Taking a Stroll

Report: June, 2011

The transition in seasons has finally occurred! Goose and I decided to step outside and stroll through the city parks while soaking up every second of sunlight.

The first location we visited is the Public Gardens. We would see it every time we rode downtown on the bus and had told ourselves as soon as the weather got better we would check it out. The 16 acre park is located in the center of the Spring Garden District. It's styled like a Victorian strolling promenade. So grab your parasol and be prepared to see and be seen especially on Sundays when they have free concerts from the gazebo. They are also smart enough to sell homemade ice cream there too :)

The main gate off of Spring Garden Road.

The first rhododendron blooms of June.

The gazebo is the center of the park.

Fountains are located throughout the garden.

This view is from a porch that sits snuggled against a pond with easy handicap access. 

The garden is so well tended it came as no surprise that they provide housing for the local fae population. It must be their magical labor that keeps the park looking perfect.

There is only one section of the park with a hill. It made me wonder if I was walking by a fairy mound...








The graveyard across the street from the gardens provides an amazing walk through Halifax history. Here's a few quick pics of the general area as well as one of the towns more prominent citizens.

Gravestones as far back at 1814 are still being care for by their descendants.

Most plots are tiny and some are lucky enough to share real estate with these beautiful blooms.

At first I was angry that someone would leave their trash on a beautiful monument. Then I realized it was the gravestone of Alexander Keith, the most popular brewer (among other things) in Nova Scotia. His beer is still being brewed today and is Goose's favorite.

The next location we visited was Point Pleasant Park which covers the southern tip of the city peninsula. From views over looking the Atlantic to Shakespeare in the Park it's a great way to enjoy some sunshine.

Most paths are crushed gravel but make for an easy 4 mile walk around the park.

Here are students learning how to sail along the Northwest Arm waterway.

The Lodge in Point Pleasant Park was built in the late 1800s to house the park superintendent

Crows seem very curious about all the guests in his park.

Our first glimpse of a blue jay.

This wood carving of two blue jays is located along Young Street. A very posh section of town that you walk through to get to Point Pleasant. We felt the carving was beautiful especially after seeing the real thing that afternoon.

Much to my hearts delight we saw another wood carving along Young Street of  three eagles.  It seems the tree they were carved out of died and the owners decided to get fancy with the remaining trunk and limbs.

I don't think we could go a full month without attending some sort of food or wine festival. So in our usual tradition we walked around the corner from the apartment and indulged in the Halifax Greek Festival. Not only was the food to die for but we were told that the festival has kept a sense of generational community alive. St. George's Greek Orthodox Community gives the opportunity for their aging family members to organize the food that will be served. For two weeks prior to the festival we're told that the community kitchen at the church is going non stop. We feel we've both eaten our fair share of Greek food over the years but nothing makes it feel authentic until grandmas yell at each other in Greek while giving you a plate of food that weighs a good five pounds. They had traditional dancing, music, a beer garden and an eye opening tour of the church itself.

The line for the beer vendor...that hasn't seemed to change much from home!

Some very adorable kids doing traditional Greek dance moves.

Mmmmm, roasted pork being tenderly cared for. The smell was intoxicating.

The lines to get food were long but no one complained once you enjoyed the fare provided.

The outside of the church is covered in dull brown bricks so we were stunned at the hand painted artwork that covered every inch of the inside.

The chandeliers alone would have been worth taking the tour.

Candelabras gave a beautiful glow to all the gold leaf on the altar.

A ceiling snap shot.

We felt St. George was wise in choosing a spear for a dragon. They are pretty tricky creatures and keeping them at a distance is a good thing.

Since it's my birthday month I couldn't help selecting an American themed restaurant for dinner. I may not be from the East Coast but the meal we had at a place call the Brooklyn Warehouse was just what the doctor ordered. It's an intimate place that gives a cozy vibe while still keeping a bit of concrete/exposed pipe views for a smattering of ruggedness. No reservation system is used but Goose got the skinny from a local that if we arrive after 7pm you're in for a long wait. I've been having steak and potatoes for my birthday for so long I can't recall if I ever asked for anything else, maybe a white cake with lemon filling! Much to my sadness they didn't have the cake so I substituted it with a spiked lemonade while enjoying local beef, roasted potatoes and fiddleheads. Weather held so our walk to the bus stop was dry and that was the best birthday present the province could have given me.

Our July post is coming up soon. I think we'll need to break it up into multiple posts since I went a little picture crazy. Until then...

Eagle Out