Images from Halifax

Before we pick up our tales of Nova Scotia, as reported to us by our mom, first a word to blogger: PLEASE FIX YOUR NEW PICTURE UPLOADING SYSTEM!!! In desperation, after reading scores of complaints on the dashboard help site about the same problem we had experienced, we went back to the old editor -- and even that gave us a few of those lovable "503 service unavailable" codes. But with a few irresistible wirey kisses from us -- even though we're not included in this post -- she prevailed, and here are the photos that should have accompanied our previous Nova Scotia post.

First, here's the restaurant where they had their first meal after landing in Halifax -- and their last before leaving. Oysters, shrimp, scallops... The next day was kind of a free day for mom, so she took off to visit the museum (where she made a significant contribution to the Canadian economy -- to be shown in a later post). These interesting fellows -- seahorses -- are on the facade of the Bank of Nova Scotia. And this is the outside of the museum -- formally called the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. This amazing bird is an Inuit sculpture. The name of the cafe, Cheapside, is a reference to the past, when the area was known for having less expensive goods for sale. But the cafe inside the gallery is anything but cheap looking -- warm russet walls, black tables and chairs, harlequin tiles on the bar, and dark blue on the ceiling. Among other art, the gallery is known for its collection of Canadian folk artists. One of the most well known is Maud Lewis, a self-taught artist who painted life around her -- and also everything inside her house. The house -- just one room -- has been preserved in the gallery -- along with many of her original paintings. They are just delightful. Check her out on the gallery web site: http://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/en/AGNS_Halifax/about_us/collection/aboutmaudlewis/default.aspxArt is everywhere. Dogdad spotted this trompe l'oeil on a building while they were waiting for a shuttle to take them to the convention site one evening.

And lots of it is in the statues of hearty Scotsmen and fishermen and the prows from sailing ships. Below is the Red Stag Tavern, part of Keith's Brewery which dates back several centuries and is now a favored tourist stop, especially for the thousands of cruise passengers who visit Halifax in the late summer and early fall.

The Old Burying Ground is also a touching part of Halifax' history. When mom stopped there, she found both locals looking at gravestones and trying to make out the names as well as tourists imagining what the times were like in the 18th century when the city was founded.

This is the Welsford-Parker Monument, a memorial standing at the entrance to the cemetery. It commemorates the Crimean War.The tombstones are weathered and almost impossible to read. Many have images of winged angels above the tributes to departed loved ones. Just near the cemetary is this striking contrast of the old and the new.

Ah, but this is a seaport -- and, something mom didn't know until she saw this -- the birthplace of Samuel Cunard. The venue where the convention was held carries his name: the Cunard Centre -- adjacent to the piers where the cruise ships berth, including Pier 21, which was the site of so many immigrant debarkations in the past two centuries.

Oops, you're not a prow figure -- and who do you think you're fooling with that camouflage?The interesting Maritime Museum pays tribute to centuries of Halifax history and seafarers. This marking buoy is on the street next to the museum -- which mom will remember for one Cape Breton oyster that was the best oyster she ever ate... just one because so many people were crowding the man shucking them that she had no other choice! Dad, on the other paw, who isn't a raw oyster person, will remember the museum for its lighthouse lenses and other awesome technological exhibits.
The statue of the sailor is a tribute to all who have served Canada -- but may not have returned.

The Halifax waterfront is edged by a boardwalk that is also filled with local people and tourists/cruise passengers enjoying the sights and the weather -- post-Igor, the day was beautiful. Cool, not humid, bright sun -- very different from summer --or fall -- where we live.

Teddy Tugboat Too takes people on sightseeing tours. And the historic properties, restored with shops and restaurants, are part of the old town.

Below is the view from their hotel room -- and the Waterfront Warehouse, which used to be a tugboat repair shop but now serves delicious seafood. On the walls are the names of tug boats and companies that used to serve the area's maritime industry.



But what about the convention, Mom? Didn't you go to Halifax on business?????

Ok, Jakey, shhhh. I'll take over from here.

Remember one of the lobsters in our earlier post? Well, picture long tables at the Cunard Centre. Picture 740 almost-drooling people from all over the continent with black cloth bibs bearing a red lobster on the front, picture bottles of red and white wine, and now hear the bagpipes as waiters and watresses holding platters of lobsters on high circle the room and set one of those platters in front of every person. Sorry for the blurry photo -- but shut your eyes and you will understand one of the reasons why mom goes to conventions.....

For the opening session, we were greeted by these very well-clad gentlemen, while more bagpipes echoed on the air.

They brought in the colours.

But you have the picture, Jakey, so let's just skip to the final gala. One of our colleagues -- of the Ferguson clan -- dressed for the occasion.

Sporn and all...
The entertainment included the Canadian tenors, who we were not allowed to video -- but they were great. And just like that, it was over.


But there is more, as we still had a day to really relax before flying home -- so next post will be about the unique towns of Lunenberg and Peggy's Cove...

Woof!