Blogs from Nova Scotia, Canada, North America - page 4

So we left Newfoundland and flew back to Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia took a big hit from Dorian. We saw downed trees and the big crane that fell across a new building is just across the street from our hotel. We spent the last day in Newfoundland driving around the north tip of Avalon. There are a few pics of that. We will try to get a few pics of the crane collapse tomorrow. We will be checking out Halifax tomorrow. On Wednesday we leave for Lunenburg, which is supposed to be a quaint village along the ocean.... read more

“If Nova Scotia were a film, its protagonists would be rugged, yet kind-hearted, burnt by the wind and at one with the sea. It would be shot against a backdrop of rolling green fields and high cliffs; its soundtrack would feature fiddles, drums and evocative piano scores; and its plot would be a spirited romp around themes of history, community and family ... Nova Scotia is the real deal. Its wild and wonderfully varied landscape is home to a diverse population of resourceful, hospitable folk, who love to sing and dance but who’d happily break you at dodgeball in a second ... Short-lived summers are a sheer delight, as the locals emerge from the cold to celebrate life ... late spring and peak fall conditions ... afford spectacular scenery ... while long, white winters are harsh ... read more

We booked a Princess shore excursion from Sydney, Nova Scotia, to the town of Baddeck. Our guide this time was a Sydney native and he had much history and information to relay. We were now in the Cape Breton Island area of Nova Scotia. The region resembles Scotland in its glacial lakes, mountainous terrain and climate. It reminded Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) so much of his native Scotland that he purchased an estate at Baddeck, on Lake Bras d'Or in 1885. (Lake Bras d'Or is actually a long saltwater fjord.) Bell used Baddeck as his summer retreat and base for research and development until his death in 1922. Thus, the principle destination of our tour was the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. The displays at the historic site trace Bell's career as a teacher of ... read more

Returning from Peggy's Cove, we had a driving tour of Halifax. The Halifax Citadel has overlooked the city since 1749. The present concrete star fort, a National Historic Site of Canada, was built In 1828-1856. Halifax has been associated with a number of disasters. The recovery of bodies from the Titanic in 1912 was staged from here. Those individuals who could not be identified were buried in Fairview Lawn Cemetery. In 1917 an ammunition ship exploded in the harbor, destroying a good portion of the city. On a lighter note, out in the harbour was Theodore Too. This is a sightseeing boat decorated to look like Theodore Tugboat from the children's TV series. Along Hollis Street downtown were Province House (the Nova Scotia House of Assembly), built in 1819, the Boer War Memorial, Halifax Town Clock ... read more

August 2, 2019 – Sydney, NS - Weather: 77°F/25°C, Bright sunny clear skies, wind 10.3 mph, humidity 53° Our port of call today is Sydney NS, located out on the easternmost tip of Cape Breton Island. This colonial town was established shortly after the American Revolution and helped establish a British presence in the area. Sydney was established primarily as a garrison town and was laid out by military engineers. It attracted a number of United Empire Loyalists who fled to British North America from the American Colonies. Once home to one of the largest steel mills in Canada, the plant is now closed and the site has been cleared. The city currently relies on tourism as its primary industry, attracting 100+ cruise ships alone each year. Ideally situated near the Cabot Trail that takes you ... read more