Before I begin the first half of the Day 6, which was an amazing day the way dream-come-true days are -- I just want to say that last night there was a very large bear not two feet outside on open window, with his head in a garbage can. He and my bf came face-to-face with only a screen in between. Happily, the bear trotted off without incident and didn't come back.

Yet.

Anyhow, Day 6 was cloudy and sprinkly but who cares? We were finally headed to Cavendish, to Green Gables.

Just saying it blows me away. Green Gables. And I was not the only one lost in a happy fictional world. One day at lunch a group of Japanese tourists were at the table behind us. They all ordered lobster dinners, and the interpreter spoke for them. What made this most delightful was that they had an Anne with them att he table, a live girl dressed as Anne who sat and ate lobster and everyone was beaming and it was totally bizarre but totally understandable at the same time. If I got my info right, Anne of Green Gables has been translated into 17 languages -- Ha! as an author, I can only dream -- and the island gets over a million Anne fans a year. Even though we all know that Anne is a fictional character, it's still like she's as real as can be and everything about her makes you smile.

Any oh my, those tourists were smiling.



I saw this, and I swear my heart started pounding.



The visitor center was great. They had portraits of Lucy Maud Montgomery and a scrapbook and a short film.





and then, most thrillingly, it was thru the doors and out to the Green Gables property, which began with a big barn with a buggy, tack, a milking room, hay and all the normal farm equipment for their time period.





I know, I know. Animals, even fake ones, draw me in. The last time I went to Disney/Universal, there was a Triceratops in a stable recovering from a wound, and the glee I felt posing for a picture with it was totally bizarre. (Especially since Ankylasauruses are my favorite, along with Brontasauruses. Sp?) So, here's Anne's Jersey cow.
 


In this room they had photos and info on life back then -- did you know Lucy MM was orphaned at age 21 months? -- of Anne's cow, which had been a gift from Matthew.




(And yes, yes I know, the lines of reality are blurred here but just go with me, people.)


In the back of the room I spotted some familiar faces. They were making and handing out homemade vanilla ice cream which was, without doubt, the richest and best I've ever had. And here's where, for one minute in time, I got to stand between Anne, Diana, Ruby or Josie (I never asked) and Miss Stacy. **blissful sigh**



And then it was outside, and there it was.





There were other people there, of course, but it didn't feel like it. There is magic in this air. It's true.



Standing in the front doorway, looking out at the gardens, which are gorgeous.



There are woods (Haunted Woods) and big, beautiful green rolling fields. We went inside the house, but the only picture I'm going to post is of Anne's room because you need to see the rest for yourself.



We lingered as long as possible and then stepped out and decided to take a stroll.





The Lover's Lane trail was marked with signs like these:





It was hushed and beautiful.



We came out here:



And there it was. A windy poplar.

 We went back to the little bakery/coffee chop on site, and got coffee and pastries (yum) and then wandered into the gift shop (of course) where I indulged myself. The journey was from from over though, because next we were off to the site of Lucy Maud Montgomery's home in Cavendish, which was her grandparents' farm where she grew up. 

I have to split Day 6. Be back soon.