Terry's Travel: Halifax Nova Scotia Canada

#HalifaxNSCanada

Halifax is the largest city (500,000 citizens) east of Montreal and it is the economic engine that
drives this part of Canada
It is a transportation hub, has many IT companies, head offices of large corporations, banking sector, shipyards, the East Coast Canadian Navy is based here, tourism sector, etc
With six universities within the city center and it being one of the oldest areas of North America,
you have a great mixture of youthful energy plus history

KeyTip;
Many things to see in this beautiful and very walkable city that are all for free;
The Boardwalk on the Waterfront, Central Library, Point Pleasant Park, Public Gardens, Art Gallery, Historic Properties, Old Town Clock and so on

Historic Properties (also known as Privateers Wharf)
It was constructed during the late 1700s during the Napoleonic Wars and were used by the
local merchants and privateers

The most famous shipowner was Enos Collins (for one business venture he started the Halifax Banking Company with Samuel Cunard, which in time became Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or CIBC) but he also had dealings in many other grey areas jajajaja
A) he defied the blockade to bring American supplies to
the British
B) bought captured vessels from the courts to sell
their cargoes
C) he purchased many buildings on the Halifax waterfront
through foreclosures

Legendary Tales
This area made Halifax very prosperous;
but not all the trading with these ships were legal as it was also for smuggling and privateering
But this just adds to the rich history (for its stories) as a seaport 😄

Privateers
You need to remember the British government was fighting and protecting a wide empire around the world, so basically did not have much in the way of tax dollars to build a naval fleet for
its new territory here

So they gave permission to these pirates (thus called Privateers) to legally attack enemy ships during wartime under the letter of the marque, with the agreement that they protected the shores
of this area
The payoff was they were allowed to seize anything of value for themselves and the shareholders like Enos Collins who owned many of the ships, thus he became very wealthy
#FamousSonsDaughters_HalifaxNovaScotiaCanada

Modern Times
In Halifax today, there has been many construction sites stopped after finding parts of these scuttled ships from those times
As the Privateers would bring the captured vessels to Halifax harbor (from as far away as the Caribbean) to strip down anything of value and also to collect the reward for the crew,
then the pirate(s) would be tarred and hung
#GeorgesIslandHalifaxCanada

Maritime Archaeologists
They would be brought in and eventually anything found is usually displayed at one of the new
buildings and its lobbies

Historic Properties
It was rescued from demolition (thankfully) by the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust in the 1970s and today is the "jewel section" of the award winning Halifax Boardwalk

Victorian Homes
Located on Halifax peninsula, it was originally composed of sprawling
farmlands with dense forests
Then evolving into the grand estates we see today

Maintenance
Yes beautiful, but the structures being 100+ years old do have some issues
Many reports of finding old seaweed or newspapers in the walls that were for insulation purposes,
which was standard back in those times
Plus your wiring will need to be upgraded, kitchens and bathrooms remodeled as the list grows

High Prices
So add those upgrades into the average cost of these homes, are you sitting down;
they are into the millions

Bright Facades
You got to love what i call the "Bermuda" tints that highlights the
architecture of Halifax

Colorful Fun Facts
A) Navigation Theory; maritime folklore says that the bright painted homes helped sailors spot the shoreline through the dense Halifax fog
B) Leftovers; fishing boat paint was very expensive, as it was highly durable and a water-resistant marine product. So families would save whatever bright pigment was left to coat their homes
siding or window trims
C) Softer Palette; our Provincial neighbor Newfoundland is known for its hyper-vibrant "jellybean row" colors, here in Halifax we are a more Bermuda pastel of a muted candy hue shades

The Public Gardens
Located in the heart of the city they opened in 1867 with 15 acres of beauty
( for more, look for my blog #PublicGardensHalifax)
It opens daily 8.00am and closes 30 minutes before sunset, plus is free to enjoy

No Fee Tours
Free one hour horticultural and historical viewings during the summer
season at The Public Gardens
The area does get busy with Weddings, High School Proms or University Graduations who are all looking for their perfect photo background, which is here in abundance

Titanic Model
Look for the (#TitanicHalifaxNSCanadaConnection) replica in the Public Gardens
It is a summer tradition and displayed on Griffins Pond

