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New Brunswick's eastern shore is the golden coast, for
the sand on the beaches, the sun in the sky, and the star on the Acadian
flag.
The
francophones of the
Acadian Coast are known as "Acadians" and they trace their roots back to
the earliest days of New France (1604) when Samuel de Champlain
"discovered" the St. John River. The darkest days in Acadian history took
place in 1755 when thousands were forcibly deported to such places as
Louisiana (where the Acadians became known as "Cajuns") for refusing to
pledge their allegiance to the British crown. The suffering of these
refugees has been immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem
entitled, "Evangeline."
Tourist Attractions
Modern Acadia mainly lies along
the east coast of New Brunswick, which is studded with a string of
villages and towns whose inhabitants are mostly of Acadian descent. It was
here that the majority of Acadians fleeing deportation or returning from
exile sought refuge two centuries ago, to build a new Acadia. This lovely
region is known chiefly for the simple beauty of its landscape and the
candid hospitality of its inhabitants, but also evokes all sorts of other
images: long, white sand beaches washed by incredibly warm waters, fresh
lobster to be enjoyed at any time of the day, fishing ports bustling with
activity and a population with an inherently festive spirit. In short, the
Acadian coast offers visitors a wealth of delightful activities, as well
as an opportunity to discover not only the legacy of 18th- and
19th-century Acadia, but also modern Acadia. |
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