Yes, Honey, Coffee IS That Important.

Tuesday August 12, 2014

So, we got up a little late today.  Rob has some work to do and Mary and I are feeling the effects of sitting in the RV and eating...EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.  So we decide to go for a walk around the campground.  As I said before, Shubie campground is located in Dartmouth.  You literally drive through a suburban neighborhood, filled with Brady Bunch type houses, into a cul-de-sac and that's where this thing is.

Inside, there are two lakes connected by a canal.  The canal is in bad disrepair, but there is a pretty trail that leads by it and there are informational signs along the way.  At the other end of the canal is a lake with houses and boats bobbling around.  There are lots of dogs being put through their paces by owners who no doubt realize that a tired dog makes for a happy campsite.

While we are gone, Rob finds out the bus schedule into Halifax.  He tells us they pretty much leave every twenty minutes, so we head up there, passing a man who looks exactly like a Leprechaun.  We spend the rest of the walk speculating as to where his pot of gold is and what we could do with it.  Number 1 answer:  get a hotel room.  Anyway, as it turns out, the buses leave not every twenty minutes, but at twenty past the hour.  Harumph.  You know, there is even less to do at a bus stop than than you might think.  Charlie recounts the entire plot of two YouTube videos, with dialogue.  It was every bit as entertaining as you might imagine.

Needless to say, we do not get into Halifax until close to three.

 By the time we get off the ferry and find our way up the hill toward town, it's coffee time.  Yes, that's actually a designated time of day for Mary and me.  We're jonesing bad.  Siri says there's a cafe on the way, so we stop there, which requires incredible patience on the part of my history loving hubby.  He can't wait to get to that old fort.  The coffee is amazing, which makes up for the indifferent service of the Frenchman behind the counter.  The boys load up on pastries and so we sit for a few minutes, which is all it takes for them to inhale all 2,000 calories in front of them.

Rob leads us on a run up the vertical street to the Citadel.  I'm surprised no one throws up.  He's a little testy with us until we get there and find out it closes an hour later than he thought.  I have to admit, it's a very interesting place with plenty of exhibits that are informative and child-friendly.  Outside, there are spectacular views of Halifax and the surrounding water.

Inside, there is a GIFT SHOP!!!  I love gift shops and so do the kids.  Here are some photos of us trying on silly hats:

I really should have bought that one.  I think it would make Red Zone duty much more interesting.

We also make a stop at a real record store so we can demonstrate to the kids why they are called 'albums' when they all come in digital form.  My father-in-law loves Nana Mouskouri.  He also thinks I look like her.  So I make him a montage of the surprisingly complete collection at the store. 

For me, it is all roses and sunshine.

After all that history, we are hungry.  We decide to eat in a place called The Five Fishermen.  It has awesome history.  At one point it was a morgue!

Pretty spooky, eh?

Anyway, it also has awesome food and mediocre martinis.  I think martinis are strictly an american thing.  Also, the glass has a lipstick stain on it (ewww) and then when I unroll my napkin, it has one as well.  Was I being haunted by the ghost of some glamorous Titanic casualty?  From the reaction of our waiter, I gather these things happen with some frequency.  All that aside, we have a wonderful dinner.

Charlie and me...

We cab it 'home' to our waiting RV.  It's pretty late and tomorrow we are going to the beach!