Tag Archives: tourism

The bucket list

23 Sunday Jun 2024

Posted by in Art, Food and Cooking, libraries, photography, Travel, writing

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Is it safe to assume that most adults have a bucket list of things to see or do before they die?

My bucket list is very tame, containing no extreme sports or other risky activities. I had one item on my list in 2020, to visit East coast Canada and dip my toe into the Atlantic Ocean. I had already accomplished the west coast and Pacific Ocean toe dip during a trip in the spring of 2017. As you may remember, the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 cancelled travel plans for many people. I was heart-broken. Perhaps you were too.

Enter the cold, dark days of winter 2024 when I started dreaming about spring and reviving my east coast plans. One sister offered to join me on a VIA Rail train journey to Halifax Nova Scotia, to spend a few days as walkabout tourists plus obtain photographic proof of my primary objective.

Those with little patience can skip to the recommendations section. I hope you will enjoy some of the photographs along the way.

My Atlantic Canada trip objectives

  • Dip my big toe into the Atlantic Ocean
  • Tour the Halifax sites of interest by foot
  • Visit the Halifax Central Library
  • Consume East Coast food
  • Purchase souvenirs and gifts for loved ones
  • Have catch up chats and creative times with my sister
  • Enjoy train travel

Main objective: Touching the Atlantic Ocean

Woman in sun hat dipping her toe into the shore waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
On June 17, 2024 I dipped my toe into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a balancing act to admire as I toddled over rocks near the shore.

We toured sites of interest – within walking distance

We only got detoured twice during our visit to Halifax although we had printed maps and my sister followed the questionable directions from Google maps.

Halifax seaport cranes - Point Pleasant Park
Shipping cranes at the Halifax Seaport as viewed from Point Pleasant Park. They look like robot giraffes!
Park benches at the Halifax Public Gardens
Park benches at the Halifax Public Gardens. I never saw so many Rhododendron bushes. The park was colourful and dreamlike.

Visit the Halifax Central Library

We were impressed with the Halifax Central Library building exterior, interior, as well as the rooftop patio view of the harbour. We visited TWICE. I would go back again but maybe fly down east instead of taking the train. How would one compensate for contributing to polluting airline emissions?

Halifax Central Library building
My first encounter with the Halifax Central Library building. I was immediately attracted. I wanted to visit this building since it was opened in 2014.
Blonde tourist beside the big L of the Halifax Central Library building
Theresa posing with the giant L of the Halifax Central Library building
View of the Halifax seaport harbour from the rooftop patio of the Halifax Central Library
View of the Halifax seaport harbour from the rooftop patio of the Halifax Central Library during our second visit. This was my favourite part of the site seeing activities.

Enjoy east coast foods

After a disappointing second walkabout to the near-deserted wharf and nonexistent Farmer’s Market, we enjoyed an early lunch of the award winning lobster rolls at Tomavino’s. We enjoyed other foods but I don’t want to burden readers with the photos. That’s what Instagram is for 😀

Award winning lobster rolls at Tomovino's Halifax
After a disappointing second walkabout to the near-deserted wharf and nonexistent Farmer’s Market, we enjoyed an early lunch of the award winning lobster rolls at Tomavino’s.

Quality time

My sister brought water colour pencils and special paper for us to create renditions of the seashore photos we took during the daytime tours. I chose instead to do a painting of a black cat in the style of Maud Lewis with influences from Bill the Cat (Bloom County).

Watercolour painting black cat in the style of Maud Lewis, influenced by Bill the Cat
Theresa’s painting of a black cat in the style of Maud Lewis with influences from Bill the Cat (Bloom County).

During our walkabouts to Spring Garden Road area, I picked up many souvenirs and gifts from local shops, especially items with reprints of paintings by Nova Scotia’s darling, Maud Lewis. I can relate to her and some of her life struggles in many ways.

Travel options

We took the ViaRail “Ocean” train tour from Montreal to Halifax with intentions of walking to sites in the area. The train trip was supposed to take one day and one night (21 hours). It took us much longer travelling through eastern Quebec where we had to drive slow to avoid derailment on heat-buckled rails or poorly maintained CN Rail tracks.

This was NOT in the travel brochure!

Next time, I may choose to fly.

ViaRail sleeper car cabin on The Ocean line between Montreal and Halifax.
An example of a ViaRail two-person sleeper car cabin (in daytime seating mode) on The Ocean line between Montreal and Halifax.

Recommendations

  • If you plan to travel by VIA Rail and you choose the pricey sleeper cabin option, confirm with the provider that your car built before 1970 has working air conditioners.
  • Even if travelling with a companion, choose the Cabin for one option so you each can have your personal space. There will be plenty of opportunities to socialize in the lounge / service car, the dining car and seats of the cooler coach car. Make sure you are wearing your “Multi-pass” bracelet.
  • Get up and walk around to encourage circulation, especially when stopped in major stations and you’re not bouncing off the walls due to the rocking motions.
  • Bring the Gravol.
  • If you are a smoker, be prepared for only 3 stops of 15 minutes to step outside to satisfy your addition.
  • Chat with other passengers, get to know where they’re from, where they’re going and why they are taking this trip. You can meet many interesting people.
  • Bring a book and a hobby to keep your hands and mind busy.
  • If you plan on doing most of your destination tours by foot, wear comfortable shoes, pack a jacket, water bottle and map. Pack some curiosity, patience and empathy too.
  • Get to some of the beautiful, natural places in your country before they are spoiled by the effects of climate change.

