Boston, MA

Today we travelled to Downtown Boston for a Hop on Hop off trolley bus tour. To get to downtown Boston we travelled by MBTA(Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), which is a commuter rail train  that runs from several lines and areas north and south of Boston. We caught our train at Salem, and travelled a 16 mile trip to North Station in downtown Boston a 30 minute train trip. This set the tone for what turned out to be a very perfect day with the temperature hovering around 80 degrees F.  Boston is a very beautiful city with a lot of history and wonderfully old and beautiful architecture.


The Massachusetts State House built in 1798, also known as the "new" State House is located across from the Boston Common on the top of Beacon Hill. The land was once owned by Massachusetts first elected governor, John Hancock. Charles Bullfinch, the leading architect of the day, designed the building. The dome, originally made out of wood shingles, is now sheathed in copper and covered by 23 karat gold which was added to prevent leaks into the State House.In the House of Representatives chambers hangs a wooden codfish which is called the Sacred Cod. The Sacred Cod signifies the importance of the fishing industry to the Commonwealth. At the top of the golden dome sits a wooden pinecone which symbolizes logging in Boston during the 18th century.



Founded in 1969 as the Bull & Finch Pub, the original inspiration for the setting of the TV show Cheers was a favorite neighbor-hood bar. In fact, the year that the Cheers show premiered on television (1982) Boston Magazine chose the Bull & Finch Pub as the “Best Neighborhood Bar” in Boston. In the summer of 1981, a screenwriting couple from Hollywood happened into the Bull & Finch. The pair were searching all of Boston for a neighborhood bar to copy for their new TV series. They enjoyed the warm, cozy atmosphere that this Beacon Hill neighborhood pub provided and they decided to take pictures of the interior and exterior to take back to Hollywood. Upon their return, they gave the pictures to a set designer who utilized all of the architectural elements of the Bull & Finch and designed the set that was built on Paramount’s lot on Stage 25. They then cast the show, including all of the actors and actresses that we have come to know and love, shot the pilot and sold the pilot to NBC. “Cheers” premiered on September 30, 1982.  The show was one of the most successful and most popular to ever be aired on television. During its 11 seasons on prime time, Cheers received over 100 nominations for Emmys and almost all of the participants in the show won an Emmy in their category. The show itself won “Best Comedy” several times. During those 11 years, 275 episodes were filmed and now provide a library of sitcom comedies that have been in syndication for many, many years and will be seen on television channels for many years to come.When you approach Cheers on Beacon Hill (we have stopped using the name Bull & Finch Pub because it has always been confusing to visitors of Boston), you will notice the exterior of the Hampshire House is a familiar one. You have seen it in the opening shots of the series as well as when the show returns from commercial breaks. This façade was filmed here in Boston. No replica was created in Hollywood, so you are seeing the real thing when you see the exterior of the Hampshire House at 84 Beacon Street.     

This was the boat we took for our Boston Harbour cruise.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A beautiful view of the City of Boston from the harbour.

 

 USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America's growing maritime interests. The ships greatest glory came during the war of 1812 when she defeated four British frigates which earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides," because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull. The ship was restored in 1927 with contributions from the nation's school children.
The Charlestown Navy Yard was built on what was once Mouton's or Morton's Point, the landing place of the British army prior to the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was one of the first shipyards built in the United States. During its 174 year history, hundreds of ships were built, repaired and modernized, including the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young. Today, thirty acres of the Navy Yard are preserved by the National Park Service as part of Boston National Historical Park.



The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, part of The Big Dig Project in Boston, is one of the widest cable-stayed bridges in the world. The Bridge serves as the northern entrance to and exit from Boston. The Bridge is named after civil rights activist Lenny Zakim and the American colonists who fought the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

 At the end of our day in Boston, checking out our train schedule back to Salem.



Salem, MA

 

Salem, MA lies on Massachusetts Bay between Salem Harbor, which divides the city from much of neighboring Marblehead to the southeast, and Beverly Harbor, which divides the city from Beverly along with the Danvers River, which feeds into the harbor. Between the two harbors lies Salem. Salem lies 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Boston. Salem city's cultural identity is reflective of is role and the location of the Salem witch trials of 1692. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, most of them women. Although the last trial was held in May 1693, public response to the events has continued. In the decades following the trials, the issues primarily had to do with establishing the innocence of the individuals who were convicted and compensating the survivors and families. In the following centuries, the descendants of those unjustly accused and condemned have sought to honor their memories. The story of the witchcraft accusations, trials and executions has captured the imagination of writers and artists in the centuries since the event took place.Tourism is the backbone of Salem's economy and is based on the 1692 witch trials dates back to at least the first half of the 20th century, when dry goods merchant Daniel Low sold souvenir spoons with witch images. Such tourism expanded significantly in the 1970s, when the television situation comedy Bewitched filmed several episodes in the city.Witch-related tourism expanded significantly in the 1990s with the movie Hocus Pocus, and the city added an official "Haunted Happenings" celebration during the October tourist season

