Friday, October 28, 2011

Nova Scotia October 2011

We finally decided to venture into unknown territory and visit Canada's Nova Scotia.  October would promise us a rainbow of leafy colors and crisp cool days and cold nights. 


Since we started our venture from Maine, our long drive deposited us in the city of Saint John to spend the night.  


Just  having fun! That is what life is all about, or mostly...
Our next stop was in Sydney at a lovely b and b called Paradise Found. We stayed in the Hydrangea room.  Very nice!




Dinner table at Amedeo's Italian Bistro. Nice.


We trekked down to Louisbourg and stepped back in time to 1744. This fortress was one of the busiest harbors and a key center for trade and military strength in the new world.  It once was the capital of Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island.) People in period costume were amazing. This whole village was recreated though, and only 1 original building was left.  Good history.









 Jim was not supposed to do this, but he had to put the garb on....


It was a day full of fun and definitely recommended.


Our next stop was at the lighthouse and I thought I was going to be blown away with the wind! Nova Scotia seems so windy to me! We took the Lighthouse trail and met some local people picking cranberries. I could hardly understand the older gentleman. Not sure if he had gaelic tones in his speech.







Finally we were on our way to Cape Breton Provincial Park. It is just like our National Parks. We stayed in a small (maybe 10 homes) community called White Point at a bed and breakfast called Two Tittle. If you ever decide to head that way, ask me first! We drove the Cabot Trail around the northern side of NS. Very scenic views.  
Our first hike in Cape Breton Highland NP was the Skyline where we saw an actual live moose! It was thrilling to me as they are so large of an animal. Fond memories of that but the hike was just ok. The first two pics were from a place were you could buy scare-crows! It was just down right creepy!










On October 10th it was Thanksgiving Day in Canada. We celebrated it by stopped at the Bean Barn Cafe and had Thanksgiving Sandwiches and I had a piece Butterscotch pie! The coffee was delish too!


Here are a few pics that I loved during our stay in Canada.  Our trip headed us down to the great state of Maine.  We stayed about a week in Bar Harbor where we had left part of our hearts.  There are so many hikes in and around Acadia National Park, and we explored new ones this time.  I will not post pics of Maine as I have already posted too many!