Halifax, Nova Scotia

We just returned from a family trip up to Nova Scotia.  My mother’s side of the family resides (for the most part) in a suburb of Halifax, called Fall River.  It was unseasonably warm for this time of year, but still cooled off in the evenings to roughly 50 degrees.

The maritime influence in this part of Canada makes it a beautiful place to visit.  People live in a much simpler fashion here, with very modest houses and tightly knit communities.

We spent some time in downtown Halifax, touring Citadel on the Hill.  Citadel on the Hill was built while Canada was under British influence, and was a very commanding structure.  It was built to defend against the dreaded Americans, who were not so friendly with the Brits at the time.  Despite the fact that it took many years to build, the fort was never attacked.  It served as an effective deterrent in this time period.

An enjoyable lunch on the water wrapped up our time in downtown.  We also enjoyed some sightseeing in the Eastern part of the province, spending some time at the Ovens, a collection of blowholes along the water.

For someone who enjoys the St. Regis and eschews camping, I’m sure people who know me would find it odd I would enjoy time with family in houses without air conditioning, or very modern plumbing.  My time here as a child (we spent a week in the summer and most Christmases up there) conditioned me to enjoy Nova Scotia for what it was.  It never really even occurred to me to stay in a hotel.

It’s always an expensive airline ticket, and it had been a few years since we’d visited family.  Long overdue, and well worth the trip.