Quidi Vidi

 Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Newfoundland… about 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  We had only one scheduled activity and it was a brewery tasting including lunch.  At 9:30, we all drove ourselves to the very quaint fishing village of Quidi Vidi and the brewery there with the same name.  It was only a 15 minute drive but felt worlds away from the hustle and bustle of downtown St. John’s.  It was a narrow cove with high cliffs all around and colorful boats lining the tiny harbor.  Parking was ridiculously hard to find, but we managed to find a spot close to the brewery.  Things didn’t start until 10:30 so we had a little time to look around and take some pictures.

Quidi Vidi Brewing Co.  

At 10:30, we all went in and were seated at tables of four, each with four beer samples waiting for us.  I guess I thought we’d have a tour first, but this turned out to be a tasting only.  It was a little weird drinking beer so early, especially since Steve and I had not had any breakfast.  Our guide was great, though, and he walked us through the beers and explained how each were made.  Their flagship beer, called Iceberg, is actually made from 2000 year old icebergs!  They actually have someone go out and collect them as they float by!  Because the water in an iceberg is so pure (no minerals or anything) he said they actually have to add that to the iceberg water.  Evidently pure water makes for a tasteless beer, so they have to add some of that back in.  He also told us when they are collecting icebergs, they are careful to pick up smaller ones, because if a bigger one decides to tip over, the undertow can be very dangerous.  Sometimes they even use explosives to make them smaller and safer to handle.  The things you learn! 

We had been told by our tour guide that we would all be getting fish and chips for lunch today, but as we were being seated, our server said we could have a vegan wrap if we preferred.  Most of us stuck with the fish option but a few of our group opted for the wrap.   I don’t know if our wagon master heard him giving us that option or if he told her himself, but she got really mad for some reason.  She announced, actually yelled, at us that ALL of us had to have fish and that was the ONLY option!  Our waiter went over to her to explain that some people may not like fish or be vegetarians so they always have an option for them.  There would be no additional charge to the company for that. She actually looked at him and stated rudely to him to basically read her lips! as she pointed to her mouth. She offended him and embarrassed us, and everyone got the fish whether wanted or not.  Many of us, me included, apologized to the server and the beer guide for our tour guide (whose name is Penny) and assured him that this was not the attitude of the rest of us.  It really was awkward, and Penny didn’t seemed fazed by it at all and didn’t even seem to notice how it affected the rest of us.  We’ve seen a little of this behavior already but I didn’t feel a need to write about it until now. 

That being said, the fish was the best I’ve had on the trip so far.  It really was delicious.  The fact that we were eating lunch and drinking before 11:00 was a bit strange, but we are a flexible group and went with the flow.  Of course the behavior of Penny was the topic of discussion for quite a while, and one of the guys in our group plans to call the company today to tell them about it.  

Once the lunch and tasting was over, several of us hung out and stayed a while.  It was so gorgeous out that we hung around and tasted more beer and got to know some of our other caravaners better.  It really was a nice afternoon.  

Once we were done there, Steve and I went back to the campground for a nap.  We spent the rest of the day relaxing and reading.