Thank you for reading this far. Keep practising kindness and patience with those you encounter along your life’s journey. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

Feel free to share some of your east coast travel experiences in the comments below.

T

Wherever you go – it may be raining

06 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Art, Food and Cooking, Health, pets, therapy, Travel

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Spring travel whisked me away from the rainy Ottawa Valley to Vancouver Island.

It rained there too. 

My objectives were made months in advance:

  • Travel somewhere within Canada
  • Push my air travel anxiety limits – further than before
  • Visit with family
  • Do touristy things
  • Do not think about work

My destination was Vancouver Island, just off the coast of British Columbia. The long stretches of flying, sitting, waiting, flying, sitting, etc. tired me out. At various destinations I welcomed opportunities for walking tours and restaurant outings. Soon that tired me out too!

I practiced mindfulness as much as I could, savouring moments and reminding myself to breathe.

One family member took me for a drive up the east coast of Vancouver Island, humoured my request to stop where I could dip my toes into the Pacific Ocean.

Theresa dipping her toes into the west coast ocean waters

Pacific Ocean (well… some inlet) I am in you!

Soon I was on a bus then another bus to the beautiful city of Victoria. I was happy and comforted that relatives were waiting for me, extra umbrellas in hand to provide an escort to my hotel.

While in Victoria, I was treated to sufficient walking excursions, visited a castle and tried food from different restaurants. We had one sunny, windy day.

I spent one rainy afternoon by myself, enjoying bright flower gardens and inhaling the scent of trees in full blossom.

Flowers rain Victoria

A rainy tourist outing in downtown Victoria

A wet park bench

A wet bench and colourful flowers

Soon one of my adult children joined me after his own cross-country tour by train, ferry and bus. He got to meet one set of cousins for the first time. He accompanied me for a walk by the docks, an appropriate lunch and a walking tour up to Emily Carr House.

Lunch at Red Fish Blue Fish – Victoria

As with my tour of the castle a couple of days earlier, we exited through the gift shop and I picked up a few souvenirs.

Blonde Lady sitting at tea table in Emily Carr house

A chance to sit down during a tour of Emily Carr house

Did I achieve my objectives?  Yes! I practiced mindfulness moments wherever I was, taking in the experiences, breathing in and breathing out.

After a long day of travel east, I returned to Ottawa in the rain. I observed the local news about severe spring flooding in our region.

I was glad to be home, to have the chance to do laundry and rest in my creature comforts.

Snuggles was glad to see me too and perform his morning routine of waking me up to serve breakfast and read the online news together. Creatures of habit…

Black cat on lap

“Good. You’re back where you belong – with me!”

Thanks for dropping by.

T

Alone in a crowd

05 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by in community, pets, philosophy, reading, Travel

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Do you enjoy your solitude? Do you find it conducive to navel-gazing and existential contemplations?

Do you alternately feel a sense of inclusion and connectedness when in a crowd of like-minded strangers?

I do.

One way I experience the latter is to treat myself to a personal adventure on the Doors Open Ottawa tours. This was the third year that I explored the city on my own, learned new things, admired architecture and met other interesting humans.

Yesterday’s weather was perfect for being in the sun, walking, busing, touring around Ottawa.

My first stop was a disappointment. It seems that arriving at noon is too late to get on the guided tour list for the temple of online commerce, Shopify.

Still determined for urban exercise and discovery, I walked from Elgin Street all the way to my next desired stop, The Temple of Science.

Science. Apologies for this ear worm coming at you.

I arrived tired and sweaty at the National Research Council Canada (NRC) – Temple of Science on Sussex Drive. After freshening up in the ladies room and refilling my water bottle, I unwittingly jumped the queue, ignoring protocol by inserting myself into the next guided tour group. I blame it on the heat.

It was a very interesting, fast-paced walking tour. Kudos to the staff and volunteers.

 

The wait on Sussex Drive for the OC Transpo bus downtown was very long. The buses were not obeying the GPS offerings according to various smart phone apps shared by me and my random companions. At least we had a bench in the shade of nearby trees. People came and sat. Some gave up and started walking.

It wasn’t the first time I used a park bench for deep thinking activities. I had plenty of time for people-watching, casual conversation, contemplating the Universe, and … catching up on some reading.  I really hope to finish Masters of Time this weekend!

comic speech bubbles of black cat critiquing human reading efforts

 

Waiting for another bus on construction-cramped Rideau Street provided a different lens into humanity, social interactions of ragtag gangs rallying back and forth in some loud, shared purpose. I was relieved when the next bus finally arrived.

Next stop was the Saint-François d’Assise Church, another temple of sorts. It was cool and quiet except when someone was demonstrating the organ (!). I admired the wooden pews, the statues and all those candles.

Presque tous les panneaux d’information et de la littérature était en français! 

Les gens sympathiques à la réception m’a remis le seul pamphlet anglais. Heureusement pour moi, je continue avec l’apprentissage de la langue de ma mère. 

Now resting and reflecting on a rainy Sunday morning, I plan to head out for another educational tour. I think I convinced one of the young people to join me.

On a parting note, here is something else to contemplate:

The odds are overwhelming that we’re characters in an advanced civilization’s computer simulation.  See:  http://qz.com/699518/we-talked-to-the-oxford-philosopher-who-gave-elon-musk-the-theory-that-we-are-all-computer-simulations/

Thanks for stopping by.

T