June 2017 Crossing Halifax, Nova Scotia

Excellent day which began with breakfast with Monique.  Checked in with tour desk and waited in Royal Court for tour where I met up with Dianne and Scott. Ivy was our guide and ship's representative; cute girl but first time leading a tour, normally a waitress in Queen's Grill.

Short stroll down the embankment to our schooner, Silva, we passed the Amerigo Vespucci just arrived from Malaga the day before on training cruise for Italian Navy, a gorgeous square -rigged barkentine. QM2 docked right behind her!

Silva gave us a wonderful sail of a bit more than 2 hours in the bright, warm sunshine of an unusually summer day in The Maritimes.

Scott got to exercise his inner sailor as he helped raise the sheets.

I just reveled in the fresh breeze and the everyday sights of a working harbor, including tugs and kayakers and cormorants.

After our Tall Ship sail, Dianne and Scott and I walked the boardwalk to Murphy's for superb seafood chowder and even better calamari accompanied by a Molson's.


Afterward, we strolled to Cow's, a famous ice creamery where I had the most fabulous Prince Edward Island blueberry ice cream!!!

Walking back to QM2, Dianne asked if I'd lost my earrings as she pointed at something on the ground. A construction worker picked up these iron links and handed them to me as a "souvenir of Halifax" which I dumped in a trash can as soon as I rounded the corner laughing all the way.

We stopped to watch a glass blower create a vase. I'm awed by the delicacy required as well as the strength.

 Halifax has few trees, but lots and lots of flowers!

Even the tugboats here have distinct personalities.

 Back on board QM2, I collapsed as I walked about 4 miles in heat I was unprepared for. I discovered the somewhere along the way, I'd lost my clip-on tracker. Time for a new one or to just bring the iPhone with me where ever I go. 

Sheila never showed for dinner. I presumed she was exhausted after her McNab's Island hike but it was too late to call her. She does not appreciate being wakened abruptly; no one does. Dinner was good, as usual. We traded addresses, though I do not anticipate any communication with the/ gentlemen. The show did not appeal to me, so I went to 8077 to begin pre-packing for home.