DAY 146 MONDAY AUGUST 17 - HELLO CANADA

As we approached Halifax the fog thinned, the clouds disappeared and the sea calmed.  The Queen docked at 10am (instead of 6:30) and the Canadian border police checked our passports.  We trundled our luggage through the dock building and Atlantis Limousines picked us up at 11:40.

We checked in at Halliburton Hotel and were directed to an historic cottage called Lithgow which was built in 1870 and has been carefully renovated.  It is the middle one of the three coloured buildings below and our room is on the ground floor (called the first floor here).

We set off to go shopping and found we were near the old Government House which was guarded by soldiers in kilts.  We had to remind ourselves that Nova Scotia means New Scotland.

Later we watched the formal changing of the guard (singular).  It was sunny and hot and we felt sorry for the guard standing at attention in the heat.  It felt like 30C along the waterfront so we bought a new warm jacket and a sun hat for Malcolm to replace the ones he left at the hotel in Southampton, and sheltered in the "Cabin Cafe" which made us feel at home.

The fireplace had a trophy which the waitress told us was a moose but it is not real.

 There are bushfires rampant across Canada and record temperatures for August, but the Prime Minister (a denier) is conducting an election campaign devoid of climate policies.  We found a newspaper which had a report about the 26 year old Chilean Chef who went overboard.  The Nova Scotia Police are conducting an investigation on board the ship.

After dinner we strolled along the waterfront which was pleasantly cool by 7:30pm and paid our respects to Sir Samuel Cunard who is Halifax's big name.

 Then we watched the QM2 drift out from the dock, creep up to our vantage point and turn 180 degrees right in front of us.  The harbour is very beautiful and we are very taken by Halifax, looking forward to our three days here.

A fond farewell to our majestic carrier.