Applemomma
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,687
Kevin and John....oh my.....just listened to the Canada Cruise review and alternated between laughing out loud and wanting to weep. It was one of those segments that found me yelling at my mp3 player and that doesn't happen often.
I think you guys might have fallen victim to what happens to a lot of American tourists in my opinion and actually did what you see people who just show up to the Disney parks not knowing what to expect; you didn't quite know where you were going, research wise...understandable, given that this was on the tail end of a marathon travel for you.
Canada, and in this case, Halifax, are not quite exotic enough locations for anyone coming out of the US to think that they might need to do a bit of research and thus sometimes miss out on some of the best aspects. I once had a headache inducing conversation with a couple from New Hampshire that were put out that they could not view the ocean as they drove down through to Yarmouth because on the map it looked like you could....the fact that they were driving through the Annapolis VALLEY, meaning big hill between you and water, never occurred to them.
Couple things first, geographically speaking - Halifax and St. John (not St. John's - Dustin was kind of right, St John's with an "s" on the end is in Newfoundland but that was 500 miles and another province away, you weren't even close to it). Halifax is indeed in Nova Scotia but St. John is in New Brunswick on the other side of the Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are two separate provinces, much like states. Also, it wasn't a river!! It's a harbour, part of the ocean, but it does get narrow where the bridge goes over it so I can see how you might think of it as a river.
Second, Halifax isn't really that big of a city so unless you need transportation to go to some place, like Peggy's Cove, and you only have a few hours, you are better off to just hope in a cab and go to a spot or two. There's all kinds of history as this is one of the oldest cities in North America but you kind of need the back story to appreciate it. Which is why I'd like to find that driver and ring his neck.
You guys should have called me! Here's what I would have done....first we'd have gone to the Maritime Museum of History where you would have gotten a really good over view of the Halifax Explosion, why we're so proud of it and why it's such a big part of our history and our present....just ask the folks in Boston...we give them a honking huge Christmas tree every year as a thank you for helping us out during that time. Also you'd have seen a great display on the Titanic at the museum as well. Then I'd take you over to the Historic Properties where there were all kinds of neat little shops, with maybe a stop at the Brewery market, where if there was anyone in your party that wanted to go on a beer tasting we could do that....we're all about our Alexander Keith's here
Should you be done shopping a little early and want to see some sights we'd drive up along the Grand Parade, to the top of Citadel Hill (our big fort), through the South End, along the NorthWest Arm (stop and look at the big old anchor that got blasted there by our explosion no droppy cannons on that side), out to the Dingle (tower there has a stone in it from every country in the Commonwealth I believe...those are the countries the Queen owns 
...including one from Shakespeare's home), then to Point Pleasant park and back to the Port.
I guess my point there is you're right...never get into a strangers car and be taken to a second location!
You're right, The Seaport Market where the Farmers Market is held, is a disappointment through the week. It's been an ongoing issue since they opened it. Saturday's are great at the Market because that's when farmers can get there, the locals shop and the money is made. In this case I think it's a matter of bad timing for Disney to not have the ship in port on a weekend.
I'd be interested to know what, if any shore excursions Disney was actually offering? I'm thinking that they are still feeling out this Canada cruise thing and after listening to the segment I'm wondering if it's a good fit.
By the way, it's not the pier itself that is the wonder, it's "Pier 21" itself and what it represents for the country in terms of immigration. As someone said, it's our Ellis Island. Terrific museum in there are well.
Bad luck on your meals too! Lobster one of those things they ding you as tourists on, just ask Kathy how much she paid for hers. There are tons of restaurants in the harbour front area that wouldn't charge you a fraction of what you paid for that soup...again it seems it was the luck of the draw.
So please, please, please guys, don't judge Halifax and Nova Scotia based on your one day experience in it. The conclusion I've come to listening to the segment is that cruising is a nice way to travel but maybe not a good way to visit.
Come on up sometime when you've got more then a few hours to spend and I'll show you MY Nova Scotia.....
