Wish List: Saint Pierre and Miquelon

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Just over 10 miles off the coast of Newfoundland lies the last slice of Nouvelle-France, the former French colony in North America. The French jurisdiction which once spanned over 2 million square miles has been reduced to just over 90 in the form of the collectivité territoriale (territorial collectivity) of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The archipelago of eight islands, located in the entrance of Fortune Bay, strongly celebrates its Basque, Breton and Norman roots as a sea fairing land.
A view of Saint-Pierre, the capital of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The inhabitants of Saint Pierre and Miquelon are French. They have French citizenship and vote in national elections. The collectivity is represented in France’s National Assembly with both a senator and a deputy (similar in role to a US Representative). The euro is the currency. Though over 4,000 miles from the closest continental French city, Saint Pierre and Miquelon is France's oldest remaining overseas territory as well as its closest and smallest territory. In short, it is France.
The Cathedral in Saint-Pierre
The Saint-Pierrais and Miquelonnais total around 7,000, most of who were born in the collectivity but a rising number have come from continental France. The rich culture of the people helps them to live, survive and thrive in this barren land. The climate is very damp and windy making winters are harsh and long and the spring foggy and cool. However, late summer and early fall are sunny. Due to the conditions, the growing season is challenging but they do produce some vegetables, poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs and, of course, fish. The local cuisine is heavily based on seafood including lobster, snow crab, cod, mussels and many cod-based dishes, as well as some of the hearty flora like cloudberries and blueberries. Liquors based on or flavored with cloudberries and blueberries flourish.
Les Drapeaux: the flag of France (above) and the unofficial local flag featuring Cartier's ship, Grande Hermine, and cantons (top to bottom) representing the Basques, Bretons and Normans.
Getting there is pricey, but you do have your choice of flying or ferrying. There isn’t a hotel chain to be found on the archipelago, but there are clusters of houses painted in a riot of colors, nestled in which are cozy bed and breakfasts and hôtels. It’s a far-fling destination not too bothered by the urban conveniences. However, that, for me is where all the charm lies. That as the enticing fact that France is only 800 miles North East of Boston. (Or slightly under 1,100 miles from Philadelphia – France is closer to us then New Orleans!)

Images are © Marc A. Cormier – www.st-pierre-et-miquelon.com and are available through flickr. I also encourage you to become a fan of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on facebook. 

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