We walked along the boardwalk in search of the Government House.

Angela sitting on one of the cannons

The cannons were at a display for the Prince Edward Battery. The battery was originally built to protect the town from incoming intruders into Charlottetown Harbour.

We made our way to Government House, the girls posing with the Queen in the guardhouse.

During the summer they give free tours of Government House, the Lieutenant Governor of PEI still lives in the house.

The house was originally built in 1834.

We were waiting for the next tour.

The Fathers of Confederation met at the Government House in September of 1864.

Most of the furniture is original from 1834. This piano is 200 years old and still works.

The formal dining room.

The Queen has stayed here once, Prince Edward, Charles and Di and most recently Will and Kate were guests last year. This chair is in the Royal Suite.

The table where Will and Kate ate their breakfast.

In the bedroom.

The Grand Salon.

The girls out in the garden

There were a lot of bees busy at work.

We figured this was the Lieutenant Governors wheels.

After Government House it was down to the waterfront.

Claudia trying on a lobster hat.

Claudia waiting with me while the others were shopping.

There are still a lot of old buildings in old downtown, this one was used to store confiscated rum during prohibition.

We stopped for lunch at the Water St. Fish & Chips. We started with a plate of steamed mussels. Here is the evidence.

I ordered the 1 piece halibut and chips, it was hanging over the plate and the chips needed a knife they were so big.

It was a good meal.

We went to Church. We stopped in at St Dunstan’s Basilica.

The current church was built in 1919, after two wooden structures and a stone church built in 1896 (that burnt down in 1913).

Inside St Dunstan’s Basilica.

Down the street from St Dunstan’s is Province House. This is the birthplace of Confederation and the seat of PEI’s provincial legislature since 1847.

Some locals walking down Victoria Row.

Looking up Queen Street.

The girls with Sir John A. Macdonald.

After a stop at the grocery store it was back to the cottage, we are about 30 minutes from Charlottetown. The girls were back down to the beach as the tide was coming back in.

Blue skies made for some spectacular scenery.

It was back to beach combing for sea glass, aka “mermaid tears”. There is a Sea Glass Festival in south eastern PEI the 3rd weekend of July. Here is the handful I found in about 30 minutes.

It is a family event to see who can find the biggest piece or the most rare colours (i.e. blue).

Gillian with her handful.

Based on the forecast, this may be our only sunset while we are at the cottage.

For awhile the sea gulls were flying inland, according to some it is an indication that a storm is on its way.

My artistic sunset shot.

There it goes…

The sunset made for some interesting colours on the clouds.

After enjoying a meal out on the deck.