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I found this t-shirt yesterday - I think it summarizes my trip. 

With relatives on the East Coast and my new friend, Angie in TO, some family history of farming and my sisters on the Prairies and all the friendly, helpful Canadians we met along the way - I'm proud to call this country HOME!

And because we are now dressing alike - I told Carol about my new shirt and she asked where I bought it. So we might both be sporting these shirts back in BC soon. 

This is me in Westville (Pictou) with my Uncle Bill and Aldena. He bought this tractor because he is tired of shoveling snow especially after the winter they just had - he has a very LONG driveway. 

Today, we are shopping and going to Shakespeare in the park. 

Back to the Lower Deck

We went back to the Lower Deck for dinner - everything on the menu is deep fried including the pepperoni. We met up with Carol and some of her family and sung along with the band. The Lower Deck is cozy and there are people of all different ages. The live music is excellent. 

Oh and I forgot Argyle Street- check this out. 

Natal Days in Halifax

I always thought it was Naval Days and recently found out it's a celebration about the birth of the city not the prominent role the navy plays. 

There is a buskers fair and tons and tons of people in the harbor. 

We took the harbor hopper tour on land and sea. 

Halifax is beautiful and full of history. 

Halifax! End of Line!

The train was only one hour late 

We made it to Halifax! There will be more exploring in Nova Scotia but Team BC is splitting up. Cayley and I are with our family and Siobhan and Carol are with their family. We might meet up one night at the Lower Deck. 

Canada's Ocean Playground!

YOLO Moment

The staff summer mission this year was to email me a picture of a YOLO moment. I have received some awesome pictures. You Only Live Once can be defined in many ways - and certainly taking the train across the country provided the opportunity for lots of  YOLO moments. I know there are

many people following this blog that are educators so I think you will understand the feeling I had last night when one of my former students, Martin from my 2003 James Ardiel Elementary Grade 6/VP position, sent me a couple of emails saying he knew I was coming to Halifax and then made the effort to meet up with us at The Lower Deck. Here is a picture of Martin and his girlfriend, Jamie. 

He has finished a history degree at Dalhousie and is thinking about TEACHING!! I also taught Martin's older brother, Daniel and was able to find out that he is at Columbia working on his Master's in Art History. I love that feeling of pride, educators can have for their students. Running into a former rock star student on the other side of the country - priceless!

Other Stops

We went up to a look-out. 

It's the Bay of Fundy, corn fields, apple orchards etc. 

We stopped at a winery that has a phone booth in the middle of the grapes. You can phone any where in the world for free. I phoned Chilliwack (center of the universe) to check in with my Mom. 

Grand Pre - Acadian Village

We drove west out of Halifax to the Wolfville area to tour an Acadian area. We watched a film that explained the politics leading up to the expulsion of the Acadians, even though they insisted that they were neutral in the ongoing battle between the French and English for control of Canada. We don't really learn too much about the plight of the Acadians on the west coast. 

Cayley and her cousin, Charlotte dressed in period costume. 

Of course Longfellow's poem Evageline was featured. 

Why Are Canadians so Proud?

Siobhan says, "Because we live in an awesome country!"

Leaving the Hostel

We have to request a van taxi so we can fit all our bags. We will be going to a train station to catch a bus to another train station to catch a train! Amazing race...

As you can tell, we have been contributing to the provincial economies as we have moved across the nation. 

Siobhan Says The Blog Should Be Re-named to:

Planes, Trains, Automobiles AND A GOOD PAIR OF WALKING SHOES!!

Because of course, traveling involves A LOT of walking!!!

We are hanging out at the hostel right now because we leave at eight tonight to catch a train to Halifax. We bought some groceries and we are just going to make dinner here. We have to take a shuttle to a different rail line and we arrive in Halifax tomorrow around dinner time (if the train is running on schedule...).

It has been an awesome, epic journey and one, every Canadian should undertake. Traveling with Carol was fun and easy - I told her we should apply to be a team on the Amazing Race Canada. 

I received a text saying that my family in Nova Scotia have been learning/practicing Nertz (also called Dutch Blitz). I think there might be an East Coast Challenge for my crown - uh, oh! Years ago when I was visiting - we had a big game with my cousins and they are FAST because they have been playing as long as I have. My Mom taught us all this crazy game and it's addictive. I hope we get a chance to all get together and play again. 

More Pictures of Quebec

We stopped for lunch on this street. 

Can you name all the dishes? Poutine, French Canadian Pea soup and Quiche. 

Tour of the Citadel

This is the first day that we were caught in some rain - the sun came out in the afternoon. We took a tour of the citadel, saw the Plains of Abraham where the British defeated the French in a battle that lasted twenty minutes but changed the course of history. 

So cool that the leaders of the Allied Forces (minus Stalin) met here twice during WWII to discuss strategy. 

Art in QC

We love all the art in the city. Cayley says this one looks like fruit roll-ups!!!

Carol Wishes She Would Have Packed Lighter

Carol is getting organized for the train tomorrow and next time she is packing HALF of what she brought on this trip!

QC at Night

We went out to watch a free show of some acrobats in a park and it was Cirque lite - not just a bunch of guys on the grass like we thought. 

The city was beautiful at night. 

Any stores were still open and the main roads were closed to cars. 

Walking Tour of Quebec

The Hostel offered a two hour walking tour of Quebec which we took because  it is always interesting listening to the stories of a guide. 

Chateau Frontenac!

Cayley and Carol say they like QC the BEST of all of our stops!!

We spend the rest of the day shopping and sightseeing, using our high school French to say please and thank you. We found an awesome chocolate and fudge shop! More poutine for dinner. We have another day here and then we catch a night train to Halifax. 

Another Youth Hostel

This Youth Hostel is right in Old Quebec and has a huge lobby, reading room, bistro, bar and kitchen. Cayley LOVES the hostels and wants to have her own membership card and stay in more of them. She thinks they are funky and it's cool to be with other travelers. 

Playing Nertz - practicing to try for the crown. 

The rooms are about double the size of the jail cells. 

Quebec City

We have already had our first bowl of poutine. We had the special of the day - poutine covered in Montreal Smoked Meat. Yummy!

Museum of History

We spent most of the day in the museum of history which is HUGE!

There was a special exhibit on ancient Greeks and the Magna Carta. 

This is the Great Hall featuring West Coast First Nations. 

Carol and I are starting to dres alike after traveling together for almost three weeks. 

The AC was so high - we were freezing and bought these Terry Fox hoodies. 

Children's Museum

The girls loved the Children's Museum inside the History Museum - it featured the benefits of travel!!

There activity stations and we found out a really cool way to weave friendship bracelets. 

Last Night in Jail

This old jail has been awesome - close to everything! It was $30 per person each night which included breakfast! They have different types of rooms. If you have a sense of adventure - I would recommend a stay behind bars. We have to get up at 4:45 am to catch a cab to the train station. We have a brief stop over in Montreal and then we arrive in Quebec City just after lunch. 

Last Day in Ottawa

We started with the changing of the guard on Parliament Hill. 

Which was very impressive!

Then we went to the Royal Mint where they make comemorative coins and medals. We didn't do the tour because we have already toured the mint in Winnipeg but we visited the gift shop where we all got to hold a real $500,000 gold bullion.