Nova Scotia - Lunenburg and Halifax

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Today we have to get up early, the alarm clock rings at 6:15 am, we have to be at the ferry at 7:00 am. We skip breakfast at the hotel, we'll catch up on the ship. Almost on time at the harbor, an employee informs us that the ship is broken and cannot sail. It is also not expected to sail in the afternoon (scheduled for 2:15 pm). He didn't even dare to make a forecast for the next day. So we only have the road. Nova Scotia is a peninsula, the connection to the mainland is about 40 km wide and more than 200 km north of Saint John. This means for us, instead of the ferry and a drive of almost 150 km, we now have another stage of 512 km. First to the ferry office, apply for a refund of our tickets, then back to the hotel, catch up on breakfast, and then onto the highway. The drive is rather boring, just after the state border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia is a large Visitor Information Center, where we stock up on sufficient information material. We reach Lunenburg at 2:30 pm.

Lunenburg is a small port town and Canada's oldest German settlement with a long tradition of fishing and shipbuilding. The city center with its distinctive wooden architecture and colorful idyllic houses has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Our first stop is the Waterfront and the café 'The Savvy Sailor'. Then we have some ice cream and stroll through the town. In the evening, we go for a beer at the Old Fish Factory.

Sunday, July 17, 2022

We drive along the coast and discover new small towns, beautiful bays, and beaches. Our first stop is Mahone Bay. In North West Cove, there is a small fishing harbor. Lunch at 'The Fine Diner' in Hacketts Cove with a view of Boutiliers Cove. Our actual destination is Peggy's Cove, a small community founded in 1811 on Saint Margaret's Bay where 30 people live year-round. Here stands the famous Peggy's Point Lighthouse, which marks the eastern part of Saint Margaret's Bay.

After that, we go straight to Halifax. Check-in, park the car, and off to the harbor district. It is Sunday and the last day of a jazz festival. Large parts of the Waterfront are blocked off, and it is very crowded. Long queues form everywhere. We walk along the harbor promenade and enjoy some delicious ice cream.

Monday, July 18, 2022

Everyday life demands attention. We really need to do some laundry. So we look for a laundromat nearby. Packed everything and then it's a 20-minute walk to the Bluenose Laundromat. Washed, dried, and folded everything in one hour. Impressive. Now quickly bring everything back to the hotel. Because we still have the visit to the 'Old Town Clock' and the Citadel of Halifax on our program for today. The city of Halifax was founded by the British in 1749. The Port of Halifax is a natural harbor, an average of 18 meters deep, and ice-free all year round. It is the second-largest natural harbor in the world. From here, the Allied convoys were stocked during World War II. The Citadel was used as a military base by the army until the 1950s. Since then, it has been managed by the government organization Parks Canada and made accessible to visitors as a museum. After so much historical information, we definitely need a break.

For the evening, we have planned a lobster dinner. We choose 'Five Fishermen' from three different places. They offer a complete dinner with a 1.5 lb lobster already cracked. So we march to the restaurant, but we have to wait for almost 1.5 hours for a free table. Then the time has finally come. We get a table by the window in the upper part of the restaurant and order a glass of wine. For the starter, we choose a very delicious fish soup. The main course is the lobster dinner. The lobster is already cracked and divided, the large claws are already removed, which makes it easier for us. It tastes so amazing, we are both totally thrilled. What a nice ending in Halifax. Tomorrow morning we will continue to Cape Breton.