Halifax NS, Wednesday August 10th
On the bus at nine this morning, I'm glad not to have to drive or navigate. I can just appreciate the scenery. There are no straight roads if you are going to the coast. Vegetation presses in closely at times but at other times there is a hay pasture opening the vista. We pass small farms with small tractors and "haylage" in white plastic tubes or round bales. There seem to be few new homes right here, most look to be built in 50's to 70's. The lawns are well kept and the Canadian flag is displayed. Laundry is seen on clothes lines fitted with pulleys. These clothes lines are stretched from the kitchen door to a pole in the yard so the dry pieces can be hauled in and folded one by one. South of Halifax near the coast are hills and beautiful coves. As we pass through older towns, the houses and businesses press close to the road. Nearing Peggy's cove the vegetation clears and bare knobs with stunted pines are seen. It is a beautiful sunny day almost calm. We are warned to stay off the black rocks near the water which are very slippery. If you slip you will be in the water and waves.
This is a video Dave took at Peggy's Cove
The lighthouse at the cove. A woman was playing an accordion, adding to the quaintness of the cove.
You can see some black rock to beware of in this picture.
There are waves at low tide, too, but mostly the sea was calm.
You can tell that I'm enjoying this trip.
Some kind of flower was blooming profusely.
Day trippers gather smaller rocks and build these cairns.
Another flower umbrel gone to seed.
There are 60 full time residents of Peggy's Cove. In summer 1-3 tour buses arrive at the cove every hour. Dave and I enjoyed espresso and a Cherry Mash candy bar from the concession stand/boutique.
Waiting for the bus to load for the trip down to Lunenburg, I snap a few more license plates in the parking area.
It must be a long trip from Florida to Nova Scotia.
A very long trip from British Columbia, too.
One of the many coves in St. Margaret's Bay as the bus navigates the curves and hills over to and around Mahone Bay and through the quaint town of Mahone Bay.
As we reach our destination of Old Town Lunenburg (a UNESCO world heritage site) we are reminded that we are to lunch on our own. Dave and I find good eats at Grand Banker Seafood Bar and Grill.
Our restaurant for lunch.
Inside the busy restaurant, we take a booth rather than wait for a table near the window as time is an issue. I had a tasty lobster roll and Dave opted for fish cakes which were white fish mixed with mashed potatoes and fried crispy. Cider for me and a beer for Dave. We were hungry and thirsty.
Outside the resturant, this man was playing in a maritime style. Dave visited with him a bit and recognized some of the tunes he was playing.
Soon we were on a field trip concentrating on historic Lunenburg, walking the hills and lanes with a local historian.
The tour started here at the Academy on a hill above the harbor where a fortress originally stood which protected the settlement in early days. This academy was the first school in the area and is a point of pride. Restorations are ongoing and the building continues to be used for music festivals.
Across from the school is an historic cemetery.
A fancy house in pink with the Lunenburg "bump" dormers on the upper floors. These are five sided and seem to be a feature that sets Lunenburg architecture apart.
Settlement was encouraged with the government giving land to each man, wife and each child as well as lumber and nails to build a house, seeds for a garden and provisions for the family for a year. The houses were built in the town and the land for farming was located outside of the town. The problem was that arable farmland was scarce so some farmers learned to fish and do other things so the town gradually expanded.
I think this house was actually new construction but a city ordinance permits only construction in a way that fits in with the community.
I like the flower beds. I notice blue hydrangeas in several beds.
Quaint looking house.
Shingle style house.
As we get closer to town center and the harbor, larger houses appear along with churches.
A large house now used as an inn or B and B.
Here is a pulley clothes line and a wood pile. Getting ready for winter here.
The first church we enter is Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Canada's oldest continuing Lutheran congregation. This "Little Dutch Church" was founded in Halifax. In 1753, 1453 German, Swiss and French settled in Lunenburg. The French turned to the Anglican Church where they could worship in French. This fellowship waited nineteen years for an ordained minister, meeting in homes until this church was built and dedicated in 1772. Services were in German until mid-1800's.
This Casavant pipe organ made in Nova Scotia, installed in 1903 and was originally driven by a water powered motor.
During WWII many Norwegians were stationed in Lunenburg and worshipped at Zion.
The Anglican Church sits on a square. It burned to the ground as a result of a Halloween prank. It was rebuilt exactly as it was originally.
The Anglican Church was able to be reconstructed from plans and photos of the original. Research was done on the star scene above the alter and it was found to represent the night sky as it is seen above Lunenberg. Our guide/ historian seemed regretful that not many people attend church regularly these days.
The Bank of Montreal
Beautifully "bumped" and painted house near the wharf. Our guide remarked that people of the town complained when bright colors appeared on houses in recent years after being uniformly white. Now the colors are accepted and not noticed except by tourists.
Colorful houses and flowers.
Unique fish ornaments hanging from brackets in downtown Lunenburg.
The day is no longer sunny and the wind is coming up.
Our guide finishes up his presentation and leaves us at the harbor. We have a few minutes to shop.
An historic Jeep parked in historic Lunenburg.
We have time to get an ice cream treat before the bus leaves. Then the long ride back to Halifax.
A farewell dinner is held at the hotel that evening. We shared our email addresses to keep in touch. Tomorrow morning the group members all head home.
Thursday August 11, Atlantica Hotel Halifax
Our airport ride isn't scheduled until late morning. With bags packed, we walk in the neighborhood down to the public gardens. It is a cool, misty day, perfect for looking at flowers.
This garden has fountains and ponds with ship replicas floating.
Beautiful flowers and a dahlia exhibit in large beds.
Happy to have been able to take this trip. Hoping for more!
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