Blogs from Nova Scotia, Canada, North America - page 9

This morning my mental elastic was pulled taut as our first speaker tried valiantly to associate Jane Austen with Canada, even beyond the obvious employment for a time of her brothers in Halifax. This is why I decided not to do a PhD in literature – obscurantism. The second presentation was much more gruesome and macabrely funny: a medical doctor revealed that men in the navy died most often of disease (mucky water, yellow fever, literally rotten living conditions) and that anyone injured was lucky if he didn’t suffer an almost certainly fatal amputation. With several hours free, Deirdre and I took the opportunity to walk in the Public Gardens across the street from the hotel. These Victorian formal gardens are justifiably a proud fixture for Haligonians. Trees shaded many of the pathways around and across ... read more

Notwithstanding the three-hours time difference, Deirdre and I were shockingly late in getting started this morning. We finished our breakfast at Cora’s at about 10:30. Yesterday we booked a tour to Peggy’s Coveat 1:00 for this afternoon. We had about two hours to wander. Our immediate goal was the Library, which Ann and I had visited in 2014 - because all library people are magnetically attracted to libraries. Unlike Calgary’s new curvaceous Library, the Halifax Library (opened in 2014) is all angles. The arresting aspect is that the top floor juts over the plaza in front. I admired the patio chairs and tables, which I don’t recall from last time; they are comfortable looking wire forms in bright orange and green. We couldn’t try... read more

It used to be that our transitions from one culture to another were buffered by leisurely days at sea. It happened to me today, a step back in time thanks to the obligatory 6 hour ferry crossing to the mainland. One has time to think. Both are Canada, but Nova Scotia is very different to Newfoundland. Yes, the climate is warmer and the infrastructure is more developed in Nova Scotia, but it is more than that. Newfoundland is somehow still coming to grips with itself, the shift out of cod fishing, the withdrawal from the lonely outports along the coast, joining Canada, wrestling with Quebec, developing a tourist industry, the special English, the half hour time difference. Nova Scotia has been settled and Canadian since the early days. Yes, the Acadian French are mixed in with ... read more

Geo: 44.6784, -63.6582Jim and I set out on another long adventure this coming week. We have a one-way ticket booked to Goa, India, an Indian visa and 3 nights booked to get us started. The remainder will unfold as we are inspired. Our focus is to create (writing and photography), to live healthily and warmly and experience new parts of the world yet unexplored by us or not since our 'maiden voyage' in 1984-85.Follow along...if you received this blog posting in your email, it means you are signed up to our blog and will continue to receive alerts of our postings. Unsubscribe if you wish or pass it onto others. ... read more

I think every cruise director tells the story of booking 3 acts that must embark in Sydney Nova Scotia, and receiving a text message from the Captain that only 2 have gotten onboard as they’re about to remove the gangway. Michael told his version of the story last night at the show. A frantic cell phone call to the third act confirmed that the act was right where he was supposed to be, on the pier looking for the ship. The act couldn’t find the ship and Michael couldn’t see anyone on the pier, so he asked his booking to describe what he could see… After all, Sydney Nova Scotia isn’t all that big; maybe, a dozen houses or so. He started by saying, “Well, across the harbor I see the Opera House…” You get the ... read more