Morning at the Public Gardens, afternoon at the harbour

We made it to Halifax yesterday with just the usual number of glitches, none of which were critical. Around 7:30 we emerged from the airport with our luggage ready to take a bus into town, only to find that the direct bus to downtown Halifax didn't run after 7:30. So we took a bus to Dartmouth and then a shuttle into Halifax and then another bus to our hotel on the corner of South Park and Spring Garden Road. Don't you love the street names?




The transit system here is excellent and very reasonable. Our trip from the airport 40 km away cost us $3.50 each and it was easy peasy. We have found the people here in Nova Scotia to be super friendly. Everyone strikes up a friendly conversation with us and seems genuinely interested in where we're from and our impressions of the city.

So far we're impressed. The hotel is very spiffy and comfortable and centrally located right across from the ever-so-Victorian Public Gardens. That's where we went this morning. Kind of looks a bit like Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. The two cities are quite similar in feeling.

This afternoon we took a bus down to the waterfront and enjoyed walking along the boardwalk with its tourist attractions and food stands. That's where I had my very first lobster roll.  We didn't know what to expect but it was a bun like a hot dog bun with the top and bottom cut off and grilled, then filled with delectable lobster. Yum.  

On a whim we decided to take the transit ferry across the harbour to Dartmouth and back. It was a lovely ride and we managed to find a place for a glass of wine and then get back on the ferry within the 90 minute time allowance so we could use our transfers for the return trip. The cost? $1.75 each. What a bargain!

Then we wound our way back up the hill to our hotel for a little nap before dinner.  Here are few scenes from our walk back. There are a lot of very old buildings here. It was a great first day.