At last, the Nova Scotia Post

Well, let's start backwards, only because starting backwards explains why this post took one week to appear. That means we must start with Saturday, July 30. Saturday July 30 marked the day we had to leave Peggy's Cove, NS and head back home. It was the day we were going to visit Prince Edward Island. It was the day we were going to stay in Bangor, Maine, and, in fact, the day we made the worst decision of our lives: to drive straight home to Northampton. Oh, and I'm the only driver. Oh, and we didn't leave PEI until 6:15. PM. Yeah, and you thought I was smart! Needless to say, the last week has been spent sleeping in every free moment and digging out at home from mail, cleaning, kitty snuggling, etc. We both worked all week, and the church opens next weekend, so we've been there every other moment of the day. Literally every moment of the last week has been occupied with something.

The drive through Mass., New Hampshire, Maine and New Brunswick at the start of our trip was relatively uneventful. If you've ever seen the northern seacoast of main or been in southern New Hampshire, you know exactly how uneventful it can be. But on day 2 of the trip we arrived at the Bay of Fundy. The Bay was beautiful and fantastic. The water in the bay rises 17 meters during its six hour tide cycle, making it the highest rising tide in the world. We spent a couple of hours there, and even got to walk on some of the mudflats that remain once the tide starts to go out. We had a beautiful day, and a long, long drive.



Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we spent most of the time walking around town, sitting by the ocean, enjoying the cool weather and watching a lot of movies and reading a lot! Monday was our one year wedding anniversary, and we celebrated by going out to a nice dinner in Halifax. Can you say brie-stuffed almond crusted chicken with raspberry sauce? MMMM. We also went on a long, 10-mile cruise out into the Northern Atlantic, during which we saw seals, a leatherback turtle, and many, many puffins. They were pretty rough seas, and we were soaked when we got back, but we had a fantastic time. Puffins are pretty freakin' cute. Or, if you like Battlestar Gallactica, FRACKIN'.



On Wednesday we took a 750 mile tour of Nova Scotia, driving to the easternmost tip to Cape Breton island and National Park. This area, filled with Acadian and Scots-Gaelic cultures, was truly fascinating and beautiful. We drove and took pictures, hiked a little, and stopped on the way home at the only college in North America dedicated to teaching Celtic art. Fascinating.



Each morning for the rest of the week, we woke to the bagpiper playing away at the lighthouse, and spent more of our time reading, sunning, relaxing and walking around. If you're ever in Peggy's Cove, get the Nova Scotia Five-Berry ice cream served in a homemade waffle cone. It's five bucks (Canadian), but you will know heaven. HEAVEN.



Finally Saturday came, and we headed out to Prince Edward Island. We enjoyed the red, rust-oxide dyed beaches, and the warmest water north of South Carolina (along with some jellyfish). We pigged out at an all-you-can-eat-PEI-mussles lobster dinner, and then made el decision stupido mentioned above. It was a very relaxing vacation, and though I thought being that isolated would get to me, I'd pay a lot of money to be right back there at this moment.



Some things I learned in Canada:

1) Canadians love their flag. More than Americans, and more specifically, more than Texans. The Canadian flag is everywhere. EVERYWHERE.



2) Grocery stores are not open on Sunday.

3) Sharp cheddar cheese, regularly available in the US, is called Old Cheese in Canada. Mild is called Regular. Extra sharp, you ask? Well, duh: EXTRA OLD CHEESE.



4) Gas in Canada is expensive. It's about 99 cents per liter, and there are about 3.75 liters in a gallon.

5) I'm sad American English has abandoned the following spelling: colour, centre, litre, cancelling, behaviour. I am not sad we don't spell it yogOurt.

6) Beteen Tara and I, we can eat three buckets of mussels. Eww and yummy all at the same time.

7) Measuring distance in KM makes driving 750 miles go much faster. You just feel more productive.

8) The "Caution: Deer Crossing" signs in Nova Scotia depict the least graceful most freaked out deer running across the road I've ever seen indicated in a street sign anywhere ever.

9) I will voluntarily wake up earlier than I get up by force with an alarm clock when I have to get up for work.

10) The National Park system is very well executed with wonderful attractions, friendly staff, and clean washrooms. It also only costs six bucks (Canadian) to get in. NP in the US cost more than the gas it takes to get there.