Halifax, NS

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

This is a picture of Halifax harbour as seen from a ferry that crosses the harbour to Dartmouth. Halifax formally the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax is a major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defence, Dalhousie University, the Halifax Shipyard, various levels of government, and the Port of Halifax. Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of the municipality. Halifax was ranked by MoneySense magazine as the fourth best place to live in Canada for 2012, placed first on a list of "large cities by quality of life" and placed second in a list of "large cities of the future", both conducted by fDi Magazine for North and South American cities.

The Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk is a public footpath located on the Halifax Harbour waterfront. The boardwalk also includes shops, restaurants, musicians, and vendors selling their crafts, as well as the "Cable Wharf" a former cable ship terminal now used as a tour boat base for several vessels including Theodore Too. The only working vessels to operate from the waterfront are pilot boats and a fleet of tugs operated from the tug wharves.
The boardwalk's southern terminus is at Halifax Seaport. It stretches northwards along the coast for approximately 3 km before it terminates in front of Casino Nova Scotia at its northern terminus.

Peggy's Cove, NS

 

 Known as the idyllic fishing village, Peggy's Cove is one of most popular stops in Atlantic Canada.  Set on rocky shores, the lighthouse and village at Peggy's Cove are a photographer's paradise on the Nova Scotia coast, 43 kms southwest of Halifax.  Despite its popularity this tiny fishing village has been able keep the same quaint and relaxed atmosphere that has made it famous.  Peggy's Cove is truly one of Canada's gem.

 

Peggy's Cove is one of the numerous small fishing communities located around the perimeter of the Chebucto Peninsula. The community is named after the cove of the same name, a name also shared with Peggy's Point, immediately to the east of the cove. The village marks the eastern point of St. Margaret's Bay.

 

 

The village is likely named after Saint Margaret's Bay (Peggy being the nickname for Margaret), which Samuel de Champlain named after his mother Marguerite. There has been much folklore created to explain the name. One story suggests the village may have been named after the wife of an early settler. The popular legend claims that the name came from the sole survivor of a shipwreck at Halibut Rock near the cove. Artist and resident William deGarthe said she was a young woman while others claim she was a little girl too young to remember her name and the family who adopted her called her Peggy. The young shipwreck survivor married a resident of the cove in 1800 and became known as "Peggy of the Cove" attracting visitors from around the bay who eventually named the village, Peggy's Cove, after her nickname.

 



 

When we were driving we noticed this beautifully painted Muriel on this house and decided to take a picture of it and discovered it was a museum. We were curious to see the inside and we were pleasantly surprised to find 

Ivan Fraser... artist, photographer, author and storyteller who was born and raised in Nova Scotia.

His latest endeavor is bringing Peggy's Cove Legend to reality through song, books, dolls, museum and storytelling. His popular Childhood Home Museum and exuberant storytelling is capturing hearts... hungry for details of the mysterious and charming Peggy. A mix of facts, blended with colorful tales and characters, take you back to the days of Peggy of the Cove.

 



 

Ovens Natural Park, Riverport, NS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ovens Natural Park is located on the south shore of Nova Scotia, along the scenic Lighthouse Route, at Riverport and is a privately owned 190 acre pristine reserve of coastal forest, located on the Atlantic coast. For hundreds of years, people have been drawn to the incredible beauty, diverse geography, spiritual solace, and fascinating history that make The Ovens Natural Park unique. Visitors hike the spectacular trails along the cliffs to view the famous sea caves, or "Ovens" for which the park was named. There are several overlooks along the trail which offer excellent views of the sea caves, the Atlantic coastline and Lunenburg Harbour.  

 

 

Chester Harbour, and Ferry to Tancook Island, NS

 A lot of people know about Chester, NS, but nobody talks about it. They simply don’t want anyone else to go there. Chester is a tiny village, with a population of 1,200 people, 68 kilometres west of Halifax. The town overlooks island dotted Mahone Bay, and is a sailor’s paradise. The village of Chester, situated on a peninsula halfway along the coast of Mahone Bay, is one of the most picturesque communities anywhere, it dates back 224 years when it was settled by New England planters and fishermen. For years the New Englanders had sailed from the harbour of Massachusetts on their annual spring voyage to the local fishing banks. In 1761, a vessel carrying 18 adults and 10 children first dropped anchor in what is now Chester Harbour.

