From: olaf@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Subject: Re: St. Pierre Island
Organization: Memorial University. St.John's Nfld, Canada
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 19:50:02 GMT


In article <24185@galaxy.ucr.edu>, santafe@watserv.ucr.edu (michael a parisi) writes:
> 
> I understand that this place is a French territory south of Newfoundland.
> Can someone who has been there tell me about it?
> Even better, would anyone out there have an address of their tourist info.
> office, if one exists?

Michael,

We've lived in Newfoundland for over ten years, and have always
planned to visit St. Pierre and Miquelon, but it was always "next
summer." We still haven't gone. However, I can provide some
information that may be of use.

Getting there: If by car, you'll have to take the (6 hour) ferry
from North Sydney in Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques in
Newfoundland, then drive several hundred kilometres to the
Goobies turnoff (I kid you not!) and follow the Burin highway
south to Fortune. This is a two-day trip, unless you want to kill
yourself driving it in one day. There are motels at Fortune and
Grand Bank (best to reserve in advance). You will have to leave
your car there; the ferry (two hours) to St. Pierre takes people,
not cars. Perhaps you can pack bikes along; that would be handy
in St. Pierre. For travel information in Newfoundland (maps,
accommodations, advice) write: Ministry of Cultural Affairs,
Tourism and Historic Resources, P.O. Box 2016, St. John's,
Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5R8. There once was an 800 number good
from the USA (1-800-563-6353) but it may no longer be in service
(budget cuts).

There's more than one ferry from Fortune; each is run privately,
and is linked to one of the main hotels on the island, so you can
expect biased information about ferries from the hotel people and
vice versa. SPM Tours works with the "Arethusa" and the Hotel
Robert/Motel Rode and the Dupont Bed-and-Breakfast (more on
accommodations in a moment). SPM Tours offers package deals for
its customers, including mini-bus links with St. John's,
Newfoundland in case you fly there directly and don't want to
drive yourself to Fortune. Write SPM Tours at 38 Gear Street, St.
John's, Newfoundland A1C 2J5 or telephone (709) 722-3892 for tour
package information. The other ferry is the "St. Eugene V." It takes
only one hour to cross (around $50 Canadian return per adult),
but does not operate every day. It offers package deals with
Hotel Ile de France, as well as a two-star hotel and bed-and-
breakfasts. Write to the operators, Armement Borotra Freres, St.
Pierre, or telephone (+011-508) 41-20-78/41-24-80 or Fax 41-46-
08.

If you are flying in, you can come via Halifax. There is a small
airline that your travel agent can find out about.

When you arrive, you'll have to pass through customs. Canadians
or Americans require only some form of identification: a driver's
license will do. Passports are not essential unless you come from
somewhere other than Canada or the USA. Visitors returning to
Newfoundland from St. Pierre are limited in their duty free
allowance by Canadian regulations (check in Canada). St. Pierre
itself is small, and both town and the island can easily covered
in a couple of days; walk or bike. There are a couple of hotels,
and there are lots of bed-and-breakfasts. For full information,
write the "Agence regionale du tourisme" at rue 11 Novembre in
St. Pierre, St. Pierre & Miquelon; telephone (+011-508) 41-23-84
or fax (+011-508) 41-33-55. There's also a Centre d'accueil at
blvd. Port en Bessin (+011-508) 41-38-14. The Hotel Ile de France
is at 6 rue Maitre Georges Lefevre (tel. 41-28-36; fax 41-25-55).

Don't limit yourself to St. Pierre; you can take overnight trips
to Miquelon out of St. Pierre. Miquelon is less populated and
bigger in size; if you like beach walking, that's the place
(Miquelon used to be two islands; Langlade is now linked with
Miquelon by a narrow sandbar). The Escale Hotel in Miquelon is at
24 rue Victor Briand (tel. 41-63-09). This excursion only runs
for certain days each week; you may want to coordinate your visit
to Miquelon with your St. Pierre-Fortune ferry schedule (i.e., it
may make sense to head to Miquelon as soon as you get to St.
Pierre, and do St. Pierre after you get back to Miquelon). Also,
the weather is unpredictable (like Newfoundland, SP&M has
weather, not climate). Take sweaters, shells, and foul weather
gear just in case. Fogs can also cause unexpected interruptions
of your schedule. Be flexible.

There are a fair number of restaurants of varying qualities, and
as far as I know, American or Canadian currency is acceptable,
though I have no idea whether the exchange rate is in your favour
or against you when you use US or Canadian dollars rather than
French francs.

Good luck with your plans.

Olaf Janzen
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Corner Brook, Newfoundland
A2H 6P9