faithfully recreating prince edward island

After a long historical walking tour of Charlottetown, a stop for lunch and World Cup viewing at a fantastic pub (where I had my first Guinness in four days -- I was beginning to have withdrawl) we made our way to the Cows Ice Cream shop.

At Cows, they make great cones as well as sell all sorts of bovine-theamed parody merchandise, like Desperate Cowswives or SpongeBob Cowpants, and it was highly recommended by a couple CruiseTrekkers who have done this route before.

I stood at the counter, and looked at the buckets of ice cream spread out in the cooler in front of me. I remembered those days when I was too little to see into the average ice cream cooler, even if I stood on my tip-toes, and ordered something called chocolate mud. I didn't know exactly what it was, but it looked too chocolately and totally awesome to pass up.

"Would you like that in a cone?" The girl behind the counter said.

"Sure," I said. "A waffle cone would be great."

She pointed to a cone that had been dipped in chocolate, then in rainbow sprinkles.

"Dipped or regular?"

"Regular, please."

Look, I love chocolate, but even I have my limits.

She began to scoop my cone, and one of her co-workers, a teenage boy with a mouthful of braces and rubber bands -- a little geeky but clearly in the good way -- said, "You'd better be careful, he's blogging this."

"How did he know I'm a blogger? Did he recognize me from something and he knows about my blog?" I thought. Then I realized, I'm wearing my black "I'm Blogging This" T-shirt from Think Geek.

"Yes," I laughed. "I will be immediately running to the Internets to faithfully recreate every detail of our transaction, cleverly noting the things which please and displease me, for I am a blogger! Fear my mighty XML!"

He cracked up, I cracked up, and she looked at us like we were speaking a different language, which we were. I took my cone, and managed to get some of the ice cream into my mouth before it dripped down my face an all over my arms. Some things never change, I guess.

On my way back to to the ship to write this, I had grand visions of "faithfully recreating" the experience on my blog, including the flying robots and monsters I totally gunned-down Chuck Norris-style without dripping any of my cone on the ground, but while I was jotting notes down in my book, some ninjas grabbed me and spirited me away to a cave in the mountains, where they forced me to reconfigure their underwater lasergun missile base before they'd let me go. They also took my notebook from me, and tore out all my pages about Prince Edward Island, because that's how Canadian Ninjas roll, apparently.

I'm having an amazingly good time on this cruise. I'm having so much fun, in fact, that I would rather just experience the fun and really enjoy every moment, rather that moderately detach from everything and observe it, so I can note and record all my experiences to write about them later. I have lots of pictures, though, and I'm jotting notes in a notebook, so maybe I'll have some SpongeBob Vegaspants-esque saga to write up when I get home.

Gotta go. I'm sure I'm missing something cool right now.

Comments

[Joe]

Wish I was on that Cruise. Charles pays great attention to detail when arranging the cruises.

I should hook up with Mr. Datin for my next outting!

Glad you're have such a nice time. :)

[JohnD]

Enjoy "The Maritimes" Wil. It is a fantastic place to completely reset your time meter!

[Devlyn]

Sounds so much fun. I would love to go up there... will have to settle for only 4 days of domestic holiday this year. I'm looking forward to my mini-break this weekend, though...

[MJBUtah]

I am so happy you are having a good time. You definitely needed the break.

Put down the notebook, pick up the beer and be sure to EXPERIENCE it, not observe it. Sometimes it takes effort to leave the writer out of it for a while.

[Chaz]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the Maritime hospitality. There is also a Cows in Halifax, at the Historic properties. It is only a few blocks from the candy store on the map I emailed you. Anyone will be able to direct you there. Enjoy the trip.

[Denlamarelle]

I have been a long time lurker but had to say Yea for FUN! It is so wonderful that you are having a great time and really being in the moment. I have even more incentive to visit PEI now! Enjoy the rest of your trip and take good care, Wil. ~D.

[cryssyer]

Do you need permission to relax and enjoy? If so, it's granted! Really, you can just put in a quick note that you are having a good time, and we will understand. I don't think we expect you to narrate the rest of your life for us :) Ok, we do, but only because we live vicariously through you and would otherwise have nothing to look forward to each day....

