First thing, we went to breakfast in our hotel. Way too much food!!
We spent way too much time in this baby - 1730 miles!! I do not miss it!
We hung out in the hotel, getting organized and finally left for the airport. When we got there, we knew we were supposed to go to gate 56, and fly United to Newark, but look at the sign, and that's the gate we had to use!
We had an uneventful flight home, with an amazing view of NYC on our approach!
Our day started early as we had to meet the ferry at 8am. It was extremely foggy when we pulled our car into the line to board the ferry, so much so that you couldn't even see the boat! But we got on early and found two comfy seats for the two and a half hour ride back to Nova Scotia. We found out that some of the crew actually live on the boat for a week at a time! The breakfast food they were cooking smelled so good, so David and I shared a breakfast! (Actually it was a second breakfast for both of us!)
This was my half after David took his half!
The area where we sat.
David found us on his GPS.
Looking out the front as we docked
Driving off
We landed in Digby, which supposedly is the scallop capital of the world, but we didn't stop to sample any (unfortunately). We had an almost 3 hour drive to Peggy's Cove, which was described as a beautiful, don't miss place. We got there around 2:30, and decided to first grab some lunch. We both had seafood chowder which looked pretty but wasn't as good as any of the chowders we've had so far. Then we went outside and took in the amazing views!
Mediocre chowder
This and next bunch of photos were taken at Peggy's Cove
Signs like this were all over the place. I said that if they really don't want people there, they'd fence it off instead of paving walking paths
After leaving Peggy's Cove we headed straight to Halifax, which was about 45 more minutes. We got to our Hotel, the Hollis Doubletree, and checked in. Then we went to the bar for a drink and to watch the end of the World Cup game that Canada was playing in. Our bartender, Callum, from Scotland!
A pretty spot we saw along the way
We went to dinner at Mercantile Social, which was just a block away. The food was delicious! Afterwards, back to our hotel bar for a glass of Baily's to cap off a great trip!
My drink!
David's seafood linguini with pesto
My seafood trio - salmon, shrimp and halibut - Scrumptious!!
My dessert, already half eaten, beignets with caramel and vanilla dipping sauce
David's dessert, mostly eaten, pistachio cheesecake with raspberry sauce!
We left our house about 9:40 and headed north to the St. Martin Sea Caves. We arrived in less than an hour, stopping once to take a picture.
We arrived during high tide, and we could see the Sea Caves across the water. We walked over to see if we could wade through, but the water looked to be at least 3 feet deep, and we weren't wearing bathing suits! A gentleman running the nearby gift shop said that the water would greatly recede in the next two hours. So we decided to see if there was anything nearby.
This is how the water looked with the sea caves (hard to see)
In the above video, you can see our view from the land looking toward the sea caves during high tide.
We decided to see what else might be around while we waited for the tide to drop and found out about the Fuller Falls, just about 15 minutes north. We headed that way and entered a park (that we had to pay $27 to enter), and drove to the falls. When we got there, there was a long, steep staircase to get a better view. These steps were high and a little shaky, and we both held on to the railings on both sides. But the falls were very lovely and there were some beautiful views in the park as well.
The steep stairs heading down
The Fuller Falls
Taking a rest on the way back up
We drove a bit further up in the park (after all we paid $27, might as well see a bit more!) We went as far as the Salmon River, and there was an interpretive center there so we stopped, but all they had was a gift shop, and not much else! So we turned around and headed back to St. Martin.
Flowers at the Interpretive Center
One of the views we saw
When we returned to the St. Martin Sea Caves, we decided to have lunch. We had the most delicious seafood chowder while we sat in some glorious weather with an amazing view!
Lunch time!
After lunch, we walked back over toward the sea caves, which were now quite accessible if you were willing to wade through a stream (I was, David wasn't). So I walked across and went into the sea caves. It's hard to see how huge they are from the pictures, but it was pretty amazing!
Wading over, trying not to slip!
One of the sea caves
David, across the stream
Looked like a dinosaur, but just an old tree
Looking back towards David. All of this was under water just two hours ago
Inside the sea cave and around the area.
After we left this area, we headed back to St. John, making a quick pit stop at our rental, and then on to see Fort LaTour.
Ft. LaTour was a replica (but much smaller version) of the original Ft. LaTour. When we arrived, a young lady showed us a short, but interesting video about the history of the fort, and then showed us around and answered questions. We looked around and then headed home.
Outside the fort they had a small memorial to fallen Canadian soldiers (see below)
A quick look at downtown St. John
We ate dinner in a Turkish restaurant in downtown St. John. Food was good, but not "picture worthy".
We started the day with a quick trip to a drug store as I'd broken my sunglasses yesterday and needed a new pair! Then on to the St. John's Jewish Historical Museum. This was more interesting than I'd anticipated. It seems that the first Jewish person in the area came in the 1700s, brought some family and friends to join them, and the Jewish community grew. They built a synagogue and then in later years when the population dwindled somewhat, they moved to a smaller location, and they now have a small synagogue attached to the museum. The museum had pictures and artifacts of items owned by some of the prominent Jewish families from the area, along with old wedding announcements and various stories about the families from the St. John area.
This showed a couple getting married under the chuppah. The several brides were just to model different gowns that were donated to the museum.
I was especially taken with this gown because it looked so much like mine! (see below)
You can't see it in the picture but I also had a belt where the train was attached, like the one on the mannequin.
Our next stop was the City Market, where I managed not to take any pictures, except for the entrance! It was an indoor market with stands selling fresh meat and veggies, souvenirs, and food. There was a visitor's center inside where I was able to get a brochure about a self guided walking tour of St. John.
The walking tour took us all around the area with little blurbs about various buildings or other locations. Here are some of the highlights.
An old burial ground from as early as 1784
St. John's Stone Church
Inside the Stone Church
The St. John Arts Center had a beautiful stained glass ceiling in the rotunda. When we went inside to see it, we were told they also had a display of paintings and pottery (see next three pictures)
My favorite piece
Near the Courthouse, I saw a news cameraperson. Being the busybody I am, I asked her what was going on. She explained that it was the Kamyshnyy trial, a double homicide. I googled it, of course, and Kamyshnyy is on trial for murdering two boys, aged 10 and 17.
The Market Slip at Market Square
The Market Slip (the water behind the tree in the center) was constructed in 1788 and handled coastal marine traffic until the 1970s. This was a key trading and gathering area for the Indigenous people who lived here before the Loyalists (British) arrived in 1783. This area is now called "The Gathering Space".
We took a lunch break, (we really needed to sit!), and then went to see the famous reversing falls. It's best to see them either at low or high tide, and we were there just before low tide. This place is where the St. John River meets the Bay of Fundy. The Bay is a tidal waterway, and as the tide comes in or goes out, and it meets the river flowing down, it causes whirlpools.
A better view can be seen in the video below.
We came home to relax for a while, and later went back to the reversing falls, when it was almost high tide. The difference in how the water looked and flowed was remarkable!
And while we were watching, we spotted a seal swimming along!
Then we went to dinner at Steamers, and I had, as an appetizer, steamers! A whole bucket full! Then I had a lobster roll and David had a fried seafood platter. All delish!
Here are a few other pictures we took throughout the day.
St. John is a very industrial town. There are smokestacks like this in several areas.
It is still Pride Month!
We were sitting in the car getting directions running and this deer strolled by.
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