"Saint Pierre - France's Falklands" Saint-Pierre by BlaineandPat

St Pierre is on the way to.....well nowhere really. In fact, the main reason we went there was to be able to say. "We've been to St Pierre." The island, an overseas department of France, is in the sea (Where islands are often found) between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. While it’s been a fishing center in the past, the decline of the fish stock in the region has made the island more of a welfare state in recent history. But the area does not seem poor at all – in fact it seems more prosperous than the neighboring towns in Newfoundland.

Traveling to St Pierre is no different than going to Europe. The locals speak French, use the Euro and generally act French. In one of the island's nice restaurants when I asked for ketchup for my fries (as Americans are obliged to do) I was rewarded with the biggest bottle of Heinz 57 made. More of a drum of Ketchup actually – possibly even the whole of the island’s strategic ketchup reserve. I think they might have lacked discretion on purpose. As for the best method to get to St Pierre – I recommend a drive from St John’s. While there is air service to the island, a visitor traveling for pleasure would be better served combining their trip with a tour of Newfoundland. Limiting a visit to St Pierre itself might end up being a bit….boring.

It's a relaxing little anomaly, but don't visit expecting much to do. The city's the size of a large college campus and just as intimate. It's hard to get to and more expensive than the enormous neighbor that surrounds it - Canada. But if you enjoy visiting places that most people have never heard of - stop by! Well, you can't really stop by since you take a plane to a car to a boat......but you get the idea.

St Pierre and Lighthouse from the hydrofoil

For some reason, the official website of St Pierre an Miquelon doesn't rank very high with Google.

However, they do offer a handy, comprehensive online guide
http://www2.st-pierre-et-miquelon.info/

• Pros:Clean, safe and unique
• Cons:Bring a good book