Couldn't think of any better advice!
SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
Some days do provide laughs for miles for me. Two classics today. The first was just an inability to find that exact word that you need at that exact moment. Certainly happening to me a bit lately, but I am putting that down to being tired. ... rather than old.
Anyway, returning to the moment: we were walking along the boardwalk, which features eye catching stuff no matter which way you turn your head, and @Mac tried to direct my sightseeing to something that caught his eye. "Look at that @Muriel!" Um, I am looking and sort of thinking I need to find a woman with @Muriel tattooed on her forehead. No luck - so I look back at him shrugging and squinting. He waves his arms and says "The @Meryls" a statement now, delivered with renewed authority. Again, I am rubber necking trying to zero in on what he is excited about.
Eventually he gives up the gesturing and walks over and points to and then touches the subtle etched artwork on the copper covered wall - and I realise that he has been trying to point out the "mural." He was so close. And just by the way, his new walking shoes are #Merrills. No wonder that word was on his mind.
Anyway, didn't get any photos to mark the moment (or that fabulous, curved wall that depicted #Halifax's seafaring history) because between @Muriel and @Meryl, I couldn't see for the tears of laughter.
It's a shame really, because murals were a big thing here. #Halifax have a "From Gritty to Pretty" art development project for neighbourhoods. These annual grants encourage local artists to submit artwork proposals to beautify the city. We did see lots on our walks and our #Quinpool Street hosts an annual street art festival. On the waterfront itself, there werefour panels that were designated "ephemeral" canvases - the artwork is replaced every four weeks - all again, to promote and support local creators.
The second laugh was on the walk home and @Mac was glued to his #Google Maps, again, taking us on a new route home, that would take in the #Public Gardens and avoid the hills. I am very supportive and keen to follow because to be fair, he has used that map for 22 days in a row to deliver us to the exact spot we need to be. But today, he sort of became fixated on zeroing in on "SPARK STREET." As we progressed, I did try to question his interpretation as I glanced at the upcoming street sign and noticed that it very clearly signed as #South Park Street. Very coincidental to me - so I suggested to @Mac that this might be what we were looking for - that perhaps he was seeing an abbreviation. Nope, he consulted the map again, dismissed my suggestion, but indicated we had to turn here anyway because that was leading to the #Gardens. About 100 metres on, he enlarged the map to check a detail, and low and behold, in the expanded view, the #SPARK Street magically expanded to #SOUTH PARK Street. At least he owned up and got a little laugh.
It was all worth it because the #Public Gardens were beautiful and they form part of #Canada's Garden Route. Think we have unwittingly been on the garden route so many grand oarks and gardens in this cool, wet climate! I have been jokingly comparing it with @Niki's repeat visits to the #Carnival of Flowers in #Toowoomba - the gardens in every city have been amazing. These particilar gardens were formally established in 1837 - the year of #Canada's Confederation. And very cool, there's an interactive map on your phone so you can tap on any of the gardens and learn what plants have been featured! Loads of people here on a Saturday afternoon with lots of ponds and water features and fountains, a rotunda and bandstand (complete with busker), bridges and arches, plenty of seats and benches but definitely no walking on the grass here! It was a path only sort of place.
The day was busy with lots of sightseeing wrapped around the laughter. Meal plan was brunch at #Dartmouth - the municipality on the other side of the harbour. Grabbed out Senior's discount tickets and joined the hordes who were travelling on the ferry. There were weekend markets on offer and great food. Couldn't believe that we found ourselves lined up at #Evan's Seafood - more fish and more lobster - and two #Fab5 venues in a row! @Mac was happy because he found a barista and we then followed the crowds through the markets, across the #pedway (these interconnected covered above ground walkways) and finally around the park and foreshore. Even heard the boom of the noonday gun from the #Citadel. Could see the return ferry approaching so it was easy to time our run back to the terminal.
Back on the boardwalk, succumbed to the pressure of #Peace by Chocolate and now topped up with hot chocolate and chocolate bars (gosh that was good), tagged onto the flow of the cruise ship foot traffic. Two ships in port today so we tried to match passengers to the #Celebrity and the #Viking. Took some time out to do a little cruise envy dreaming - maybe @LoRi can find that #Newfoundland itinerary again. We would be in.
Spotted the restaurant that was labelled the best in #Halifax (#The Bicycle Thief) learned about Sir Samuel Cunard (who knew he was from Halifax) and checked out the history of immigration on Pier 21. Missed the #Farmers' Market at Pier 23 - we were too late. Did get @Mac a touch of #Halifax souvenir that he will showcase tomorrow.
Tossed up between a taxi, the bus or a walk home. We were a long way from #Quinpool but we did want to take in those gardens. So walk it was - one last time for #Halifax.
Dinner was local at a Vietnamese restaurant and we had packing duties to perform - no getting out of that tonight. We locked in our taxi transport for 5 a.m. for the 30-minute ride to the airport, completed the check-in for our first ever #Westjet flight departing at 7;30 a.m. and set the alarms for 4.15 am. Definitely not a fan of the big lead in times that airlines are now demanding for check-in. But we will be there - definitely want to get back to the other side without getting on a train! Mind you, after traipsing the east coast for a month - if we didn't have to drag the luggage, @Mac could fire up #Google Maps and we could probably walk it!
Meanwhile in Europe with @M&I
Looks like colourful adventures continue in #Venice with window shopping for a new house!
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