Maritimes Madness | DAY 3: (Pt. 1) Anne of Green Gables + Orby Head

​The subsequent morning, we awoke to warmer weather and slightly less overcast conditions.
​As such, we revisited the waterfront and the touristy red sign. We caught sight of a cruise ship, along with a prevue of the copper-tinged mineral material that we would later witness in abundance.

​Receiver Coffee Co. on Richmond St. (Victoria Row?) was my chosen breakfast destination. Nestled between the Anne of Green Gables shop and a series of gastropubs and tourist traps, the storefront was somewhat reminiscent of Maison May, front-facing windows and entrance ramp and all.
​In contrast, its interior bore a shocking similitude to My Dog Joe. One could describe the establishment as rustic - very dim with dingy lighting and a chalkboard-like menu board.​

​Toronto café prices were observed here. (You know, basic Toast for $4 and avotoast for $5 extra at $9.)
The caffeinated drink menu was slightly lacking in labels. Next to each listing was two prices, but it was not made clear whether it pertained to cup size or temperature level (hot/iced).
​
Similar to many other cafés, hot drinks were served in insulated paper cups sporting café's logo, while iced beverages in disposable plastic cups.

​My small Iced Latte (requested with light ice) was four dollars before tax and underfilled a solid. 1.5 - 2 cm under the rim of the cup. My wait time averaged three minutes, which was longer than that of customers who had ordered pour-overs or hot lattes (complete with latte art). But, from what I recall, it doesn't take much to pull an espresso shot.
The final product was unsweetened and, frankly, very, very average. I could have easily reproduced the beverage at home. At least the brew hadn't been overly acidic.

​I also picked up a Blackberry Basil Muffin for substantiation. Unlike the latte, it far succeeded my expectations by proving itself a super tasty specimen; a crisp exterior, ultra-moist interior, and two fresh blackberries contributed to its charm. I could not perceive the presence of basil, but the addition of the herb is usually a hit or miss. The subtlety of the culinary plant was probably for the best in this case.

​Anne of Green Gables is the quintessential tourist destination of the province, along with COWS (a stop we could not make it due to schedule restrictions). Signage for the Heritage House adopted the form of a federal government fixture with the name of a National Park. The gaudy, colourful signs were not to be observed at all, thus we missed the entrance the first time around.

​Upon pulling in, we were caught off guard by the massive "improvement" project underway. With not much else to provide directions, we simply trailed behind a tour bus of elderly participants until we found the entrance. The "National Park" demanded adult admission fees of $6.50 per head. Attendees under the age of seventeen had the privilege of complimentary entry.
For book lovers, this was a small price to pay. For common folk such as ourselves, it was undeniably steep for popping in briefly.

​Visitors had the opportunity to trek through the famed Anne of Green Gables Heritage House in a single-file line. With over thirty slow-moving people before us and close-to-zero interest in the artifacts themselves, we bid the lineup farewell and settled for snapping shots of its exterior.

​Another attraction was the Butter Churn Cafe, which was established out of the side of a cavernous barn. Again, we didn't involve ourselves with this like the tour bus party did. Time was the governing restriction, and more activities lay before us.

​The boutique was the sole component that bestowed us with the opportunity of taking a tangible part of the journey home with us. Clay magnets featuring potatoes, delicate China, monogrammed glassware, and orange braids were frequent sightings, though we ultimately decided on a number of fridge magnets and an adorable PVC photo frame.

​The next stop was my suggestion. Only a few minutes from the Heritage House was Orby Head - a destination I had discovered via Insta-research.

​One of the great things about social media is its ability to determine its recent amount of foot/vehicle traffic and, more importantly, whether the attraction still exists in present day. Too many times have outdated GPS systems led me towards dead-end streets and Starbucks-turned-construction sites.
The plethora of available information online also condenses the primary points of attraction such than one can easily determine whether a site is worth the drive during the planning stage.

View the full album HERE !

​Orby Head was a cliff-like spot which was seemingly plain and uninteresting at first. The GPS had directed us towards a hidden entrance with a dusty gravel ledge. It provided a great view of the waves below, but wasn't exactly photo-friendly.

​Refusing to admit defeat, I suggested a different path of access, one that we had passed by without giving a second thought. A paved asphalt lot welcomed us; a rocky downhill path then introduced us to a spectacular view of the crashing waves, brick red sedimentary rocks, and renowned picture-taking POI.

​Once at ocean-level, the terrain evolved into a fine, saturated sand. The vibes were almost beach-like, with the exception of cool temperatures and unforgiving winds.

​Singlehandledly one of the most enjoyable off-route lookout points, I was grateful that Orby Head managed to assume a slot in the itinerary.

Read Part 2 HERE !