Well I must say that the bed at the Day's Inn was certainly very comfortable or maybe it was just the excitement of actually making it to bed after last night's adventures, but whatever it was we both certainly slept very well. Our hotel breakfast was good and with some sustenence in us we were prepared for a day in yet another Canadian capital city. This time Halifax, Nova Scotia.
First of all we wanted to look at the rental car I remember that it looked pretty special the night before. Mind you any one of the cars around the McGrath Motors workshop would have been been OK at 1am. Especially if it was able to get us to the Hotel through the FOG!! But it still looked pretty nice when Mrs Garmin managed to get us to the "Citadel" in Halifax.
Halifax is an area with a fascinating history, the Mi'kmaq Indians lived in the area for centuries and seemed to be living in peace in a pretty good place, but what happens??? Bloody gatecrashers arrive!!! First it was the French and then it was the Arcadians and then it was the Catholic Mi'kmaq's, and then who else but the 1730 version of the Barmy Army (yes the British)!!!
After
and battles at
- King Williams War (1689-1697),
- Queen Annes War (1702-1713),
- Dummer's War (1722-1725),
- King Georges War (1744-1748),
- Father Le Loutre’s War (1749-1755) and the
- French and Indian War (1754-1763).
- Port Royal, Saint John, Canso, Chignecto, Dartmouth, Lunenburg and Grand Pre.
And when you build something like the Citadel you need one of these!!!
Well at least some of us do, lol!!!
This is an amazing structure and would have been a formidable defence up until the days of "smart bombs" and laser guided weaponry. The guides and the people who were working there were full of the information they needed to have and seemed to be there because they had a passion for the place. Refreshing!!
Although we hadn't planned it we happened to be there for the Noon Gun which is fired as it would have been in 1869 by the 78th Highland Regiment.
The Citadel did the job it was built for and it helped to protect what is a magnificent harbour. A harbour has been the entry to Canada for many thousands of people for centuries.
Whilst on our exchange to Surrey BC in 2007 there was a television series that was counting down to the 7 Wonders of Canada. www.cbc.ca/sevenwonders/index.html The Rockies and Niagara Falls were easily understood as was the Canoe and even the Prairie Sky but amongst the seven was Pier 21 in Halifax!!! So what was Pier 21 and why was it in the "Seven"??? Might be an answer here www.cbc.ca/sevenwonders/wonder_pier_21.html
Although my family have called Australia home since the 1830's I am still to some extent and always will be an immigrant and given that most people who call Australia (and Canada) home are also immigrants Pier 21 should have the similar significence to them as it did to me.
Pier 21 was the first place that millions of Canadian set foot in the country they had chosen to call their own. It was also the embarkation point for many thousand Canadian troops during both World Wars One and Two. The displays and the stories they tell and the history they portray was as moving to an Australian as it is to any Canadians and further underlines the similiarities between Aussies and Canucks.
However it was probably lucky this dodgy looking bloke wasn't working there!!!
If he was the first person I met in Canada I'd want to swim back!!!!!
After stopping at a Farmers Market inside Pier 22 we left Halifax with a couple of bottles of Nova Scotian wine AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED BY THIS....... a jar of pure Nova Scotia Honey. Or to use my increasing knowledge of French - Miel. The beekeeper we talked to was just like all beekeepers amazingly intelligent, unbelievably good looking, and totally truthful. Now, what was it I did for a job??? In all honesty he was a nice bloke and like all beekeepers was looking forward to the BIG honeyflow that was coming next year And the honey is great http://www.novascotiahoney.com/
Lunenburg was our next stop. It is a town we visited in 2007 and would be staying with the same people again although this time they would be in a different house. We thought their other place was going to be hard to live up to but we weren't surprised to find this
And if you think the house looks nice (it is) the owners owners are even nicer. George and Jean are wonderful hosts and are great stores of information about Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, Canada and life in general. And if I didn't I say they were a lot of fun I missed the nost important part!!!!
I had the fleeting thought that it may be time for a restful night but with the words of Jimmy McGrath ("you silly boy") going through my mind we went out the red door and boarded the Chrysler to head out for dinner.
Dinner was at Marie and Barry Loker's place where George, Jean, Julie and I along with their guests Sheila and Gary shared a meal of Nova Scotian seafood and produce. Their company the conversation pof the group was a wonderful way to end a great day.
And as for the warlike Nova Scotians some things must have changed because everyone we have met since we arrived has been unbelievably friendly and helpful!
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