Melsea's USA/Canada Adventures Part 7

[melsea]

Melsea's USA/Canada Adventures Part 7

Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. 16th Sept 2013

Clocks went back last night. GMT-4
As you got off the ship you were escorted to shuttle buses that were to take you out of the port to just outside of it, as you could not walk around the port as per usual as it was a working cargo port so a dangerous place to walk around. The modes of transport were old london buses which were pink. It was a really surreal feeling being on an old route master bus. The buses had very little changes inside but the major change was that another door opening was put in the middle of the right hand side of the bus because the usual way to board the bus is on the wrong side for this country as they drive on the opposite side to us and so the opening would be wrong for them, although you could still get off if it was safe to do so. We were dropped off by Pier 21 which is very historical for here as it was this pier than the great many immigrants came through by and it now houses shops and I think it has a small museum there it cannot remember. It is also still used a terminal as I do believe it was a Holland America ship that was using it, there were a total of 4 ships in town of which we were one of them.

Before I started to walk along part of the waterfront, just before to start this walk there is a large bronze cast of a man who started it al. Samuel Cunard. He was born in Halifax 12 November 1787. I quote from the board that is beneath his statue. "For more than half a century S. Cunard & Company wharves on the Halifax waterfront were the centre of a vast shipping empire engaged in the West Indie trade." He was at the forefront of shipping, he also saw the that steam power was the way forward. He was the pioneer of paddle steam and first being RMS Britannia, (sound familiar)it's first flagship of British & North American Royal Mail Steam packet Company later known as the Cunard Line. It's maiden voyage to Halifax from Liverpool, England was July 17, 1840. And the rest is history as they say. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1859, he died in London, UK on April 28 1865. So we have him to thank for us being able to travel on cruise ships all over the world, what he would make of the new Britannia is anyone's guess. I then veered towards the town and made my way to where a lady outside Pier 21 had said there was shopping. It was all uphill and the architecture of Halifax is a mix like most places of Victorian and modern buildings.
When I got to the area I was told about I need not have bothered as it really was what I would call shopping but there you go. I had wanted to go to the Titanic Cemetery which was quite a way out of town, I had wondered if I could get there by bus but it was too late to do that now and like others had not realised how far out it was. The P&O port guide mentions the place but does not say where it is so you could not work out how to get there. There was a tour but it was too expensive and really I wasn't desperate to see it. I saw there a Mcdonalds in this street and to me they are useful for two things around the world 1. Free wifi, 2. Toilets are available in 99% of the time, Some thing that is important to know, if there is one thing I have learnt from my travels is that toilets are not as readily available as they are in the UK even on the continent you cannot guarantee to find one that is free. That's my tip for the day. Anyway I used both of these facilities in you are wondering. I looked at the map I picked up at the Pier 21 and saw there was a park nearby, in fact it was called the Public Gardens Park which is situated in Spring Gardens Road. It was absolutely beautiful, full of wonderful blooms and a lovely haven from the traffic nearby. I spent a far time here just soaking up the surrounds and taking a number of photos. I then looked at the time and decided to move on. I walked up South Park Street and turn into Sackville Street which took me to the edge of one of the attractions that is a must do, according to the tourist information guide, it was The Citadel Hill which is a museum now but was the an Army Barracks fortress to protecting Halifax. It's a bit of a walk but worth it. There is a fee for going in I think it was 7 Can$. The views from there were very good and one can imagine the far off view they used to have if you remove the buildings that are there now. The Citadel was housed with soldiers from the Argyll & Southern Highlanders which is the regiment that my husbands father belonged and his Grandfather before him. So it was rather poignant. I was almost ready to make my move when a lady who is a guide of the place said there will be a changing of the guards about to take place very soon. So like others we found our place very close to the action and there was a few minutes left when a lady tourist decide to stand right in front of us and not making any gesture to indicate if it was fine, in fact is was not fine as she blocked our view. So not having that I went in front of her but unlike her I knelt down which actually was a better position for what I want and it did not block her view, the cheek of some people. Anyway I was able to video the changing of these soldiers on my iPad and it was great. The one huge difference in this change was the person that changed to being the one now on guard was a woman! It was rather strange and not something I had even contemplated. I know there are women on the frontline but it had not entered my head a woman be part of the changing guards. Well you learn something everyday. Speaking to the guide there afterwards I said how the soldier regiment was special to us and I had mentioned that I had wanted to go to the cemetery of the Titanic victims, she told me there was an exhibition. By a strange twist of fate, the birth place of shipping as we know it, became infamous as the nearest place of refuge and final resting place for those that were part of the Titanic disaster. There horrors of how this town became embroiled in this is depicted at the Maritime Museum. So there I trotted down hill to the waterfront to where it is, entry fee was 9.50$.
It was a sobering exhibition and one that does not sit easily with you to view this disaster considering you have arrived by a cruise ship. A few things struck me. One was that even in death, passengers and crew were divided by class in the way they were transported and buried. Another, was how lucky we are today and in some mecarb way this very disaster allows us to travel in better safety from thereafter. The disaster report' findings book, a copy I think it was, was opened at a very important part. It recommended 3 things that we certain all have today. There must be lifeboat places for everyone on board, something that was not the case on the Titanic, drills for evacuation to a muster point must take place before you sail and lastly something I know I have heard passengers complain about before, is that crews must do drills and exercises while at sea. It was quite a sobering visit to the museum.
So on I went and made my way back to the ship.

Evening show was the headliners 'Stop in the name of Love' it was dreadful they seem to be getting worse. I am not sure why but they seem very disjointed as a group and the boys voices do not go well together. Tonight was evident of that. A sea day the next day, a day to catch our breath before we arrive in Quebec City.

[Gill W]

Thank you for all your reports - I've been enjoying reading them, as this is a cruise I want to do within the next few years.