ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Our next stop on the cruise was to Prince Edward Island in Canada.

My choice of excursions lead me to a fun filled day all about Anne of Green Gables.

I knew I was going on this excursion, so before I left for my cruise, I watched the movie. I had heard about Anne of Green Gables all my life but I don't think I ever read one of the books or ever saw one of the movies before.

If you are like me and have not read or watched any of the Anne of Green Gables stories you must do so at once. It is very cute.

The bus picked us up at the pier and we had about a 40 minute ride to get to where we were to spend the day.

The views were so pretty. Around every corner there were sights that I've only seen in the movies. I believe Prince Edward Island has to be one of the prettiest places on earth.

Even as we drove through the neighborhoods, I noticed that every house was maintained perfectly. The houses were all different from each other, yet each one was just as lovely as the next.

The houses were all painted so nice and everyone had a garden that looked like they had just finished cleaning up. Not a thing was out of place.

As we pulled up to our stop, Anne, herself greeted us with a nice cold raspberry cordial.

If you know anything about the stories you will know that this is what Anne serves to her company. At first I was thinking it was a liquor but then I was thinking it couldn't be as this was a drink that kids drank.

I took a sip and it was actually like a raspberry soda. It was very very good and very refreshing.

After our cold drink we walked around inside this building that is really not much more then a gift shop. Anything and everything that had to do with Anne of Green Gable was in here.

We then walked outside. Just a little walk away was the house where Anne grew up.

Well in the story that is. In real life the author was raised here by her grandmother. Her mother had died when she was just a little girl and her father was unable to care for her so he gave her to her grandmother to raise.

A lot of her real life was mixed in with the stories she wrote.

Outside we got to do a horse drawn carriage ride around the grounds. It was fun. We rode around where they really would have back in the day.

Also, the grounds really made you feel like you were in the story as you were surrounded by the places she speaks about in the books.

The fields were so green and fresh smelling. A lake was off in the distance but very well within walking distance.

I could almost see Anne and her friends running around out there playing.

The house was small but you could tell there was a lot of love that had filled the walls inside.

The property is stilled owned by the authors family. They were there and showed us around.

This is a mirror that Lucy Montgomery (the author) used to look at as she ran downstairs to school every day.

It is at the top of the stairs landing. I almost felt as if you looked long enough maybe you could see her relextion stareing back at you.

These were some of the authors belongings. Now I don't know all the stories of Anne of Green Gables but I believe she talks about these items in one of the stories.

This is the view the author used to look out at and dream up her stories.

She talks about looking out this window in one of the stories also.

In the story she talks about "The Lake of Shimmering Waters" and this is the place that she was talking about.

Can't you just picture yourself sitting out here for hours with a nice cold drink and a book? I sure can.

Of course they have signs up everywhere telling you the spots that you are looking at so you know when you are a spot in one of the stories.

The day we were there was just beautiful. The sun was shinning and a slight breeze blowing. The lake was shimmering just the way she described it.

This is the house of Lucy's aunt and uncle. She would spend a lot of youth here. She wrote about this place too.

She loved going here and often talked about how it was one of the happiest places in the world.

She loved it so much she had her wedding in real life here. She did not get married until after her grandmother had died as she felt the need to stay home with her and take care of her. After all, her grandmother had given up her life to take care of Lucy.

This is where Lucy would sleep when she spent the night. This is the house she used as the inspiration for most of her stories. So in the books/movies this is where Anne of Green Gables slept.

In the books/movies Anne of Green Gables talks about walking down a path that she calls Lovers Lane. This is the actual path she was talking about.

I just had to walk down there myself. It was so pretty and peaceful. Also, great exercise.

The Scary Forest is also a place in the books/movies. This is the actually forest.

I can see how one would be scared and see shadows and scary things as you walked through here at night.

The author would really walk through this forest as she walked from her house with her grandmother to her aunt and uncle's house. She knew these woods like the back of her hands.

It was such a wonderful day I didn't want it to end. But, our time was up and we had to head back to the ship.

On the bus I sat next to this wonderful lady. Turns out she lives in San Diego, about an hour from me. She also had written a book on entertaining and table setting. She gave two classes on the ship the next two days.

She gave me an autographed copy of her book when I went to her class and asked me to email her when I got home so we could get together and have lunch or just spend the day together.

What a small world. Here I was on the East Coast in another country and I just happen to meet a lady that lives near me.

I bought several Anne of Green Gables items for Trinity. I got her a book, a doll, a cook book, stickers and even some of the raspberry cordial. She loved them.

As she was reading the book it dawned on her that the doll was the girl in the book. It was the first time she learned about Anne of Green Gables. Someday I hope to bring her to Price Edward Island so she can take in all the beauty for herself and make the story come to life.