Day 30 - Monday, June 30 - The a Garrison District, Fredericton, NB

It's hard to believe that this is the end of June already and we have been travelling for 30 days!  It is another beautiful morning but promises to be a scorcher once again, 31 degrees and full sun.  We are off to explore the town of Fredericton this morning, or at least try to get there without too many circle tours which seem to accompany our visits to most towns, ha.

As we finally get on the right road we find the town and follow the ? Signs for tourist info. City Hall has the info centre located in it, but it is not open until 9 am and as usual we are early, so a stroll down the street brings us to Cora's so we go in and sit down outside.  What a pretty town and clean too!  

 

Fountain at City Hall.  The buildings here are beautiful and are in the style of most of the architecture in the east - brick.  

This is the view down the street from Cora's.  Here behind me are the Soldiers Barracks. 

This is the capital city of New Brunswick and I am so glad we came here for Canada Day.  It is located on the St. John River and once was a British Garrison.  All that we have met so far are exceptionally friendly.  The city gives you a warm feeling and has lots to offer in heritage, culture and nature.  As you can see the streets are lined with trees, have wide walkways and lots of benches to sit and enjoy the city.

This is the Garrison District where we spent most of our day.  We visited the Soldiers Barracks where they now have Craft Shops located in what used to be the areas that housed the cannons and ammunition.  The walls are approx 2 feet thick and have arched ceilings to simulate the shape of a cannon.  Originally the soldiers slept on the two floors above the armoury, but there was a disaster in another similar Garrison where the canon exploded and killed the soldiers sleeping.  The sleeping arrangements were abandoned and the soldiers moved to different barracks in the area.  

Our next stop was the "School Days Museum".  This is housed in the annex of the Justice Building.  100 years ago it was a teachers college.  We had a tour by a history student that was excellent - she is so passionate about the history of the education system she makes it totally engaging.  Her goal once finished college is to work at a museum as a tour guide - she would excel in that area.  They have done a lot with their artifacts in such a small space.  They do re-enactments throughout the summer of the one room schoolhouse.  Very interesting.  They have excess books from various school years for sale for $1 - I purchased a book of poems by Robbie Burns.  What a find I think, it was published in 1908 by the MacMillan Company.  It originally cost $.25 - a lot for back then.  

We caught the Changing of the Guard at City hall - the parade was led by the Drummer.  That was pretty neat.

So now time to go back to the Moho for our dinner.  Tomorrow is another day, a new month and a celebration.