Yes, We Have Arrived...

We are now into our third week at Petitcodiac, New Brunswick. We have arrived and are well into our work with Ten Thousand Villages.  Last weekend Dan and I were in charge of our first sale.  This took place at a historic inn, Auberge Le Vieux Prespytere, in the lovely village of Bouctouche.  But before we take you there, let me review briefly our two week trip that brought us here. 

We left Winnipeg on August 14, and after a too short visit with Stephanie, Carlo, Ben and Clare we headed to New Hamburg, Ontario.  There we spent two nights, toured the Canadian headquarters and warehouse for Ten Thousand Villages, laughed through Shakespeare's Twelvth Night at Stratford with Dan's brother Walt and Irene before driving on to Ottawa. Here we were graciously hosted for three nights by Rennie and Jenny Regehr.  We were touring the Parliament buildings the day Jack Leighton died.  We would say that The Canadian War Museum is a must see...a very sobering look at the question of war. 

From Ottawa we drove to Montreal and stayed in a little village north of the city with a French Canadian couple, Yves and Chantal Bourgeault, Mennonite Your Way hosts.  It was amazing to find they had warm connections to Debbi and  Robert Marten Koop. 

Next stop was Quebec City.  We had arranged for a B&B in Old Quebec and had a delightful time touring and eating, including a free performance of Cirque de Soliel. From there we turned our hearts and minds to our Maritimes destination.  However, the drive along the south coast of the St. Lawrence was wonderful, the weather continuing mild and sunny. Dan was more than delighted when we happened upon the former summer home of Sr. John A Macdonald, now a heritage home and B&B. 

So, now we are here...working quite hard really, for a retired couple, but we are happy to be here and finding ourselves becoming inspired by "free trade" and the artisans we are supporting around the world.

This is the inn where Dan and I set up our sale last Friday. Built in 1880 as a residence for the parish priest, it now graces a wonderful interfaith chapel and invites guests to refresh in body and spirit. Our sojourn in the Maritimes will take us many places. We have hardly begun ...