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Canada - Nova Scotia and Newfoundland

20/08/2014 11:13:24 am

November 2013

Returning to Halifax, I was asked a number of questions by the border patrol asking why I went to New York so suddenly. My simple reply was that, I just decided to go on the day. Still, my bags were searched and my phone swabbed and I passed through border security.

I was again greeted with fantastic Nova Scotian hospitality - a local from Dartmouth offered to split a cab with me to downtown Halifax and even paid for most of the entire trip, a $60 cab fare was suddenly only $20. With a note and a key, I was checked into the hostel for the 2nd time. I promptly fell asleep to awake the next day (a Thursday morning) to work out when the train leaves west and to meet a friend I made in New York. Thinking I might catch the Friday 12.15 train west, I decided to wait till the Sunday. Recovering Friday I wandered across the road to a pub called Henry House where I would inevitably visit numerous times over the next few weeks. Here I met another local who kindly showed me several pubs and bars in the city. Soon another late night was over.

Waking up Saturday afternoon sometime and deciding that another night was a good decision, I decided to delay my train trip to the Tuesday, nearly a week after arriving in Halifax. Wandering, I met another local in bar and was asked to join her friend for more drinks elsewhere. Leaving that bar, I walked past a group of people and was soon spending time with some Newfoundlanders (Newfies). Again, another great night with local hospitality.

Waking up late on the Sunday morning, most likely the afternoon and missing the train, I couldn't help but feel excited about heading out again. Sitting in a coffee shop, I met some more Halidonians who invited me out to the Lower Deck. Soon, I was meeting more people and providing advice on my hometown of Brisbane. Later that night, well, morning, I was offered a couch and I then walked home to the hostel in the morning.

Feeling at home and comfortable in Halifax, I started to think that this is place to spend my Birthday on Friday. Booking more nights, I had a stroke of luck and was able to find a ticket to see the Doctor Who 50th special in Halifax, the day after my birthday. Perfect. The next few days, I caught up on films and even looked at work and living opportunities in Halifax. I also visited Point Pleasant Park. On Friday, I headed out of Halifax to Peggy's Cove via a quick tour of Halifax. We went to the historic Titanic site and bumped into an English actor who has extensively studied the Titantic disaster. He was able to even tell us information on the unknown graves just by the grave stone numbers, and even who he thought they might be. Incredible.

Later that night, I went to Henry House for my birthday dinner with Chris who I previously met in Iceland, and some of his other friends.

Being whimsical and listening to fellow travellers, I hatched the idea to head to the Rock, Newfoundland as I didn't expect to return to the east coast anytime soon. Delaying my train trip for the second or third time, I booked a flight to St John's departing Halifax on the Tuesday morning and departing St John's the following Sunday morning, where I would finally catch a train or trains west to Vancouver.

Arriving in St John's, I knew I had made a great decision to visit this part of Canada. Covered in snow and all sorts of wild colours, I descended into the capital and was amazed by the snowy covered cliffs of 'The Rock'. I landed and caught a taxi to the hostel. I immediately went out to walk the streets of St John's and to find the famous George Street. Meeting some fellow hostel staff, I was soon invited to a birthday party for the Thursday night for another traveller, Mark.

I walked the Cabot Head trail to Signal Hill which was open for a more days, I was able to hike to Signal Hill and down to Qidi Vidi. 

Tumbling out of the trail, and slightly lost, and looking for the brewery to try the famous Iceberg beer, a local by the name of John, asked if I needed lift. I said sure, hearing previously of the good nature of Newfies, I was soon offered a drive out to Cape Spear, the most easterly point of Canada. Soon we were walking along the point and chatting like we had known each other for years.

 

After a few more days of wandering St John's, and seeing a fantastic exhibition on the Titanic, it was soon time to catch that flight back to Halifax.

Waiting at the airport in St John's, I decided to plan my adventures across the continent. I arrived from the airport in Halifax for the 3rd time, and took a bus downtown to pay for my ticket and catch the train, with my first stop Moncton in New Brunswick.