Sydney, Nova Scotia

Bob called at 7:45 am and told me he was waiting out front. Early is on time. I already like him. We took our bags down to the front desk where they agreed to hold them for us for the day.

We got in the van and headed out to the port. What a relief to see the Volendam in port. After all we went through I imagined that the ship skipping this port and going on to the next. Bob pulled up a bit down the pier to wait for some folks. I walked over to the Volendam and talked to security. We were on a list that they had on a clipboard and they expected us. The director of expeditions told me I could check in anytime and that all aboard was a 4:30. What a relief!

Today we had a small bus tour of Sydney and Bras d’Or lake. Bob, our driver and guide, liked to talk. He had something to say about everything. He spoke briefly about all of the First Nation communities in the area. These were the native people before the British and French arrived. I remember a First Nation community on Wapole Island across from Algonac, Michigan. Quite primitive.
Suprising to us, there were many, many people from India living in this community. Bob said these people come here to work the many jobs that are available. They work hard and don’t complain, said Bob. Something political here, I thought to myself.

Our small bus or van had two other couples. One from the Volendam and one from the Norwegian ship that was down the pier.

We learned that tourism is being promoted in this area as a way to improve the area. It is a nice area and there is quite a bit to see. The surroundings were beautiful. Lots of trees and lots of water.

Our first stop was Christmas Island. We were amazed to learn that this was the summer home of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Here, Santa enjoyed the warmer weather before he and the wife headed to the North Pole in October. Bob had some post cards and we wrote to Alice and Georgia back home and told him we had a nice talk with the old man. Here is a photo of the post office.

The area we are in is known as Cape Breton. Today we are driving around the Bras d’Or Lakes.

I guess I never imagined that people lived this far north. The weather was in the 70s. We were in shorts and t shirts. Part of the government improvement of the area is to buy some of the old farms that people worked and recreate what it was like back near the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

This village reminded me of Greenfield Village back home. Each building had actors portraying folks that lived there 125 or so years ago.The entire Cape Breton Island had a Scottish feel to it as many of its residents emigrated from Scotland. This area reminded them of Scotland and they lived here the same as they did back home. The road signs were in English and in Gaelic, just like they are in Ireland and Scotland. We never expected to see any of this in Northern Canada.

We left the village and headed into Baddeck for lunch. Bob parked and we got out and went our own ways. Terri and I went to a drugstore. She needed some items that were in the lost bag. I was hoping that they had some t shirts but I settled for some socks. Maybe some T-shirts back at the port. Lunch was great. The little town reminded me of some of the little towns along the coast of Lake Michigan. We stopped at a nice little restaurant and had lunch.

We headed back to the van after lunch and Bob began the trek back to the port. He kept saying that he would shut up for a while to give us a rest. He never kept that promise. We learned about his high schools days, his wife, his career. He also said he and his wife traveled a lot of the U.S. He said that travel is on “hold” for a few years. He wants to wait to see what happens. “Happens with what?”, I asked. The president wants to put tariffs on us, said Bob. My response was “He is going to put tariffs on Canada”. Just part of my goodwill tour.

It was about 3:15 when the couple from the other ship were dropped off. All aboard for them was 3:30. Bob then dropped the couple on the Volendam off in front of the ship and we were off for the hotel to get our luggage. We had about an hour but I was getting nervous. We pulled up to the hotel and loaded our luggage. I warned the clerk at the desk that another bag might be arriving from Air Canada.

Bob dropped us off in front of the Volendam at 4:10 We showed our passports to get through security and then I hustled over to the giant fiddle market (google it, I didn’t get a photo) to grab 2 T -shirts. I know it is Canadian money but $29.95 seems like a lot for a flimsy little T shirt.

We went up the ramp and then were escorted to the front desk where we checked in. Finally we made it!

No clothes meant dinner on the Lido deck. Nothing ever changes. Still a long line of big bellies at the ice cream counter.

The evening entertainment was comedian Bill Barkonay. Funny jokes and a good presentation but it was hard to stay awake after a grueling two days. We finished the show and went over to the Shops on the ship. I bought a pair of long pants, a collared shirt and some long pants. I felt a little better knowing I could get out of the clothes I had on for 2 straight days.

Tomorrow we are in Corner Brook and have a tour at 10 am.