MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PEI

In this installment of my blog, I have made it my mission to dispel some common misconceptions about Prince Edward Island that some of you may have heard and/or believe. Having lived here now for three whole months don't you think this makes me highly qualified to do so?

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND IS FLAT: 
This is a misconception that even we had. The topography of PEI is certainly not mountainous. There aren't any 'real' mountains but it is not flat. It can accurately be described as very pretty rolling country that affords some panoramic views, especially if you overlook the ocean. Not everyone can or does live close enough to see the ocean, even on little PEI, but no matter. A view of rolling countryside, whether green in the summer or snowy in the winter, is a great second best and well worth a look.

A winter scene looking across fields. 

The road we have been driving daily.

Why, there's even downhill skiing. Yup. There sure is. Link to Brookvale Activity Park. The Laurentians have no cause to worry, nor does Whistler, but if you want to do a bit of downhill skiing within twenty minutes of home, look no further.

The ski hill on a week-day.

In addition to Nordic Skiing, there are X-country trails.

Another winter scene across the fields.

Summer in PEI

Pastoral and green in summer.

Fields of green with blue ocean behind.

THE LOCALS ON PEI CAN BE ALOOF:
Another myth we are happy to dispel. We were warned that people 'from away' (which we are) can have a difficult time meeting locals. Perhaps we have been lucky, perhaps we were just at the right place at the right time; we did make an effort to get to know people. Through tennis I have been lucky enough to meet some really fun tennis players and made friends with a few of them.

Having lunch at the home of a couple of tennis players. Great afternoon.

Erik is on a pretty regular schedule playing music at a few Seniors' Homes in the area with the expectation of meeting other musicians who also play there. The staff and the residents are extremely welcoming to him.

Sorting out our mailbox for our new home, Erik went into the local little Post Office. The people we bought the house from never had mail delivered there so Canada Post is unaware of the existence of our house.The conversation went something like this:

Clerk, with a big smile:                 Hi. How are you.
Erik:                                               Hi. I need to set up mail delivery for 14 Andi-Lee Court. The                                                                  owners there now had their mail delivered somewhere else.
Clerk, with a big smile:                 Sure, happy to help.
Voice from out back:                     We got something for you already. I'll bring it out.
Clerk, with a big smile:                 I'm just filling in for Gladys. She fell down and broke her arm.
Erik:                                              On the ice?
Clerk, with a not so big smile;      Yup, on the ice. You have to be careful out there.
Erik:                                              You sure do.
Clerk, with a big smile.                 Where you coming from?
Erik:                                               We  moved here from Ontario. Moving into our new house on                                                                Friday.
Clerk, with a big smile:                 Welcome. You sure picked a pretty spot to live.
Erik:                                               Thanks. We think so.
Clerk, with  a big smile:                 Here's the key for your new post box. Enjoy.
Erik:                                                Will do. Thanks.
Voice from out back:                       Have a good day.

Contrast this with the last time you tried to deal with Canada Post Corporate online or via phone.

This has been our experience in stores, in pubs, at the Spa where I am a member and at every Senior Home where Erik has played. Everyone is friendly and charming and more than welcoming to us folks 'from away'.

WINTERS ON PEI ARE HARSHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE:
I am thinking my last blog, We Experience a PEI Winter Storm, has partially dispelled that myth but if it hasn't, let me say again. The winter we are having is no different than winter in Ontario. It snows, it doesn't snow, it is cold, it gets colder, it warms up, it is windy, it is balmy. The snow melts, it rains, the snow comes back again. The winds here are something else, I will say. They are fierce and strong but other than that, winter is winter.

The difference in these two photos is a mere ten days. Snowed in we were, then it melted and rained, and boom. Gone.

MARITIMES ARE ONE BIG CHUNK OF LAND:
Lots of people tend to lump the Maritimes together; probably because of the small population, but combined Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland have a land mass of  500,531 km sq and a population of 2,333,300. Now, I know that Newfoundland is not considered part of the Maritimes but let's be fair to the Newfies and include them in our little group today.

I will hazard a guess that the reason for this misconception relates back to the weather. Bad weather in the Maritimes is a bit of a fallacy as each Province has its own unique climate and microclimates within it. Even here on our little island we have areas with more snow than others, and there can be a storm on the west of the island only. So, a blizzard in New Brunswick doesn't necessarily mean a blizzard in Newfoundland. When there is freezing rain in Newfoundland it doesn't mean there is freezing rain here in PEI.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CLOSES DOWN IN THE WINTER:
Ha ha, just kidding. Everything outside of Charlottetown does pretty much close down for the winter. Except for a few of the small towns where you can go get groceries or find a family style restaurant, you need to go to Charlottetown for pretty much everything else. And what a fine town Charlottetown is. Beautiful, historic, lovely harbour, great parks, pretty houses and an abundance of restaurants, pubs and shopping for such a small city.