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Lunenburg, despite its festive appearance, is a hardworking city with a rich maritime history. Since its establishment in 1753, the town has been a hub for shipbuilding and fishing. It’s renowned for crafting iconic sailing vessels like the Bluenose and Bluenose II, as well as the famous sailing ship Bounty, alongside numerous fishing vessels.

“Lunenburg Cure”, a term coined for a type of dried and salted cod, was a highly sought-after export to Caribbean markets in its heyday. Fishing in the city thrived until the unfortunate cod overfishing crisis. Today, local fishermen have shifted their focus to harvesting scallops and lobsters. Our dockside neighbours, the Adams and Knickle company, have found great success in scallop fishing. I was keen to visit their office and had the pleasure of meeting the company’s President Jane Ritсey, to introduce her to our project and get support during our stay here.

Our unplanned extended stopover in Lunenburg has been a daily adventure, bringing us an abundance of newfound delights and the sheer joy of exploring this picturesque town. Historically, the main colours in the city were white, grey and red. Red allowed fishermen to see their homeport at a greater distance and in the fog, which is why many port facilities are still coloured red. The vibrant spectrum of houses, introduced by German immigrants in the mid-1970s, initially raised a few local eyebrows but soon became an integral part of the town’s identity. While Lunenburg is a UNESCO-designated historical heritage site with strict architectural preservation guidelines, homeowners enjoy free rein when it comes to choosing the paint palette for their houses.

This is how the lively world of colourful homes came to be, adorning the town’s slopes and offering a delightful view from the bay. The architecture boasts an abundance of intricately carved wood, from ornate architraves and elegant eyebrows to meticulously crafted staircases and balconies adorned with balusters. Each house is a unique masterpiece, evoking the true art of carpentry and construction, deeply rooted in the tradition of shipbuilding and maritime craftsmanship.

So, let’s take another stroll through this captivating town, where every corner reveals a piece of history and a touch of artistic craftsmanship.

The first snow has decided to join our party, and I’m hoping it’s not planning an extended stay. This unexpected guest from the North blew into charming Lunenburg, just as we were in the midst of our ongoing engine repair. So, let’s celebrate this uninvited snow with a cup of hot chocolate and cross our fingers that it gets the hint and melts away soon. Because, let’s face it, a sailboat in a snowsuit is a fashion statement even the boldest man wouldn’t dare to attempt. And the only thing more amusing would be to spot a snowman on our deck, practicing seamanship!