So, if you would, please have a pint for me and enjoy the trip!

[risingsunofnihon]

You've definitely got the right idea when you say you're going to stop trying to observe everything and just enjoy the experience you're having. Sounds like it's been a fantastic trip for you so far!

[starshine_diva]

It's good to hear you're having fun. That's the whole point of a vacation/cruise, isn't it?

I'm trying to save up for next year's Cruise Trek to Australia... which would be wicked because I've always wanted to go there, I've got family there, and well... OMG! CRUISE TREK!!

That aside, enjoy yourself. It's cool (super duper cool) to read about every single little thing you do. But we can survive without it for a week.

Maybe. :P

[Nathan Gill]

Hey Wil,

I'm a huge fan, I live in Charlottetown and I CANNOT believe I missed you in town, here. I'm absolutely very disappointed that you were here and I didn't get to say hello. I didn't realize this Cruise you were talking about came through Charlottetown. Next time, Wil!

[Repton]

There's a town in New Zealand called Bulls. A while ago, the town elders decided that it would be cool to pun on the town name. So, now, there's a cafe called "Eat-i-bull", public toilets with a sign saying "Reliev-a-bull", even a church called "Forgive-a-bull".

(in fact, by the magic of the internets, I can give you the complete list!)

(Bulls' other claim to fame is that State Highway 1 takes a right turn at an intersection there. Many travellers have failed to notice and ended up in the wrong part of the country entirely :-) )

[Keith L. Dick]

Your a lucky guy Wil...

I only got to see Windsor Ontario when I was in 9th grade and never have gotten a chance to go back to Canada and look around...

[Kornham]

It's like your a little kid again on summer vacation.

[CarolP]

Have a great time on the cruise, Wil! Fully immerse yourself! Live it up! We'll still be here when you get back.

Ok, that sounds a little pathetic, but you know what I mean. lol.

[Shky]

Have fun in Halifax, Wil. I've lived here all my life and I'm still amazed by how great a city it is. It's awesome working downtown and taking the ferry across the harbour (the longest running salt water ferry service in North America... or so our tourism page says) into work. Beautiful city.

If you're downtown at noon, listen for the cannon fired from Citadel Hill. Happens everyday and shakes my office building everytime.

[annie]

my legolas is soring thru the air as he runs from the ninjas. he has ice cream on his cape.

[Christie]

This is the most relaxed you've sounded in a long time. You deserve it. Soak the good vibes and pass them along to the rest of us poor suckers when you get home. Enjoy!

[WestsideKef]

What a trip. I did basically the same one last summer for a friend's wedding in Montague PEI.

Forget the detailed observing. Just enjoy it!

[Grec]

I also live in Charlottetown, almost fell off the internet when I heard you were around and that I missed you. Hopefully you stop by again. In the words of Dr. Claw: Next Time Gadget!!

[esmerel]

PEI is lovely, especially this time of year. It's also one of the few places tapwater tastes good =)

I've even been to that COWS. mm, cows.

[Pete]

For some reason I read 'underwear lasergun missile base...', why have all the other cubicled workers just prairy-dog?!

[Syndelin]

What a great shared moment. That boy will probably remember it for a long time. The greatest gifts are in those little moments of connection. =)

Oh, and you should have gone for the sprinkles! ;)

[SteveM]

I am glad you are enjoying Atlantic Canada. While you are there, you should try some of the Canadian beers. One local favourite is Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale, a rather tasty beer. One of my favourites, in fact. Some of North America's oldest breweries can be found in the Maritimes. Alexander Keith's is one of them. It celebrated its 210th anniversary last October.

[Jenn]

I had no idea you were going to PEI! I live in New Brunswick and we've "gone over the bridge" the last 3 summers. It's my favorite place to go. Being there just makes me happy. :) Hope you enjoyed it.

[RobinR]

My wife and I just moved to Charlottetown from Florida a couple weeks ago. I'm looking forward to visiting COWS soon too... glad you enjoyed it!

Now to find my "No, I will not fix your computer!" T-Shirt from Think Geek before my visit there!