July - August 2019
We began the day with a walk around the Sydney waterfront. There was a cruise ship in port, so the Big Fiddle Market was open and full of artisans and vendors. We went to the Membertou Heritage Park, which was right across from our hotel. It's a museum and cultural center depicting the life of the local Mi'kmaq Indians. After that, it was off to Louisbourg to see the lighthouse and visit the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Yes, this trip was full of history. While at the fortress, we took a rum tour and tasting that we had booked in advance. We returned to Membertou for dinner at a Mi'kmaq restaurant connected to our hotel via pedway. We still ate lobster and mussels.
I'm not usually a scone fan, but these cinnamon ones at the Hampton Inn in Membertou are incredible.
Visiting the Sydney waterfront
That is one big fiddle!
No doubt we're on an island
Random kids fiddling at the Sydney waterfront
Holland America's Zaandam cruise ship gets fresh coat of paint. Somehow I thought they'd be using bigger rollers!
The Big Fiddle Market at the Sydney Cruise Terminal has a ton of great local artisans
A cruise ship, a giant fiddle and a cruise terminal. Oh my!
The boardwalk at the Sydney waterfront
Sydney's Merchant Mariners Memorial
We're staying in Membertou, a Mi'kmaq community near Sydney
Grand Chief Membertou of the Mi'kmaq
Today's flags are Mi'kmaq, Canada and Nova Scotia
Welcome to Louisbourg
The fog is beginning to roll in at Louisbourg
It's a foggy day in Louisbourg
The Louisbourg Lighthouse as the fog begins to roll in
Visiting the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Another set of Parks Canada red chairs at the Fortress of Louisbourg
That is the lighthouse we were just at a few photos ago
Approaching the Fortress of Louisbourg
The gate at the Fortress of Louisbourg is less heavily guarded than it used to be
The Frederic Gate
Walking the streets of the fortress
A cooking demonstration from any era is fun
There were no Google maps when this fortress was occupied
A wishing well
The gardens at the fortress still produce veggies
Looking down to the Frederic Gate
Marching a prisoner down the street
I'm not sure what this guy's crime was but I think he's guilty.
Yeah, he looks guilty.
We took a rum tour
Learning about rum making at the fortress
Sampling some rum
The architecture in the bar is pretty cool
Sampling some delicious rum punch
The fog is coming back
Firing the fortress' cannons
Looking out over the wall of the fortress
Looking across at the King's Bastion
The King's Bastion at the Fortress of Louisbourg
The outer walls of the Fortress of Louisbourg are pretty imposing
Back in Membertou for a seafood feast at Kiju's, a Mi'kmaq restaurant
We had dinner at Kiju's, a Mi'kmaq restaurant
This Mi'kmaq basket is made of porcupine quills!