Travel No, we’re not talking about Quebec or francophone Canada. Saint-Pierre andMiquelon are the last remnants of the French empire in North America.Their flag depicts theGrande Hermine, the ship on which Jacques Cartier landed in Saint-Pierre in 1536 and claimed the islands for France. The Portuguese discovered the islands in 1520. European fishermen followed, drawn by the abundant cod. For years, the islands were tossed back and forth like ping-pong balls between France and Britain. Dispelled to France six times, the residents always returned. The 1763 Treaty of Paris awarded Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to France as a token concession after giving the rest of Canada to Britain. Additional British occupations prevented France from permanently repopulating the islands until 1816. Our first stop was the Tourist Information Office in Saint-Pierre, where we picked up free brochures and guidebooks. Their maps showed us that the archipelago is comprised of three main islands and several uninhabited islets. Located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 20 kilometres south of Newfoundland and 4,300 kilometres west of Paris, the islands are accessible by air and sea. Air Saint-Pierre flights connect the island to Paris, Montreal, Halifax, Les-Iles-de-laMadeleine and St. John’s. (The flight from Newfoundland’s capital is only 45 minutes long.) A ferry transports passengers yearround, from Fortune, NL to Saint-Pierre in 55 minutes. It travels between Fortune and Miquelon from May to September. Pleasure boats and a few cruise ships also bring visitors. Saint-Pierre, the capital and smallest main island (26 square kilometres) has a population of 5,500. The islands of Miquelon and Langlade cover 200 square kilometres and have a population of 614. Dumbbellshaped, they are linked by a road-topped,12kilometre-long isthmus, locally known as “la dune.” SAINT-PIERRE and MIQUELON Until it’s safe to travel to Europe again, find French culture, cuisine and heritage only a 45-minute flight from Newfoundland Story and photos by Barb & Ron Kroll 18 | www.snowbirds.org
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