Jan115

Regal Princess, 5-Night Canadian Maritimes 10/27/18. The next day’s port stop was Halifax, Nova Scotia. The last time I was here, we had torrential rain, and with the early forecasts sounding just as gloomy, I wasn’t sure how much we’d enjoy it. However, the day turned out pretty nice, ranging from some sun to gray skies, but still remaining dry. Same for the previous day in Saint John. Since the four of us decided to see the famous Peggy’s Cove, we decided to do a private tour through Go North Tours, and it was the best decision we could have made. Fortunately, we were the only ship in port. On the average day in summer through fall, though, there could be up to five ships in port. So, if you want to splurge on a small group or private tour, this is a good place to do it. Our driver/guide, Laila, met us at the pier, and she was excellent and was so knowledgeable about the area. She kept the drive interesting with lots of stories, details and trivia along the way. As stated earlier, I do look for places off the beaten path. What some people don’t know is that before Titanic, there was the S.S. Atlantic, which went down off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1873. Like Titanic, it was a White Star Line ship. Unlike Titanic, White Star Line did absolutely nothing to remember the estimated 560 souls on board who perished, and because there were no Astors, Browns or Guggenheim types on board, the wreck got little press. So we found it only fitting to visit the S.S. Atlantic Heritage Park and Interpretive Center, which sits in a peaceful, gorgeous location overlooking the ocean. I highly recommend the SS Atlantic site if you’ve had your fill of Titanic stories. Next stop on the tour was Peggy’s Cove, which was much prettier and pleasant than I had expected. A few gift shops and cafes line the winding hill to the lighthouse, which sits in a spectacular and picturesque rocky setting. My husband and I shared a lobster roll and got some amazing photos. The last stop on the tour was the Hydrostone neighborhood of Halifax. The name comes from the type of stone used to replace wooden homes of the families displaced by the tragic Halifax explosion of 1917 and is now a National Historic Site. Except for a brief stop in a residential area to learn more about the explosion and get a closer look at the architecture, this was a drive-by. With more time, I would love to return and walk the streets of the area.

A small group of us boarded Holland America’s ms Koningsdam for a fabulous 7-day cruise through the amazing fjords of Norway.

Private boat ride through the Canals of Amsterdam with Captain "Bob"