Point Pleasant Park (190 acres)
When the British left our area they sold the land to the Government of Canada, who now leases it to our City for a ceremonial 1 Shilling (less than one cent)

Today
Us locals use it for long nature walks, watching live theatre (Shakespeare by the Sea)
our Bluenose Marathon runs some of its course through here, or watch the mighty ships we receive that enter our port (one of the largest natural harbors in the World)

Military History
It is vast in the park, as it was once part of the Halifax Defense Complex
which included Georges Island, Citadel Fort and the York Redoubt
Some of the key structures located here are the Prince of Wales Tower, Point Pleasant Battery, Fort Ogilvie, Chain Battery and the Northwest Arm Battery

Invasion
Finally the British military would use the area as i training ground to simulate
an attack by the Americans, during those times of the 1800s

Halifax Citadel Fort (4th version was completed in 1856)

It was occupied by British forces until 1906 (who built all their forts same way) in a star shape so the soldiers would have angles for shooting their muskets plus its cannons.
So because of its strong configuration of a defense setup, the Citadel was never attacked

Present Times
It is worth visiting the inside grounds for the Army Museum
and the78th Highland Regiment plus Royal Artillery as they do reenactments every summer of their drills, the marching and also shooting of the noon day gun (it was used to allow the mariners in the harbor to synchronize their chronometers for their upcoming Trans-Atlantic voyages and also helped the townspeople to set their pocket watches)
Is a tradition for over 200 years (it is loud) and they are all dressed in the period correct uniforms,
so you are reliving history

Basilica

Opened in 1899, the Saint Marys Cathedral is a Gothic Revival design and

is located on Spring Garden Road

Interesting Facts

A) Illegal Gatherings; when the parish originally formed, celebrating a Catholic mass in Halifax was actually not allowed under British rule

B) Halifax Explosion; every window was shattered within the cathedral, but the thick (locally sourced) granite walls remained completely intact

C) Gifts; within three years after the blast, the stunning new stained glass windows (you see now) were given by Germany as i sign of compassion and peace

D) Hidden Surprise; in 2020 during some restoration work behind the main altar, a long lost set of murals were discovered and since restored, now to be seen

KeyTip;

Free Guided Tours (Monday to Friday either 10.00am, 1.00pm or 2.30pm)

after you fill out a form off their website

Historic Area
Three city blocks of Barrington Street has now received that designated status,
thus preserving buildings like these.
With the demolition of the Cogswell Interchange, it will allow the rejoining of the area and bring it
back to its architectural significance

Building Rules
A great mixture of old and new in the city
What is allowed is any new development has to keep the facade of the historical building, but can add new sections to the top or sides

Chicago Model
That city learned through its painful losses of architectural masterpieces, so we have watched
So here in Halifax we have distinct historic areas that has strict architectural
rules for developers

Alexander Keiths Brewery
It is one of the oldest in North America (200+ years)
This is a MUST Tour

Besides going through tunnels and having samples in a underground pub 😀
You will learn the history of Mr Keith as a Mayor of Halifax,
Businessman plus Freemason

Fog & Mist
We do get Tall Ship Festivals occasionally, so what better way for me to take a picture
but in their element

Weather
We have the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf of Mexico that "collide" off our shores,
hence the legendary coastal fog
Read more on this subject #RuralNovaScotiaCanada

The Award Winning Halifax Boardwalk (4km /2.5 miles)

Museums;
Pier 21 Immigration, HMCS Sackville, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Discovery Centre,
Museum of Natural History, or CSS Acadia

Quirky Things
The Whale Tongue or the Blue Wave Sculpture, Submerged Stairs near the Muir Hotel
Then pubs like Lower Deck, restaurants, historic buildings, local artisans (Peace by Chocolate),
buskers or just strolling the harbor plus smelling the salty Atlantic Ocean air

Old Dalhousie
(one of six universities in Halifax)
The city is certainly known as a University Town with students coming from all around the world
(100 countries) which just adds to areas culture

Halifax Central Library
It won a Lieutenant Governors Design Award for its cool shape to mimic a set of books

KeyTip;
Head to the rooftop outdoor patio for great views of the city

Government House
It is the oldest official residence in Canada and is the home of the Lieutenant Governor
of Nova Scotia which is the representative of the Crown (England)
#FamousSonsDaughters_HalifaxNovaScotiaCanada