Catalina Island, California

Avalon was celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013

Very much like visiting a Mediterranean Island

Some of the unspoiled wilderness on the island

The crystal clear waters of Santa Catalina

Some of the natural beauty on the island

A stairway to heaven perhaps lol

The island has been home to many Hollywood Films over the years

Just located 22 miles off the California Coast, (1 hour high speed ferry ride) Santa Catalina Island seems like a world apart from the hectic frenzy of cities like San Diego and Los Angeles

A refreshing fact......because so few cars are allowed here, there isn't one traffic light on the island and are more inclined to see a golf cart as a mode of transportation

Because of its isolation of thousands of years, Catalina Island has created a unique animal, plant and archaeological resource found nowhere else on earth

The island has had its "dark" past as it was home to smugglers, poachers, squatters and even Union Soldiers

Did you know that William Wrigley Jr. ( yes of the chewing gum family) bought the island in 1919 to promote the island as a vacation spot and even brought his Chicago Cubs here for Spring Training

Aerial view of the bay

 Mediterranean type charm of Avalon with a population of under 4,000 citizens

In 1975 the Santa Catalina Conservancy acquired over 85% of the island..... protecting it from further development and for us visitors to enjoy it beauty

The most recognizable sight is the Casino ( Italian for gathering place) which opened in 1929 and despite its name it isn't a gambling house but a circular ballroom.

Chimes Tower

The Public Gardens of Halifax Nova Scotia

#Public_Gardens_Halifax
These are a Victorian Era Public Gardens & were founded by the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society in 1836. The wrought iron front gates ( from Scotland ) that greets you with the coat of arms of Halifax
 E Mari Merces , which means wealth from the sea.
KeyTip; Free one hour horticultural & historical tours from June-October (10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm & 3:00pm)

Many statues and plaques throughout the park are to commemorate historic military figures and operations during the Victorian Era and early Twentieth Century

The Bandstand is used for free public concerts usually on Sunday afternoons

Home to over 140 species of trees

Over 16 acres of parkland created in 1867

Except for repairs / cleanup after Hurricane Juan ( 2003 ) much of the Gardens have not changed much since 1911

Richard Power & Henry Busch were the architects of this wonderful place

Soldiers Memorial Fountain erected in 1903

In 1887 the statue of Ceres was added ( Roman Goddess of agriculture & fertility)

Waited for almost one hour for our most important  Friend of Nature

Carpet Beds are a Victorian Garden Tradition

Next time in the Gardens look for the model replica ( since 1994) of the Titanic on Griffins Pond launched every spring
 

Dingle Park in Halifax Nova Scotia

Memorial Tower (1912) was built to commemorate Nova Scotia's achievement of a representative government

Dingle Park ( which means wooded valley) covers 95 acres

One of the many walkways through the park, which was donated to Halifax by one of its many famous citizens....Sir Sandford Fleming

Besides the ocean water, the park has many freshwater ponds through out the park.

Among many achievements Sir Sandford Fleming achieved, he is the inventor of Standard Time Zones and designed the first Canadian Postage Stamp

10 floors up inside the Tower looking out into the inlet from the Atlantic Ocean.....Northwest Arm

Fall showing off its colors in the park that was given to the people of Halifax in 1908

Spiral staircase will take you to the top, plus there are plaques that line the interior walls from other countries with
connections to the British Parliament

The entrance to the park that is located withing the city of Halifax