Day 1 - Halilfax
After a grueling 13 hour plane journey, we landed at 10:00 pm in Nova Scotia. (I "was feelin' 'bout a half past dead.") My first encounter was a rude customs agent with a Scottish accent. After being impatient and rude to me (I was so confused and tired) he finally allowed me through the gate. "Well, I'm glad that worked out!", I said to him.
Then, the airlines lost my luggage and I needed help in the terminal (so confused and tired) and I received rudeness again. My first two verbal encounters with the Canadian Public Servants being so negative, it naturally follows that today, I feel a real aversion to the Canadian accent. The lilting foreign brogue runs afoul to my ears, like nails scratching on chalkboard.
However, some good things did happen. There was a very funny Shuttle Driver who drove us through drenching rain to the Hotel and all the while giving gossip of local celebrities (Anne Murray being one of them). He was so nice and escorted me in to the Westin Hotel. When I asked at the desk for some Ibuprofen (my arthritis medicine being buried somewhere in my bag in Detroit), they didn't have any on board. The Driver very kindly offered to drive me out into the late night to find a pharmacy. I declined his kind offer but was nevertheless very appreciative of his kindness.
Then, the Westin people brought service to my room: Chamomile tea (a double!) and toast with jellies on a tea service lined with white linen. The ensuing hot bath was awesome. The Westin, formerly The Nova Scotian, was built in 1928, and has retained a very deep Old World ambiance. It occurs to me that Maud might possibly have stayed here at some time.
My first impression on the view of Halifax Harbor was very grand. Coming across the bridge of Halifax Harbor, I had a feeling of transversing our own River at home in North Carolina, only on a much grander scale! That was fun.
It's raining cats and dogs in Halifax today. More adventure to come!
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