Theodore the Tugboat- Image from flickr by Kelly Nigro

Halifax, Canada; image from flickr by baekken

Old Town Halifax       

Downtown Halifax: image from flickr by baekken

New Town Halifax   

Our first port was Halifax.   I loved to get up as we were pulling into a port early in the morning.  It was always so peaceful and beautiful and the little islands were so facinating, especially if they had little houses on them.       

What we did:     

She said:     

We opted to do our own walking tour of Halifax, and our first stop was  the Maritime Museum located a little ways from our dock.  It has a wonderful Titanic exhibit.  The ships from Halifax were the first ships to reach the Titanic when it went down and they have many artifacts in this Museum.  There is a movie that you can watch after seeing the exhibit.  The Museum and the movie are something very worthwhile.       

We then walked up Citadel Hill, which is a very long incline, about a half mile. Great exercise after being on the ship, and the views from the top were incredible!  The gardens were next on our walk, and even though the season was almost done, it was still beautiful with fall flowers, and cute bridges over creeks, and a tiny church on an island in the middle of the creek.      

Public Gardens Image from flickr by tlbcml

We then walked to the center of town and found a small intimate restaurant called Sebastian’s Bistro.  It was French organic-gourmet.  I had a special seafood crepe, and Bill had the special of the day, a lamb burger which was to die for!  Loved this restaurant. Unfortunately, it is now closed, so we’ll have to find a different spot if we ever go back!       

He said:       

Although it was a bit chilly, the many Waterfront restaurants and shops were a delight to wander through. Moored along on of the docks was Theodore Tugboat, which reminded me of Little Toot, a book that was a staple during my childhood readings. The Maritime Museum, with Halifax’s role in the Titanic disaster at its heart, was informative, yet not so overwhelming that it couldn’t be viewed in an hour or so. The town obviously caters to the cruise industry as many things were within walking distance. I like searching out a bit of history and, not far from the Waterfront was Citadel Hill, a key geographic location for Britain during the 1700′s. It provided a nice complement to the area’s involvement with the Titanic.     

Public Gardens Bandstand- Image from flickr by dmealiffe

A short distance from Citadel Hill were the Halifax Public Gardens. The garden’s origin also dates back to the 1700′s and, true to the Victorian style, contains many statues and fountains as well as a meandering stream amid the flora and fauna. A bandstand for concerts can also be found along the labyrinth of walking paths. Both Marla and I were surprised at the amount of flowers in bloom even at this late fall date. I imagine it is magnificent in the spring and summer.       

We were now a bit away from the docks, so the area was a little less touristy. Our lunch spot was wonderful. It sated our palates and thirsts perfectly and provided enough energy and inspiration to get back to the ship for a nice adult nap!