tinku touches down in Nfld

I'm writing this post from my friend's kitchen table in St. John's, Newfoundland.

For those who don't know much about this place, Newfoundland is an island on the east coast of Canada.  St. John's is on the eastern end of the island, and it is the oldest city in North America. It is also the place where my family chose to live after leaving India, when I was 3 years old. One of my earliest memories is of jumping on the bed of the Holiday Inn in St. John's, where we first stayed while waiting to move into our home. Even though Newfoundland is a large island, it has maintained a distinct island mentality, retaining much of its Irish heritage in the lilts of people's voices and the traditional music played in homes and bars.

Coming here is always a welcome respite from my life in Toronto because life is a little slower, more civilized. Strangers smile and say hello when they pass you on the sidewalk. You can get more done in an hour than you could in an afternoon in a bigger city. Yet it is by no means a sleepy town. St. John's has a vibrant art, theatre and music scene, and while I am here I will be spending time with tinku gallery artist Elena Popova as well as visiting other artists studios.

I left Newfoundland 21 years ago to continue my adventures around the world, but always came back regularly, and in recent years purchased a small home in Gros Morne Park, on the west coast of the province.  No matter how often I am here, I never fail to get a little choked up as the plane starts its approach, and the vistas of my childhood come into sight.

It is surreal to see the things I knew as a child, with fresh eyes - things like the magnificent cliffs, the rocky beaches where I played as a child, the sight of whales swimming in the ocean, the small pubs where local musicians play.  It is a joy to be here, to have conversations in people's kitchens, to see the stars sparkle at night when I walk home, to breathe in fresh, unpolluted air.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will post more from Newfoundland and share some highlights of this trip with you.

Image credit: lazylikewally