 

 

 Ferry to Tancook Island, NS

 

Today, we took a ferry from Chester Harbour to Tancook & Little Tancook Islands, it is a 55 min ferry ride one way and cost $5.50 per person for the round trip. The ferry departs from Chester and services both Little and Big Tancook Islands. The Tancook Island ferry runs daily year-round on a predetermined schedule and The William G. Ernst ferry transports passengers from the mainland to the islands, the ferry has been in service for 32 years. This is one of the nicest ferry rides we have taken and the ferry stays on Tancook Island for a hour and a half so you can take in some of the local stores and amenities on this isolated small Island and then enjoy a 55 min ride back. To say the least it was a very enjoyable 4 hour day for $5.50. 

The stately home below is the owner of Clearwater Lobster Co. and is only visible from the waterway, we captured it from the ferry on its way to Tancook Island.

 

This is a picture of Tancook Island taken from the ferry on our way to the Island.

Tancook Island is shaped like a fish hook and named after the Mi'kmaq word for "facing the open sea". Tancook Island is only 3 miles long and 1.5 miles at the widest point. With only 125 year-round residents, it is a true island life, Nova Scotia-style and most of the residents of this island are lobster fisherman.

 

 

 

 

Tancook Harbour

Lobster @ Hubbards & Camping @ Chester, NS :)

Well we have waited long enough and decided it was time to indulge on some Atlantic Lobster. We went to The Original Nova Scotia Lobster Supper (since 1936) at the Shore Club in Hubbards, NS. We got to enjoy all you can eat salad bar, unlimited fresh cultivated mussels, fresh boiled Lobster with potato salad, and dessert and coffee. Let me tell you it was well worth the wait. It was simply delicious.

The story behind the "Original Nova Scotia Lobster Supper" goes like this, on June 1st, 1813, the immortal command, "Don't give up the ship" was given by the fatally wounded Captain Lawrence of the US Frigate "Chesapeake". His Majesty's British frigate "Shannon" had just entered  the Boston Harbour and was in a battle lasting less than 15 minutes had captured the pride of the Revolution fleet. The Chesapeake was towed to Halifax Harbour where it's chattels were auctioned. The large copper cook pot from the Chesapeake eventually ended in the possession of Guy Harnish of  Hubbards. On August 5th, 1936, Guy had been approached by a large national convention to cater a lobster supper on Hubbards Beach. So in 1946, Guy's son Roy built the Shore Club so the lobster supper could be enjoyed even in inclement weather. The Shore Club was also built as a dance hall. In May 1946 a large hole was dug in a pasture overlooking Hubbards Cove, and on August 24th, 1946 the building opened to a sellout crowd. The Saturday night dances became very popular. Over seventy years later, the Saturday night dances are still enjoyed and the Lobster Suppers have taken a new approach. The old cook pot now resides in the "Shannon and Chesapeake" display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, after it was partially destroyed in a barn fire.   

 

 

 

 

 

Chester was officially founded in 1759 as the Shoreham grant, although French fishermen had already built a few houses on the site. The first permanent European-descended settlers were a group from Massachusetts who came to the area in 1761. Chester is one of the wealthiest communities in the province as a result of being a holiday and resort destination, with many seasonal and year-round estates and mansions. The nearby waters of Mahone Bay and its numerous islands (365) are well known for yachting and have made the Chester Yacht Club into a cruising destination. A Provincial ferry from the village provides a schedule of daily trips to Big Tancook Island and Little Tancook Island.

 The view overlooking Mahone Bay from our campsite at Graves Island Provincial Park, Chester,NS

 

 

Mahone Bay, NS

As you wind your way into Mahone Bay, you know you've arrived somewhere special. Visible from every angle, the town's world famous "Three Churches" are the first thing you see as you enter the community. The three prominent churches: St James' Anglican; St John's Evangelical Lutheran; and Trinity United. It has become an iconic image of Nova Scotia, frequently photographed and featured on postcards and calendars. The breathtaking view of the Bay, dotted
with 365 islands – one for every day of
the year - is something to behold.
Settled in 1754, it was once a safe haven
for pirates and privateers. 
The town prospered with wooden shipbuilding in the 19th century. While shipbuilding decline with the arrival of steel and steam vessels, Mahone Bay became known for its boatbuilding