Lunenburg is one of those places where old and new mix nicely. It is a working waterfront town, now with some of the amenities of the 21st century – but these amenities are not so much in view as to spoil the ambiance. Like the high speed WiFi in the anchorage, by which this is being sent – the modern is an underpinning which makes this little town even more charming.

This pathway from the edge of Lunenburg Foundry and Machine Shop, where we spent the first two nights at the wharf, leads to "down town". We’ll wager that folks have been using this route since well before the first European (or Scandinavians) arrived 500 years ago.

Spring is here. That means things are in bloom, and between gray days, there is the occasional burst of sunlight.

Notice that we are getting used to the weather. Linda is down to three layers, and check out the shades!

The view at anchor is wonderful. And when the filters are removed from the sky, as in the next couple of photos, the colors jump out at you.

Most of these structures date to the middle of the 19th century.

OK, some commercial design detail. Look carefully at the shaping of the hull to deck intersection, and then look up the latest designs on the mega racing cats and tri’s.

That hull to deck intersection is heavily radiused to shed water and stiffen the corner. Those struts mid-span on the masts would only be required if they expected solid water to be loading the spars.

In this photo you can see a breakwater between the mast struts, leaning forward. All of this indicates these fishing vessels are designed to work in conditions with solid water coming over very high bows!

There are still folks involved in commercial fishing here, as there have been since the 1500s. But times are difficult with the cod fishery under indefinite moratorium to allow stocks to rebuild.

Architecture within town remains much as it has been for the last 100+ years. But this bank does have an ATM in the lobby.

Our theory on the bright colors which abound is they help to ward off the winter blahs. We are told, however, that winters here are mild compared to nearby Newfoundland, or Maine (but we are not sure what represents the local definition of mild).

Many of the buildings have ornate trim.

The sea is not an easy place from which to wrest a wage in the fishing trade. Over the years many have not returned to their families, and there are a lot of names from the last 50 years inscribed on these monoliths.

Along with charming demeanor Lunenburg also boasts the basic requirements to keep body and soul well. There is a nice selection of restaurants (we have actually eaten out three times, something we do not do often), grocery store with good selection of fresh fruit and veggies, fresh bread, and most important, friendly folks.

And when the sun comes out, even if only for a moment, the colors are wonderful.

Just the kind of spot we like to visit (but we are not sure about that winter thing).