Day 51 Halifax

As Halifax is a large city, the port area could easily accommodate several ships at the wharf. This certainly made going ashore much easier. As we walked through the terminal we tried to connect to the internet. The locations guide from the ship mentioned to us that the internet connection over the past few weeks has not been good at the terminal and suggested we try the public library. As today was a walk around the town highlights day we would be passing the library.

Setting off initially along part of the boardwalk that runs beside the port, we then turned up into the city streets. We came to the library and checked some emails and made a quick Facebook post.

We continued on our walk, arriving at the public gardens. The gardens were quite pretty. Within the gardens, a fenced area contained two overly large geese that would in no way been able to fly due to their weight. They needed to go on a diet. There was also a large pond with a model of the Titanic and the distant rescue ship. (Halifax is where 150 bodies from the Titanic were buried).

We then continued onto the historic Halifax Citadel. This was the English equivalent of the French Fort Louisbourg. The difference was this fortress was built into a hilltop and was defending a harbour entrance.

The citadel is built in a star shape which is known as a Bastion. With cannons on each point of the star it allows for a cross coverage of fire on the enemy therefore being far more successful. At the entrance to the citadel is a guard, in Scottish Mackenzie Clan uniform, on duty. He is at attention and does not move at all whilst on duty. In the 1700's he was on duty for 2 hours and then off for 4 hours in the nearby guard house. Guard duty would be for a 24-hour period. Today the guard does a one hour on and 2 hours off which only lasts during the citadel's opening hours. Whether it was for 0ne or two hours, it would be a challenge to stand still for that time required.

We went on the tour of the citadel with a guide in costume of the period. Our particular guide was portraying an off duty officer. During the tour we were taken to the tailor's shop where uniform jackets and head gear were handed out for people to try on so they could see firsthand the design was for impressive appearance not comfort. Vince was the first person who was given a red coat and cap to try on.

We then went to an area where another guard demonstrated the loading and firing of Snider Enfield rifle. The rifle he was using was an actual rifle from the period, not a replica. This was the first rifle to take a cartridge, not use shot and powder. Visitors have the option to purchase a ticket to be able to fire the rifle themselves.

The citadel has an outer wall, a no man's land area and the inner wall. The outer wall has a passage way running through it so as to allow soldiers to fire on the enemy on the outside but also into the no man's land area.

The final part of the tour took us along the top of the inner wall, finishing at the area were the noon cannon is fired. We arrived a couple of minutes before midday. We were able to see the loading and firing of the cannon. This firing has been occurring at midday ever since the 1700's. While we were approx. 15m away from the cannon, it was still very loud when it was fired.

Other exhibits we saw on our own wanderings were the school house, WWI trench and soldiers' accommodation. This was for the children of the soldiers. The soldiers and their families would have slide shows at night depicting religious scenes or general entertainment.

They had also set up a replica of a WWI trench. An ex-military person was dressed in a WWI uniform and we spoke about the conditions in the trenches during the war. It was well done.

From the citadel we wandered back down the hill into the town and along more of the boardwalk back to the ship. Once again we had a 3.30pm all aboard before setting sail.