Canadian Maritimes Day 9

Got off ferry around 7:30 am. Drove toward Halifax. Stopped in Baddeck - very quaint coastal town; reminds us of Saugatuck. Sailboats in the channel, lighthouse, lots of restarants, B&Bs. My parents would like it.

It's foggy and sprinkling today - glad we had good weather on Newfoundland.

Drove to Halifax and found a McD's for lunch. Finally got our McLobster sandwiches that we've seen advertised the whole trip. It was good - lobster salad on a soft hoagie roll. Value meal cost about $8.50. Kids each ordered 3 things off the value menu. They discovered that they like McChicken sandwiches (mayo and lettuce scraped off and replaced with ketchup, of course).

We're finding that food on this trip is going to be a huge expense. Everything in Canada is more expensive, plus tax, plus bad exchange right now: Canadian dollar is worth $1.06 American!

Drove to Pier 21. Went to the research center to get information on my family's immigration to Canada. Called my dad from the lobby to get the name and date of their ship's crossing. He sounded pretty excited that we were there. We left the research room with a picture of the ship (The Waterman) and a list of passengers (funny - my Dad's name wasn't on it, but his parents and siblings were) and a packet of stories passengers had submitted about the voyage.

It was pretty cool to see the spot where he first set foot on North America as a 5-year-old. We watched a good movie in the museum upstairs and took a tour. Very interesting - especially because of the family connection.

After Pier 21, we wandered down the boardwalk, through the farmers' market (just closed for the day). We saw a harbour seal in the bay and talked to an old guy smoking a cigar and fishing for mackeral. Walked all over town, through a crystal shop, an old cemetary, souvenir ship, etc. Marched exhausted children back to the car and headed toward the hotel. Stopped at a grocery store and bought food for supper.

Arrived at hotel around 7 pm. Comfort Hotel on Chain Lake Drive in Halifax. Only 4 months old and very nice. We microwaved dinner (pizza for the kids, frozen lasagnas, salad and fresh bread with garlic butter - yum!), then the kids swam in the indoor pool while I worked out in the fitness center. We enjoyed relaxing and watching TV (Jeopardy, Dancing with the Stars) in the room and just chilling out.