The main event of the trip was the wedding of my brother in-law and his fiancé in Amherst, Nova Scotia. The wedding ceremony took place in a small rural town called Fenwick which is just outside of Amherst.
The wedding was among the most wonderful and joyful I have ever attended. All the elements were there: friends, family, a handsome groom and a beautiful bride. An outdoor ceremony beneath a deep blue sky and flowers on a hand-crafted wooden arch. Yet there was something more. Weddings can sometimes feel a bit impersonal when the ceremony and pomp take centre stage and guests feel a sense of detachment. I felt none of this. This wedding had a genuine feeling of community, welcome, warmth and deep, powerful love. The ceremony was both fun and moving, simple yet profound. It's difficult to pinpoint one thing that made the day so special, but I would venture to say that it was the people themselves. The warmth, generosity and openness of the families made everyone feel welcome. Without a doubt, it was the highlight of our vacation.
The second part of our journey took us to Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island. Despite what anyone might tell you, size does not matter. P.E.I. packs more scenery and history into one little island than some of Canada's largest provinces. The island's rolling hills are a patchwork of green and gold fields dotted with barns and Victorian style farmhouses. On a sunny day the contrast of the red soil, emerald fields and the blue ocean are a feast for the eyes. Our chalet was situated on the southern coast of P.E.I. on the Northumberland Strait. When the tide receded it revealed a near half kilometre of rusty red sand bars populated by hermit crabs, tiny fish and sea shells of all shapes and sizes. The sounds and smells of the sea still resonate in my mind.
P.E.I. feels both exotic and familiar. The small farmhouses, churches, villages and wharfs seem to belong to the landscape as if nature had designed their place from the beginning. Then there are the spectacular red sandstone cliffs that rise sharply from the shoreline, a unique and visually stunning feature of the island. (If you were wondering, the secret ingredient that makes the soil so red is iron).
The people of P.E.I. are gentle, kind and welcoming. Coupled with the island's natural beauty, although not as dramatic as British Columbia's mountain coastline, the bright lights of Toronto or Quebec City's historic structures, it is a place that is quietly captivating, inspiring and rejuvenating.
Yes, the corporate tourism machine was hard at work playing up Anne of Green Gables, the birthplace of Confederation and of course the potatoes (sometimes in weird combinations ie: Anne of Green Gables chocolate covered potato chips). I got the impression that most locals quietly tolerated these themes with the full knowledge of the importance of the tourist industry. I suspect many roll their eyes in private every time they hear the words Avonlea and Fathers of Confederation (ironically P.E.I. was the last province to enter confederation, they had once considered joining the United States). Still, it was easy to see that the residents of this island jewel had great pride in their home, one that is clearly justified.
Perhaps the most memorable part of this vacation was not so much an event or a place, but simply having time to be with family, to share stories, laughter and discovery. Vacations have a way of reminding us of the things that are the most important in life, spending time with the people you love and appreciating how the simplest blessings of life are with us every day. We live in a spectacular country, rich in diversity and culture, free of conflict and strife. Sometimes stopping to appreciate these things can do more than recharge our batteries, it can also help us to open our minds to discovery and perhaps grow a little wiser.
Hopefully this feeling will linger for a long time to come.
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