Nova Scotia - Halifax

Charlottetown to Halifax, NS Travel Distance: 55 km to the Ferry,
75 mins ferry ride,
165 km from Pictou to Halifax
AirBnB accommodations: $292.65 CAD for 3 nights (taxes, fees and cleaning fee inclusive)

We headed out about 8 am to head down to the ferry terminal. It took about 45 mins to get to the Wood Island Ferry Terminal. It had a surprising amount of people already lined up for the ferry. The ferry crossing took 75 mins to get from Wood Island to Pictou. Once arriving to Pictou it was another 165 km to Halifax, NS.

We were scheduled to check in to our place at 3 pm, so being that we were early we headed down to the Cruise Ship Terminal to check things out. There were 5 cruise ships in town and tons of action down at the Halifax Seaport. The Seaport has Pavillion 22 - Dockside Shops, Pier 21 - The Canadian Museum of Immigration, and the Halifax Farmers Market. Things were busy down at the Terminal with all passengers from the cruise ships.

We walked down the water front until we reached the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. We found out that it if you come on a Tuesday from 530-8 pm, entrance to the museum is free. So we decided to head back to get settled and spend some time with Roxy before heading back out to visit the museum.

Located in the heart of Halifax’s historic waterfront, there’s no better place to immerse yourself in Nova Scotia’s rich maritime heritage than the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The most prominent exhibits in the Museum are the "Titanic" and the exhibit on the Halifax Explosion.

The year was 1917 and Halifax, like the rest of the world, was fully embroiled in the First World War. Serving as the assembly and departure point for transatlantic convoys carrying supplies and soldiers to the war effort overseas, the small city was quickly evolving into a world class port and major base of naval operations.

Halifax was a hub of activity. Troops bound for battle swept in and out of the city, labourers flowed to and from work as the war created a significant industrial and residential boom, and children of all ages

wandered to their schools for lessons. In a time of war and devastation, Halifax was thriving.

That all changed the morning of December 6, 1917. Approximately six minutes after 9:00 am, a dreadful mis-communication between two ships in the harbour resulted in an Explosion of cataclysmic proportions. 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 more were injured. The city was reduced to ruins and debris.

The award-winning exhibit takes visitors through the time line of the event, establishing what life in the city was like and breaking down the unfortunate circumstances that caused the tragedy. Featuring personal effects and stories of those who both perished and survived, the exhibit explores the Explosion from an anecdotal perspective, giving visitors a sense of the devastation that occurred, but more importantly, a sense of the city’s bravery in the face of

adversity.

Halifax has survived times of war and tragedy. It is the people of the area that come together, each and every time, to support one another; making Halifax stronger and more united.

What an interesting day. Nova Scotia is a large island and we have only begun to experience all that it has to offer. Tomorrow we will continue on in our adventures and head further south down the island.