I think you guys might have fallen victim to what happens to a lot of American tourists in my opinion and actually did what you see people who just show up to the Disney parks not knowing what to expect; you didn't quite know where you were going, research wise...understandable, given that this was on the tail end of a marathon travel for you.
Canada, and in this case, Halifax, are not quite exotic enough locations for anyone coming out of the US to think that they might need to do a bit of research and thus sometimes miss out on some of the best aspects. I once had a headache inducing conversation with a couple from New Hampshire that were put out that they could not view the ocean as they drove down through to Yarmouth because on the map it looked like you could....the fact that they were driving through the Annapolis VALLEY, meaning big hill between you and water, never occurred to them.
Couple things first, geographically speaking - Halifax and St. John (not St. John's - Dustin was kind of right, St John's with an "s" on the end is in Newfoundland but that was 500 miles and another province away, you weren't even close to it). Halifax is indeed in Nova Scotia but St. John is in New Brunswick on the other side of the Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are two separate provinces, much like states. Also, it wasn't a river!! It's a harbour, part of the ocean, but it does get narrow where the bridge goes over it so I can see how you might think of it as a river.
Second, Halifax isn't really that big of a city so unless you need transportation to go to some place, like Peggy's Cove, and you only have a few hours, you are better off to just hope in a cab and go to a spot or two. There's all kinds of history as this is one of the oldest cities in North America but you kind of need the back story to appreciate it. Which is why I'd like to find that driver and ring his neck.
You guys should have called me! Here's what I would have done....first we'd have gone to the Maritime Museum of History where you would have gotten a really good over view of the Halifax Explosion, why we're so proud of it and why it's such a big part of our history and our present....just ask the folks in Boston...we give them a honking huge Christmas tree every year as a thank you for helping us out during that time. Also you'd have seen a great display on the Titanic at the museum as well. Then I'd take you over to the Historic Properties where there were all kinds of neat little shops, with maybe a stop at the Brewery market, where if there was anyone in your party that wanted to go on a beer tasting we could do that....we're all about our Alexander Keith's here
Should you be done shopping a little early and want to see some sights we'd drive up along the Grand Parade, to the top of Citadel Hill (our big fort), through the South End, along the NorthWest Arm (stop and look at the big old anchor that got blasted there by our explosion
no droppy cannons on that side), out to the Dingle (tower there has a stone in it from every country in the Commonwealth I believe...those are the countries the Queen owns ...including one from Shakespeare's home), then to Point Pleasant park and back to the Port.I guess my point there is you're right...never get into a strangers car and be taken to a second location!
You're right, The Seaport Market where the Farmers Market is held, is a disappointment through the week. It's been an ongoing issue since they opened it. Saturday's are great at the Market because that's when farmers can get there, the locals shop and the money is made. In this case I think it's a matter of bad timing for Disney to not have the ship in port on a weekend.
I'd be interested to know what, if any shore excursions Disney was actually offering? I'm thinking that they are still feeling out this Canada cruise thing and after listening to the segment I'm wondering if it's a good fit.
By the way, it's not the pier itself that is the wonder, it's "Pier 21" itself and what it represents for the country in terms of immigration. As someone said, it's our Ellis Island. Terrific museum in there are well.
Bad luck on your meals too! Lobster one of those things they ding you as tourists on, just ask Kathy how much she paid for hers. There are tons of restaurants in the harbour front area that wouldn't charge you a fraction of what you paid for that soup...again it seems it was the luck of the draw.
So please, please, please guys, don't judge Halifax and Nova Scotia based on your one day experience in it. The conclusion I've come to listening to the segment is that cruising is a nice way to travel but maybe not a good way to visit.
Come on up sometime when you've got more then a few hours to spend and I'll show you MY Nova Scotia.....
At least they don't throw their beer cans on the lawn. 
). I am definitely going to call hockeymomNS or Applemomma if I ever venture up north! 
