Halifax, Nova Scotia – Out and About

Halifax Citadel

The Citadel sits atop Citadel Hill and has played a major role in the history of Halifax. It is a now a national historic site and can be visited and toured to really see how this fortress protected and defended a major harbour.  It still shoots a cannon at noon that has been said to give the locals an unexpected jolt if they aren’t paying attention to the clock!

Welcome to the Citadel

View of moat and downtown Halfiax

The Citadel’s yardarms for sending messages

Norm cleaning the cannon

Bagpiper performing for us

Messing with the cannons again

Yardarm for sending messages

Rigging for the yardarms

Storage area

The cannons lined up

Highlanders

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The maritime museum in downtown Halifax is Canada’s oldest and largest maritime museum. There are a variety of interesting exhibits with the most interesting being the Halifax Explosion in 1917 that killed 2,000 people and injured over 9,000 people and also the Titanic exhibit which shows the key role Halifax played in this disaster with recovery and burial. Both exhibits detail the events leading up to the disasters and the aftermath. And, it was National Accessibility Week so we got in for free!

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Entrance

Lobby

Fresnel lens in lobby

1917 Halifax Explosion exhibit

Titanic exhibit

Display for carving mastheads

Ship models – a great exhibit with lots and lots of models at different scales

Part of the view from the observation deck

Beautiful observation deck at the museum

Lunch Along the Waterfront

Halfiax has a wonderful waterfront and we were lucky enough to have a beautiful day without any rain. One of our firsts since Ohio!! We stopped at the Waterfront Warehouse and had some of the best seafood we have ever had! Wonderful!

Waterfront Warehouse Restaurant in Halifax, Nova Scotia

He said it was the best fish sandwich ever!

The best clam chowder ever – with my own molasses brown bread loaf

Halifax Seaport

We walked the waterfront and enjoyed the many sights, restaurants, and people. Since it was such a beautiful day many of the restaurants has their outdoor areas open probably for the first time this season!  There is a beautiful walkway to allow pedestrians to enjoy the area.

Halifax Seaport

Amphibious tour of the harbour – explore both land and water

Yes, they are laying on hammocks on the dock

Halifax Transit – The Vincent Coleman

Fishing boat

Pilot returning to dock

Bicycle Thief restaurant artwork

Bicycle Thief restaurant

Pleasure boats

View over to Georges Island Lighthouse

Georges Island Lighthouse

Fishing boat

Cunard statue – born in Halifax

Farmers Market

Along the water front

YOWZER – The Last Steps

Pier 21 Immigration Museum

And no trip to Halifax is complete (for us) without a visit to Pier 21. The home to those who immigrated and where Norm’s father first set his feet on North American soil many, many years ago.

Welcome to Pier 21 Immigration Museum and Scotia Bank Research Centre

Canadian National Railways at Pier 21

“The Emigrant” statue by Armando Barbon near Pier 21

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

This place was on our list but we just didn’t have enough time. There is never enough time to see and do everything but when we come back we will be going here. We especially wanted to see the Maud Lewis (Nova Scotia artist) gallery. We love the movie “Maudie” and have fallen in love with this artist, her persona,  her character, and her simple, happy artwork.  This museum has a restored version of her house which would be fun to see.