Tuesday, September 3, 2024
We had breakfast in the Lido because we had an early HAL tour today. We were leaving the town of Sydney today and going to the countryside. There was a chance of rain, so we made sure that we packed our raingear in our backpacks.
Tour Description: Relive History at the Fortress of Louisbourg –
Start your journey with an introduction to the port of Sydney and a panoramic drive through the historic North End.
Step back in time to 1744 and experience the Fortress of Louisbourg — the largest fortified town outside of Europe. Louisbourg was once a thriving seaport and capital of Île Royale (Cape Breton Island) — the third-busiest harbor in North America and one of France’s key centers of trade and military strength in the New World. Situated along a rocky Atlantic coastline, the site now serves as an exciting and entertaining lesson in Canadian, American, French and British history.
You’ll see a selection of buildings and exhibits as costumed actors re-enact the lives of specific individuals residing here during the pre-siege era. Experience the life of a military officer as you visit the home of Captain and Madame DeGannes. Discuss household duties with the servant in the Engineer’s Residence and discover some tips and tricks for open-hearth cooking (which every domestic cook needs to know, of course). Wander up to the spectacular chapel in the King’s Bastion.
Stop and talk to a soldier about his guard duty, living conditions, security and (most interestingly) diet.
Notes: Arrivals before May 22 are during the Fortress’ low season; guests will have access to the grounds only (no indoor visits). Arrivals from May 22 to June 30 and after September 15 will feature a trio of rotating workshops. Tour requires considerable walking. Terrain includes varied surfaces, including gravel, grass, mud, paved and unpaved paths, steps, stairs, boardwalks, and inclines. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress warmly in layers with a wind- and waterproof outer layer; on cooler days, bring gloves, a scarf and a warm hat.
We met on the dock and, once we were checked in, were directed to one of the two busses that were taking people on this excursion. The bus was comfortable, and the sound system was working well so we could hear the guide. Took about an hour to get to the Fortress.
We were given 2 hours at the Fortress. You had the option to stay with the guide or explore the Fortress on your own. We opted to stay with the guide. Without the mic, he was kind of a low-talker so I missed some of his commentary but the signage all over the Fortress was helpful.
We started in the museum that was featuring a 1000-piece Lego replica. The guide told us that it had been on display for quite a while and was popular. However, it was soon to be dismantled because the Legos had been donated by the company and now they wanted their Legos back. Glad we were able to see it.
We enjoyed walking through the various buildings and talking to the re-enactors. Unfortunately, it started raining just at the time they were going to fire the cannon, so we didn’t get to see that happen. The heavy rain lasted for about 20 minutes.
The two hours passed quickly, and we were soon making our way back to the ship. We got back in time for lunch in the Lido. When we got back to the cabin, our disembarkation papers had been delivered. The paper stated that our Mariner benefit would allow us to disembark anytime between 8:00 and 9:30 on Saturday. Because our flight wasn’t until 2:00, we would wait until 9:30.
After all that walking, a nap was in order. Luckily, we woke up in time for happy hour. So tonight, we decided to eat in the main dining room. There was a longer line to get in the dining room that I had seen in a long time. However, the line moved quickly. We were seated at the same table for two as the other night. I enjoyed my meal of eggplant parmigiagna and Chuck enjoyed his baked cod but the wait time between courses seemed excessive tonight. (Again, I forgot to take a photo).
The Rolling Stone Lounge Band had the night off and the HAL singers and dancers were performing on the main stage, so we spent more time in the Casino. Seemed like others had the same idea as the machines were ringing and beeping tonight.
Tomorrow: Halifax, Nova Scotia